mr2-digest Wednesday, 1 November 1995 Volume 01 : Number 018 Valve adjustment Requiem Oil Filter Confusion How to Getting Off the Old Digest @tta.com???!!! Three years of perfect driving....now this! 91' MKII Turbo For Sale MR2 Life? hi ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: uunet!diane.csg.mot.com!mikep (Mike Pittelkow) Date: Tue, 31 Oct 1995 16:22:40 -0600 Subject: Valve adjustment >>I dropped my '91 Turbo off at a local Lexus dealer yesterday morning for a >>valve-adjustment and timing-belt change (cheaper than Toyota, free loaner >>car, and they even said they'd wax it if they had time!). > >the dealer charged you for a valve adjustment on a 3SGTE? They -do- need to have the shims replaced from time to time (Every 60k miles, by the book) The shims wear. ------------------------------ From: Mark Dadgar Date: Tue, 31 Oct 95 11:02:42 -0800 Subject: Requiem The service writer at my local Toyota dealer (101 Toyota in Redwood City, CA) gave me a photocopy of this article when I dropped off my car yesterday. He's got an '87 MR2, so he's "one of us". :) - -- PERFORMANCE BUFFS WILL MISS THE MR2 By Russ DeVault Cox News Service To understand why Toyota is axing the MR2, its mid-engine bundle of fun, just look at the price tag: $33,037. To understand why there are fans who complain about the decision - 123,200 cards have been sold since the MR2 was introduced in 1985 - just look at the car's driving attributes: zero-to-60 mph in 5.9 seconds and 60 mph to zero in 112 feet. In other words, it can hit 60 mph and return to rest before most cars can break the speed limit. Road-handling characteristics of the MR2 are near-flawless. It won't run off the snakiest two-lane around unless its driver goes to sleep or does something absolutely stupid. Credit goes to the MR2's splendid mid-engined configuration, independent suspension, and sticky Yokohama uni-directional tires. The MR2 is a comfortable car, too. Supportive seats - leather is optional - and good pedal/instrumentation/controls placement take care of that. Despite its lack of height - only 48.6 inches tall - the visibility from within the MR2 is good. The mirrors make no concession to aerodynamic qualities that interfere with vision. But practical the MR2 isn't, a factor Toyota likes to say is another reason for its demise. "Sales steadily dwindled as people demanded roomier, more practical cars," says Xavier Dominicis, Toyota's Miami-based publicist. "Plus, the amount of money required to develop a worthy next-generation MR2 couldn't be recouped in today's market." But there are those who think what what goes around comes around and that owners and potential owners rejecting the MR2 today will come to cherish it. "Anything that unique - a two-seat, mid-engine sports car - can become a collector's item," says Atlantan Al Burns, former automotive newsletter editor and longtime industry observer. "The baby boomers who bought the cars but don't want them now because they need more seats, more space, will remember the MR2 when they have their mid-life crisis and want it back." Burns says. "It may take 15 years for that to happen, but it'll happen." The MR2 is a remarkable vehicle, but its fate hardly makes it unique. Remember the Pontiac Fiero, which was killed off in 1988, the year it became what it should have been all along. And there was the Cadillac Allante, also a two-seater, that was summarily executed last year after reaching its prime. The difference here is that the MR2 still has room for development. Its four-cylinder engine - 200 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 200 pounds of torque at 3,200 rpm - is a turbo and, being a turbo, occasionally lags. And 200 hp, while adequate for a 2,800-pound car, isn't a number that will wow everybody these days. Aside from a shifter that can be balky, the MR2 is a cheerful little mover. - --- Aside from that throwaway last line that makes our car seem like a Geo Metro, it's not a bad eulogy. Sigh ... imagine the MR2 being picked up by Lexus, and a new, high-performance, 2.5 litre, all-aluminum six-cylinder being slid into the engine bay. DROOL ... - - Mark - --- Mark Dadgar | "If English was good enough for Jesus Network/Systems Admin. | Christ, then it's good enough for me." NeXT Computer, Inc. | - Arkansas congressman to Joint Mark_Dadgar@NeXT.COM | National Committee on Language ------------------------------ From: "Burns, James B." Date: Tue, 31 Oct 95 13:14:00 EST Subject: Oil Filter Confusion I bought some Toyota oil filters for my '94 Turbo today (on sale for $4.99), and it was confusing. I looked up the part number on the list and found that filter, but on the filter's box it said it was for S-series engines EXCEPT 3SGTE. So I asked the parts guy and he said it would work. But then he showed me a different filter which was not on the list for MR2, but on the box it said it was for 3SGTE. This filter was longer than the first one, but diameter was the same. He said the two filters were identical except for the length and recommended the longer one for the turbo. It would seem that the longer one would have greater filtering capacity. BTW, the same (short) filter was listed for both the 3SGTE and 5SFE MR2s. Why would the listing say it was for MR2 3SGTE, but the box say not for 3SGTE? Anyone familiar with these filters? Are they indeed identical except for the length? Brad Burns '94 Turbo black ------------------------------ From: "Brian L. Donnell" Date: Tue, 31 Oct 95 05:00:02 CST Subject: How to Getting Off the Old Digest @tta.com???!!! I have been trying to unsubscribe to the old MR2 digest by sending email to mr2-digest-request@tta.com requesting to be removed. I have sent numerous requests over the past *three* weeks - all to no avail. Is the moderator dead or what? I tried validgh's majordomo, but, of course, was told that I wasn't subscribed to mr2 digest. I'm not getting validgh's digest, I'm getting tta's. Sigh. This is getting bloody annoying - I think I have waited a reasonable amount of time to be unsubscribed. I need to restrict the volume to this email account immediately! Does someone have a phone # for the guy who is supposed to be taking care of tta.com???? No one can be that busy. Thank you - Brian Donnell NASA/JSC brian@gothamcity.jsc.nasa.gov ------------------------------ From: Chris Hull 01628-583079 Date: Tue, 31 Oct 1995 11:41:23 -0800 (PST) Subject: Three years of perfect driving....now this! Hi there, I drive a 1987 Red MK1 MR2 and have done for the last 3 years. During this time I have had very few problems expect for a some gearbox work (that was carried out FOC within the warrenty that I purchased with the car) and a new exhaust. However, the last three weeks have been kinda expensive! The radiator got holed and was a total right-of so had to replaced. I chose to use an exchange as ~#500 for a new radiator seemed a little steep! I also asked them to look at the gearbox again as it had started slipping out of 5th when de-accelerating. This turned out to be a worn 5th gear and a new thrust plate. Thankfully, not that expensive as they do not have to drop the box to replace 5th gear. Oh happy days! Anyway, got the MR2 back after a week of driving a Rover 416 (yeach!) and was well chuffed! However, yesterday it overheated good and proper. The RAC came out, took one look at it and said "it's an air-lock". Something to do with driving with the heater switched off and there not being a one way valve. Kept going on about the Japenese thinking that we never had hot weather and therefore required our heaters on most of the time. Was he bullsh****g me or has anyone else come across this problem? Any he tested the front fans okay (and damm near lost a hand!) but the rear one didn't appear to cut in at all. After topping up the system and running the car for 5 mins the radiator warmed up and the temp gauge was vertical. Looked good. However within 1 mile of getting up to speed it overheated again and I and my MR2 had to suffer the humiliation of being taken down the M4 from Swindon to Maidenhead in a tow truck! Anyway the car is now at the garage. They've not had a look at it so I've no idea what's wrong. The fault was reported as a Suspect Head Gasket. This sounds kinda major. Is it? I also note that there was a post here about fading paint work. I'm also affected by this having a 1 foot strip across the bonnet and slightly faded roof. Have tried the color-wax products that are available but I'm supposed I'll be looking at a respray to got rid of all the marks? Well that's it. Thank for taking the to read and I'd welcome any advise that's going. Chris. Christopher.Hull@syntex.com ------------------------------ From: Brian Garrett Bok Date: Tue, 31 Oct 95 8:32:34 PST Subject: 91' MKII Turbo For Sale Hello All, All good things must come to an end, so I'm sad to say that I'm putting my MR2 up for sale. This has been the best driving, most comfortable sports car I've ever owned, but it's time for something more spacious. This car has been great to me, problem free, powerful, terrific handling, and supported by a fantastic newslist! The car is located in the Santa Cruz/San Jose, California area. Contact me at Home: 408-479-7817 Work: 408-427-6746 Email: brianbo@sco.com For Sale: ======== 1991 Toyota MR2 Turbo - - Red - - 5 Speed - - 56.5k Miles (warrantied until 60k) - - Excellent Condition - - $13,900 Loaded: - - T-Tops - - Leather - - 3 in 1 Stereo (CD, Dolby B/C Cassette, AM/FM) - - 7 Speaker Sound System - - Air Conditioning - - Power Door Locks - - Power Windows - - Power Mirrors - - Power Steering - - Tilt Steering - - ABS - - Drivers Side Airbag - - Fog Lights - - Fade Out Entry System Ungo Box Security System w/Keyless Entry Car Cover Nose Bra $1,200 in new wheel/tire combo (only 3k miles driven on these) - - MSW Type 33 Alloy Wheels (made in Italy!) - - Bridgestone Potenza RE71 Tires o Front: 205-50/ZR15 o Rear: 225-50/ZR15 - - Stock Wheels and All Weather Tires Included (New Dunlop D60A2's) All Maintenance Records Oil Changes every 3k miles Recent changes include a transmission oil change (Redline oil), radiator coolant flush and spark plug wire change. ------------------------------ From: Steven Ka Ming Lau Date: Tue, 31 Oct 1995 09:39:37 -0800 (PST) Subject: MR2 Life? Hi everyone, I am wondering how long can a MR2 MK I live. Does anyfone who's driving a MK I that has 200K+ miles? - --SL 87NA 107K miles... ------------------------------ From: "KeNdRiCk W." Date: Tue, 31 Oct 1995 15:17:08 -0800 (PST) Subject: hi Today, i had my exhaust changed. anyways, after i got home, i realized there's a strong burning smell from under the car. when i checked the engine i realized one of hte spark plug wires was pulled out! So i was basically running with three plugs my car is' a 93MR2 turbo. I was wondering what would be the consequence of running with one of the plug wire out? and what is that burning smell from? the car was running fine, turbo came on nicely so i didn't know something was wrong til i got home and smell that strong burning odor. please comment 93'Turbo |\__/+--+-\____ |-\ /-|-----\|-----\ @49.3k Km |_--##---------=>| \/ | |_) /|--) _) @== "(*)------(*)-/ | |\/| | _ < __/ /__ =[KeNdRiCk W.]= "Betty" |_| |_|_| \_\|_______| ------------------------------ End of mr2-digest V1 #18