New Owner of a 2003 Spyder

Well today I went out and pulled the trigger, got myself a 2003 Spyder GS. Yea I know what you all say about being slow but I am old and more into low maintenace and gas milage.
 
They gave me this thing that looks like a resistor from Surge Performance. It is suppose to go into the IAT (Intake Air Temperature) sensor and left unplugged. Is it worth putting in pros and cons please.
 
Now I will prob have more questions as I start working on the vehicle but thats all now. Oh yea and it is also a sportronic Auto which most of the people here dont like.
 

Dont use it, its not worth it.  Try using the search b/c there is a thread just like this.

Oh yeah nice buy and welcome to the forums.  Good luck w/ the new car.

Thanks dsm1990gsx
 
I found and downloaded the service manual from the site ..... is there a owners manual I can download also?
 
I think I may have a 6 stacker cd but not sure how to put the cd's into it.
 

they didnt give you a owners manual? mmm weird.... you neeed any help with maint just let me know im me at WPBoosted3g i can help yah out if you get stuck on something

I bought it used from a car dealer thats why not a lot of manuals
 
Paid 13,500 for it with 60K Miles on it Auto Sportronic with leather interior figured I got a good deal since he gave me 3000 on a trade in for my 1992 Susuki Sidekick
 
 

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mobiledj

I bought it used from a car dealer thats why not a lot of manuals

Paid 13,500 for it with 60K Miles on it Auto Sportronic with leather interior figured I got a good deal since he gave me 3000 on a trade in for my 1992 Susuki Sidekick

whats your location?  no offence I think that is a little pricy for a GS with 60k.   I just picked up a GT sportronic with 70k, loaded, leather cd changer the works for $8,500 its on 01 but I guess thats a difference between them who knows.
 
Nice summer cars though fun to just sit back and drive.

I am in Vancouver, Canada .... they are a little more expensive up here. I looked at bringing one up from the lower states but after the delivery charges (about $1,000) and the inspections I figured it would not be worth the headache.
 
I am worried about driving it in our snow but I guess I will find out soon enough. Never mind the summer, it is fun driving it now

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mobiledj

I am in Vancouver, Canada .... they are a little more expensive up here. I looked at bringing one up from the lower states but after the delivery charges (about $1,000) and the inspections I figured it would not be worth the headache.

I am worried about driving it in our snow but I guess I will find out soon enough. Never mind the summer, it is fun driving it now

They are decent in the snow.   I live in Ma,  im on my 3rd 2000-2005 eclipse now.  2 GT spyders 01,02 and one 00 GS coupe.   Right now I got the 01 spyder and the evo great combo lol. 

Ok this weekend I notice that when I started the car up in the mornings when it is cold sometimes it wont shift (its and automatic). Do you have to wait for the engine to warm up a bit (the idol go down), Is this normal?
 
Also my car steering wheel shakes when I apply the breaks, I changed the rotors and breaks .... guess now I have to check the motor mounts.

alignment. check that.. and if you changed your rotors and pads then thats not it then it must be the alignments.. the if the replace the motormounts just incase.. but dont really go for the OEM ones... they have Deyeme ones it hink still for sale ill try to get the site for you... those mounts last 2x times longer then the OEM ones.. and for the sporty not shifting... try checking your tranny fluid... should be candy red.. if not its time for aflush and that should fix your problems.

Thanks WPSpyderGT01
 
My mechanic did say I needed a Trans flush and filter whne I brought it in for inspection before buying the vehicle. Just strange it started happening a week after buying it but I will get the trans done the same time as I do the Timing Belt and Waterpump at 60K thats only about 400 Miles away.
 
How long do the motor mounts generally last for? I did not know that they had a lifespan .... never changed the ones in my sidekick in the 14 years I owned it.
 

passenger side motor mount doesnt last long depending on how you drive it... after a while it will make a horrible sound.. ask anyone who has owned a 3g before lol
 
also the filter.. for the tranny is inside the tranny so you will have to take it apart which i dont think you want to do that.

I have been looking to buy new rims for my vehicle, figured used rims will be cheaper in the winter and wait till the summer to put them on. Now I figured out that the bolt pattern on these are 5X114.3 or 5X4.5 but I dont understand when they talk about off set. What offset should I be looking for or maybe what other vehicles have the same>
 
Thanks for your help
 

5X114.3

Does offset matter?
 

i think so.

Now that xmas is here and I make a little extra cash on weekends dj'ing I can do something to my new car. Buying new rims and tires and getting all the maintenance done. What would you suggest would be a good investment into my vehicle next .... I am not looking for speed more reliability, comfort and most of all gas milage. Seems as though I only get 250 miles per tank, thought the gas milage would be better on it.
 

umm something is wrong here.. if your only getting 250 per tank.... i get 225-250 per tank and im boosted.. and i hit it often... so soemthing is wrong you should be getting around 300-325-350 per tank if your stock.. thats what i got around thats when i like 25 miles per gallon at 14 gallons. change your oil to syn 10-w30? change your air filter.. make sure your tires are inflated to the psi... i noticed but i cant prove it.. fill your tank at half way.. its better and i got a couple more mph out of it.. idk why but thats what I noticed on my car.

The first thing I did was do the tire pressure after I picked up the car but I will check my milage again in the New Year after I do the 60K maintenance. Yea, I will put in Syn oil and get the air filter changed at the same time. I do fill the tank though cause I hate stopping to get gas   lol
 
When you use the defroster does that give you poor gas milage? I read in the manual that the defrosters turns on the air conditioner blower and I know A/C kills your milage. I have be sparingly been using the defroster now to see.
 

Are you saying the REAR MIRROR defroster¿
 
It is ELECTRICAL coming from the strips. DOESN'T NEED THE HOT AIR.
 
 

The defroster uses the a/c to dry the air.  The a/c compressor running does use a little more gas but not much.

you use the ac will use up gas... but you should still be getting around 300milespertank

I have been using the defroster a lot since it is winter to clear the winshield

Anyone out there with the Spyder their only vehicle ........ wonder how you have handled the trunk space problem when playing hockey, golf or Mountain Biking? Has anyone installed some kind of bike rack to transport a bike? Golf bag is easy because you can always drop the top and and put it in the back seat but with hockey generally in the winter the only solution is to find a really small hockey bag.
I never realized how small the space was back there until I got the thing home and tried to put the convertilbe boot in the back with a small box of emergency items.