The 1991 Eagle Talon, essentially a rebadged DSM (Diamond Star Motors) platform shared with Mitsubishi Eclipse and Plymouth Laser, is a turbocharged front-driver that's either already been heavily modified or is headed that way. These cars are now 30+ years old, and survivors have typically been through multiple owners who've varied widely in mechanical sympathy.
Crankshaft Harmonic Balancer Failure
Common · high severityTypical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Visible wobble at idle when viewing crank pulley from front, Squealing serpentine belt that won't stay aligned, Rough vibration through entire car at all RPM, Sudden loss of accessory drive (alternator, power steering, A/C)
Fix: Replace balancer and inspect timing belt for damage caused by wobble. Critical to use OEM Mitsubishi part, not cheap aftermarket. Requires removing accessory belts and timing cover for inspection. 3-4 hours labor if timing belt is intact; 6-8 hours if you're doing timing belt, water pump, and seals while you're in there (which you should).
Estimated cost: $600-1,200
Cylinder Head Cracking Between Valves
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 100,000-180,000 mi
Symptoms: Persistent coolant loss with no visible external leaks, White smoke from exhaust on cold start that clears up, Coolant in oil (milky dipstick) in advanced cases, Overheating under boost or sustained highway load, Misfires on cylinder 2 or 3 most commonly
Fix: The 4G63 turbo head is prone to micro-cracks between exhaust valves, especially if the car saw prolonged detonation or boost on 87 octane. Head removal, magnaflux inspection, and resurface required minimum. Many shops recommend replacement with known-good used head due to re-crack risk. While head is off, do timing belt, water pump, valve stem seals, and ARP head studs if owner plans to keep it. 12-16 hours labor for full job.
Estimated cost: $2,000-3,800
Automatic Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 70,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid puddle under radiator area, Burnt ATF smell after driving, Slipping between gears or delayed engagement when hot, Pink fluid mixing with coolant in overflow tank (internal cooler failure)
Fix: Steel hard lines rust through where they pass under the engine. External line replacement is straightforward (2 hours), but internal radiator cooler failure means contaminated ATF and coolant both—requires radiator replacement, full ATF flush, and often transmission rebuild within 5,000 miles due to coolant damage. If you catch external lines early, just replace lines and top off fluid.
Estimated cost: $300-500 for lines; $2,500-4,000 if radiator cooler failed internally
Clutch and Flywheel Wear (Manual Transmission)
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Clutch slipping under boost in 3rd/4th gear, Shudder or chatter on engagement from stop, Difficulty shifting into 1st or reverse, Burning smell after spirited driving
Fix: Original single-mass flywheel and clutch disc rarely survive past 100k on turbo cars, especially if modified. While transmission is out, replace clutch disc, pressure plate, throwout bearing, pilot bearing, and resurface or replace flywheel. Many owners upgrade to ACT or Exedy stage 1-2 kit at this point. 6-8 hours labor for full clutch job.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Camshaft and Lifter Wear from Oil Starvation
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 90,000-160,000 mi
Symptoms: Loud ticking or tapping from valve cover, especially on cold start, Loss of power throughout RPM range, Check engine light with misfire codes, Metal shavings in oil or on magnetic drain plug
Fix: The 4G63 is an interference engine with solid lifters that depends on religious 3,000-mile oil changes. Skipped maintenance or cheap filters lead to cam lobe wear and eventually lifter failure. Requires valve cover removal, cam removal, lifter replacement, and often new valves if rocker arms scored the tips. If damage is severe, cylinder head comes off. 8-12 hours labor depending on extent.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,500
Fuel Filter Clogging and Fuel Pump Failure
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Stumbling or cutting out under boost, Hard starting after sitting overnight, Whining noise from rear of car during acceleration, Loss of top-end power but idles fine
Fix: In-tank fuel pump commonly fails due to ethanol fuel and age. External fuel filter (under car near tank) should be changed every 30k but rarely is. When pump dies, drop tank, replace pump assembly and internal sock filter. Do external filter at same time. 3-4 hours labor for pump, 0.5 hour for external filter.
Estimated cost: $400-700 for pump; $80-150 for filter only
Transmission and Engine Mount Collapse
Common · low severityTypical onset: 70,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting from reverse to drive, Excessive engine movement visible during acceleration, Vibration through shifter and pedals, Hood or fender contact marks from engine movement
Fix: Rubber transmission mount (front) and front engine mount deteriorate from heat and oil exposure. These are high-stress on turbo cars due to torque. Replace all three mounts (front, rear, transmission) as a set—doing one just overloads the others. Many owners upgrade to polyurethane mounts for longevity but at the cost of NVH. 2-3 hours labor for all three.
Estimated cost: $300-600
Buy only if you're mechanically inclined and have records proving timing belt, water pump, and head gasket are recently done—otherwise you're inheriting a $3,000-5,000 engine-out service on a car that's been discontinued for decades and has spotty parts availability.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.