hi guys, im new to the forum and in the market for an S2K. im looking at used ap2 turbo s2k and i want to know what i should look for in a used turbo car.
the owner seems like a newbie and doesnt really know anything about turbo. he told me he drop the car off to a shop and they installed the kit on for him and tuned to car for him. when he picked up the car, it was already tuned. there's a chance that the car is running on a pre-tune base map, and is there any potential damage to the car if it is not tuned? please help me out and give me advice on what to look for and how to check if the car is tuned or not. thanks a lot.

 

Here's my advice: Buy a different car, and then do it yourself. If you are uncertain if he really got a tune, then I'm assuming he seems pretty untrustworthy and the potential for problems might be great, and you'll save yourself a headache later on. If you still want to go ahead and purchase this specific turbo s2000, then have it towed to a tuner of your choice and have it re-tuned. You should be able to get a good s2000 mechanic and tuner if you post in your regional forum. Hope this helps.

 

Pics? What set up is on the car? We need alot more info to help you but two things you need to have done are a compression test and leak down. I would post up in your local forum to see if any experienced turbo S2K members would be willing to come and check it out with you.

 

yeah the car is running on a greddy kit, probably less than a year on the car. i know the kit comes with the pre-tuned base map but dont know how good those are. and what can a compression test tell me? should i have it on the dyno and see wat A/F are and see what power its making. i think a tuned greddy kit is making somewhere 300-330 at the wheels. what else should i look for?

 

If it was never tuned and he's been running on the base map that engine could be a ticking time bomb just waiting for you to buy it then go KABOOM!!!!!

 

don't buy it if your ever going to turbo a NA car save up and do it urself. You never know the history of any car or what people tell you. Buy a stock s2000 and you'll be happy with it. I boosted my s2000 and ended up blowing the motor 3 miles after boosting it so if that car is unTUned don't buy it. Mine had a base map on it and like they said above its a ticking time bomb. if your going to buy a turbo car buy it from a shop like Inline pro or off of someone that knows what they're doing.

 

What he said ^^^^..

 

damn this is pretty bad. well since he's coming down anyway, i'll just check it out. i'll bring it to a reputable shop and have them look at it. i dont know why greddy made those maps since they're so unreliable and bad for the motor. BTW, what does compression test tell you?

 

ohhh its a greddy turbo kit?? that's a different story then to a certain extent... I'd still have it checked out if i were you, but the greddy kits are pretty good for reliability.. my buddy has been running their kit for over 2 years now.. their maps are not that bad.... you might get it retuned, but getting it tuned will be hard depending on the area you live in since a lot of places won't tune the emanage ult. I would get yourself an aem ems and get it retuned. You can get the full potential out of your setup then. my friend made 328 i think

 

The general shape of the engine. Good compression numbers mean that the piston rings aren't shot and the valves aren't bent. Don't go by value as testing methods vary; go by consistency across cylinders.

A leakdown test (done when compression on a cylinder isn't too good) will tell you where the "hole" is, whether it's in bad valve seating, head gasket, or rings.

I would have second thoughts about buying a Turbo S2K, too. A good price from someone that knows what they are doing could be considered...buying one from a noob on a base kit who can't even point out the turbo is something else