New 'Cheaper' PT turbo

[Mr.Blonde]

I saw the new 2004 'cheaper' PT turbo over at my dealership today. I pesonally dont like them at all. All of the 'special' features of the GT are off, ex: Autostick, 'indy check' color dash, and special 140mph gauges. The PT I saw had a P N D R 3 1 auto trans, bright red 'classic' color dash, and the normal 120 mph gauges. It had the chrome package on it and the MSRP was 19,170.

On a second note, I went in and asked the service manager if they installed stage one upgrade kits, and they said they couldn't install them, and didn't even know anyone that could. Anyone else have this problem?

[Dalite]

It may be that your dealer doesn't want to assume the liability of installing one, since it is not legal for street use due to not having C.A.R.B. certification.

I have had time quotes of 1 1/4 hours to 4.0 hours freom the dealers I have talked to.

In looking (carefully) at the service manual and all that has to be done to install Stage I, I would think that anyone who is able to change their own oil should not take longer than 2 hours maximum to install it.

I haven't seen install instructions, but would imagine they would go something like this:

1. Remove Negative battery cable
2. Remove bolts holding upper intake manifold on
3. Remove Upper Intake Manifold and gasket
4. Drain Coolant half way
5. Remove thermostat housing
6. loosen radiator hose clamp and swing hose and t'stat housing up 90 degrees
7. Relieve pressure on fuel rail and release connector to fuel rail electrical connection
8. Remove fuel rail and injectors as an assembley
9. Remove stock injectors and install new injectors.
10. Install Fuel rail, re-connect gas and electrical connections.
11. Reinstall t'stat housing and tighten radiator hose
12. Open cooling system bleed valve and add coolant until air is purged through bleed valve, then close and top off system.
13. Re-install upper intake housing using new gasket.
14. Remove 3 (Manual trans) or 4 (auto trans) connectors from PCM
15. Swap PCMs (3 to 4 bolts for bracket holding pcm, and 2 to 3 bolts holding PCM into bracket)
16. Replace PCM connectors.
17. Re-Check all bolts involved in installation for proper torque
18. Re-connect Negative Battery Cable
19. Crank an allow to idle up to temp.
20. Top off coolant recovery boottle (if necessary).
21. Test drive
22. Re-check coolant levet and top off if necessary (via coolant recovery bottle)

I am not sure if this is the sequence that the instructions will show, but it is the basic install process from what the service manual shows for changing the PCM, Upper Intake and Fuel Rail.

[turbomangt]

man that sounds like anyone with 2 masters in mechanical engineering should breeze through it> I might be able to do it blindfolded> (of course the car would never start or run ever again) anyone want to lend me their car, so I can give it a try?.

[brock]

The biggie on the '04s is no rear discs except on the GT and optional on turbos. The $1200 turbo option is NOT 215 HP. It's 180 without many of the internal goodies the GT has.

[skylight]

Did you notice if the 180HP turbo has the same exterior badges as the 215HP has?

[brock]

NO. It is badged on the left either TOURING EDITION or LIMITED EDITION. The right is the same as the GT.

[mvandale]

When I purchased my GT in late June of this year, one of the salespersons pointed to the Mini in the parking lot & said that is belonged to his wife. He then proceeded to tell me that the "lower horsepower" 04 Turbo's engine would be a derivative of that engine (since the base engine in the mini was a Chrysler design, I think he said). Not sure what all of that means, but maybe the displacement is smaller, ala the mini. ??

[brock]

To say the salesman was misinformed would be charitable. The Mini is a BMW product and I doubt they would derive anything from DC. The 180 HP is the standard 2.4L with minor upgrades and the same turbo as the GT. The boost is limited compared to the GT.

[TripleJackInGA]

As usual, that salesman has no freaking idea what the hell he is talking about. I would bet a finger that you would never catch DaimlerChrysler (remember, it's a Mercedes company) working on *anything* with BMW, who owns and sells the MINI.

[mvandale]

Don't bet that finger just yet . . .

"Chrysler is providing the MINI engines which are being made in Brazil, as part of an agreement made by Tritec Motors, a joint venture between Chrysler, BMW and the Brazillian government. The concept vehicle is currently at the Chicago motor show and may be at the Frankfurt show in September."

This was found in an article courtesy of Mini World Magazine.