Author Topic: booster on board (Read 6030 times)

boomster · « **on:** August 25, 2009, 11:31:08 AM »

Hey,

Found this board through solsticeforum.com in a post. I live in Frederick MD and just bought a 2007 Solstice on the day the plant closed in July

I actually bought it from a Ford dealership and I think I got a good deal on it since they didn't list half the options that were actually on the car. So I don't think they knew what they really had. The car is fully loaded with everything but Onstar and I don't have the chrome rims, but the polished aluminum upgrade. Monsoon system and everything else is there. It's an automatic but need that since I drive in the Washington DC area.

It's the Deep color NA model. Really enjoying the car so far. It has a few minor issues that I'm wondering about though. It has this weird smell sometimes (like axle fluid smell). I have read about the recall but my car doesn't seem to leak at all or make any noises when I turn sharp at slow speeds. I know the car does have the limited slip differential.

The only other issue I sometimes have is the A/C cools well sometimes, but then it almost stops cooling for a few seconds every now and then. And oddly enough I really don't need the A/C button pressed to get super cold air. I just press the circulate button and turn it to any speed and it feels like the A/C is on (even though I didn't press the A/C button).

Other then that I'm really enjoying the car. Handles like it's on tracks and got the power I need. Especially when using 93 octane. I seem to feel more power with that and get better gas mileage too.

Uranium-238 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 25, 2009, 11:53:06 AM »

Quote from: boomster on August 25, 2009, 11:31:08 AM

The only other issue I sometimes have is the A/C cools well sometimes, but then it almost stops cooling for a few seconds every now and then. And oddly enough I really don't need the A/C button pressed to get super cold air. I just press the circulate button and turn it to any speed and it feels like the A/C is on (even though I didn't press the A/C button).

I don't know about the NA models, but I know on my Redline the AC will cut out at WOT. As to the circulate button, once all the ductwork in the car is cool, it seems to stay cool for a very long time.

Treeman · « **Reply #2 on:** August 25, 2009, 12:04:15 PM »

Welcome! I live in Scaggsville but my daughter's soccer takes me out to Frederick area often. Probably will see you around.

I have an 09 but am aware that the early years had problems with leaking diffs. Lots of info on the boards about that.

DeepBlueGXP · « **Reply #3 on:** August 25, 2009, 12:07:12 PM »

Welcome to the forum. I have a meet the second weekend in Oct at my place, see link in my signature.

Take a look at your rear diff underneath and see if there is dirt collecting on it.

For your AC issue, check this thread http://kappaperformance.com/forum/index.php?topic=2664.0

Kelu · « **Reply #4 on:** August 25, 2009, 01:17:11 PM »

Welcome boomster from an Opel GT (sister of your Solstice) from Europe.

HAMMER DOWN · « **Reply #5 on:** August 25, 2009, 02:08:11 PM »

Welcome
Here's to many rides with the top down, wind in your hair & the hammer down.

GXPinKC · « **Reply #6 on:** August 25, 2009, 05:40:00 PM »

Welcome boomster to Kappa Performance. Great bunch of people right there in Maryland. Hope you are able to attend some of their meets. You will definately be rewarded because they know what they are talking about and I have heard that they like to have fun as well. Enjoy your Deep Solstice.
Ron

Chemist · « **Reply #7 on:** August 25, 2009, 05:58:48 PM »

IIRC, going "recirculate" turns the A/C compressor on. Will check my manual later and edit if necessary.

MomsSol · « **Reply #8 on:** August 25, 2009, 07:55:44 PM »

Quote from: Uranium-238 on August 25, 2009, 11:53:06 AM

I don't know about the NA models, but I know on my Redline the AC will cut out at WOT. As to the circulate button, once all the ductwork in the car is cool, it seems to stay cool for a very long time.

NAs definitely cut out at WOT ... IIRC it is 'control' that provides more power to the engine by disengaging the A/C compressor. Once you lift off the accelerator the compressor kicks back in.

2kwk4u · « **Reply #9 on:** August 25, 2009, 09:43:14 PM »

Welcome, Boomster! I live right down the road from you in New Market. I'd crawl under the car and take a look around the differential to look for signs of leakage anywhere. Send me a PM if you'd like to come over and I can take a look if you don't have the means/tools.

G8TR · « **Reply #10 on:** August 25, 2009, 09:58:07 PM »

Welcome to the best Kappa forum on the net!

1LILNDN · « **Reply #11 on:** August 25, 2009, 09:59:13 PM »

Welcome " Boomster "

to Only the Best Kappa Forum this side of anywhere you can think of.

enjoy your Ride

elff · « **Reply #12 on:** August 25, 2009, 10:48:10 PM »

You.

Welcome

spicy3480 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 25, 2009, 10:58:37 PM »

Welcome! You will really find useful information here, and the people are awesome!!

boomster · « **Reply #14 on:** August 26, 2009, 10:59:53 AM »

Thanks guys for all the tips and links. Going to try to reset the AC unit and see if that changes anything. If not, then I'm guessing it's just turning off for WOT. It never stays off for long.

I think it's odd that with the circulate button pressed it turns on the A/C automatically even though the AC button isn't pressed.

I'll try to get a good look at the differential. Someone on solticeforum.com said it could be a vent that needs to be moved, unfortunately I don't have the thread open right now to link it.

Looks like a good group of people here. It's great that we are so passionate about these cars. You can tell they did something right to have this loyality

2kwk4u · « **Reply #15 on:** August 26, 2009, 04:07:19 PM »

My '06 (I've had two - both Deep - nice color choice, by the way!) pushed some gear lube out the vent tube. If that's where it's coming from, it's not such a big deal. It'll be running down the back of the differential like in this picture:

The vent is on top of the pumpkin. You can see it in the mirror here:

If you've lost fluid, the way you check the level is to pull out the fill plug and make sure the fluid level is even with the bottom thread when the car is sitting level:

I just switched my fluid to synthetic a few weeks ago in my GXP. I must not have had it exactly level when I filled it up, though, because it pushed the excess fluid out the vent tube, too. That's what the vent tube is there for, though.

Now, if you have a leak at the pinion seal (where the driveshaft goes in) then you have problems... You'll know right away when you check it out because the grease will be slung all over the underbody and exhaust pipes foreward of the differential instead of running down the back of the case. And as much as it would suck to see that, it's better than the alternative way of finding out you have a pinion seal leak...

boomster · « **Reply #16 on:** September 01, 2009, 07:33:20 AM »

Just wanted to say thank you for the post with the pictures (it really helped since while I'm mechanically inclined I haven't worked on cars that much). I was able to take a look at it and saw it had been pushing out gear fluid by the vent tube. You have solved my issue and I no longer smell it

It also explains why it happened and why the smell was less and less as I was driving it... the dealership lubed, changed oil, etc while I was signing the papers for it and from the wax job they gave it I'm guessing they rushed at it all.

2kwk4u · « **Reply #17 on:** September 01, 2009, 04:40:52 PM »

Good news! Sounds like the vent worked as designed, and you should probably have no issues from here on... [knocks on wood]

The ONLY thing I'd wonder about at this point is slip additive. Does the sticker in your glove box have option code (RPO code) "G80" on it? If so, you have a limited slip differential. If they just topped off the fluid, it's no big deal, but if they changed it, be sure they put the slip additive back in with the fresh fluid.

boomster · « **Reply #18 on:** September 02, 2009, 05:39:58 PM »

I do have the LSD. Was curious when I got the car and went to find out what all the codes meant and saw I have it.

I'm gonna car the dealership to find out. I believe they may have topped things off only but I'm going to check.

I cleaned off the area and checked the amount that was in there. It still seemed a little high so I took a little bit more out. Haven't smelt it since then

DeepBlueGXP · « **Reply #19 on:** September 02, 2009, 08:59:29 PM »

Quote from: boomster on August 26, 2009, 10:59:53 AM

I think it's odd that with the circulate button pressed it turns on the A/C automatically even though the AC button isn't pressed.

Yes, that is normal in our cars, come to think of it, my G6 GT does the same thing.

Critterman · « **Reply #20 on:** September 03, 2009, 12:09:26 PM »

I believe most late model cars do exactly the same thing to keep condensation down. My wife's civic even turns on the ac light when you push recirc. My 01 Frontier doesn't turn on the AC light but turns the AC on as well.

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Author Topic: booster on board (Read 6030 times)