Just Bought 96 gst and need help looking over car

[dpd96gst]

I just bought my 96 gst about 3 months ago and i am starting to look into some small problems i am having.
I am getting the timing belt changed within the week, I also just changed the spark plugs and put in bosch platnum 4s.
My main problems are that i am getting about 12 miles to the gallon on the highway and even less in town, when i am getting on the highway my car does some wierd stuff (exp. lags a little bit, doesn't want to shift up and sometimes just acts like it is in neutral.
I have worked on a few cars and know quite a bit but this is my first import type car. I have only worked on 85 and older cars.
I have riden in other gst's and my car just doesn't seem to have the umph that they did and was wondering what i can do to solve the problems.
Thanks for all the help you guys can give and i look forward to hearing any solutions.

[scottsee]

get a new gas cap.

[dpd96gst]

Are you serious?

[scottsee]

yeah.. ask your local dealerships service departmet what happens when you have a bad gas cap.

[dpd96gst]

cool i will get a new gas cap tomorrow.

Another thing i forgot to mention is that my belts are squealing like crazy and i just put new ones on what would be causing that.
i know i have a lot of problems but i only paid 3500 for a cosmetically awesome car and really i think all my problems are small ones that can be fixed

thanks for the comic reilief

[JoeWagon]

Don't be surprised if the performance of those platinum plugs isn't up to par. They are considered less useful than say, NGK BPR6ES. As for the other problem, sounds like a transmission problem. You'll have the most luck just bringing it to a qualified mechanic and pinpointing the problem. Good luck.

[ashah000]

Originally Posted by JoeWagon

Don't be surprised if the performance of those platinum plugs isn't up to par. They are considered less useful than say, NGK BPR6ES. As for the other problem, sounds like a transmission problem. You'll have the most luck just bringing it to a qualified mechanic and pinpointing the problem. Good luck.

Platinums suck
I use NGK-BPR5E and on my 98 gs and change the at least every other oil change.

[scottsee]

why didnt you spen a $100 and get a used vehical inspection at the mits dealer.

[dpd96gst]

I have been looking and wanting an eclipse for about 3 yrs and i found this one for a great price and really the car is in great shape no body paint damage and the engine just needs minor things as far as i could tell it really runs great but i have small glitches every now and then and i have been slowly working them out i just found the forum about a week ago and i have read about 3/4 the threads on the cars and they have really helped with alot of small things. I bought the car because i figured that what ever was wrong i could fix and learn about the car which i am doing. I would like to keep the car for a long time and mod it out. I guess you could say it is kind of my hobby to tinker with cars like this. I finished a 77 corvette when i was 16 and have redone 3 camaros a trans am and a pro street galaxie 500 so i know quite abit about cars but never really got into one this new. this is the newest car i have ever owned and i am in love with the car i love th way it drives and handles but i got it from a small dealership and they got it for a trade in and had no clue what has been done to it in the last 25000 miles so i am kinda running blind. but i am slowly learning and everyone so far is being an awesome help. thanks again.

[Nayr747]

Welcome to the forum! :0) You seem to have a good attitude so I think you will be able to solve most of the problems you have w/ ur car. Hey, but 3 yrs! that's a LONG time. I've been looking for a '98 GS-T for a couple months now and I'm going insane, i cant find ONE.

[dpd96gst]

ok i fixed the whole platinum thing and put in ngks now i am gonna start on the other stuff