mr2-digest Wednesday, 24 January 1996 Volume 01 : Number 094 radiator fans Upgraded tires and rims... Toyota Screen Saveer & Blown Engines Re:HKS/Trust Exhaust MK1 bike/ski racks Re: Looking for MR2 Re: mr2-digest V1 #92 radiator fans TVVC vs. EVC Re: mr2-digest V1 #93 RE: 1992 MR2 VR-4 le New Member Re: blown MKII turbo engine Re: Bad turbo? Stereo Wiring Harness Bike Rack & Red Line Oils re: bike/ski racks High idle... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: uunet!netrunner.net!hkphoto (howard kuflik) Date: Tue, 23 Jan 1996 07:40:18 -0500 Subject: radiator fans Well it's me again with the project car from hell....this time the fans on the radiator dont shut off at all...the code when checked says"11" can you tell me where that is ????? (says A/C switch???is that in the car that controls blower?) I replaced the temp switch in the radiator and they still stay on... So much for warming the engine up... Thanks Howard 1986 MR-2 n/a ------------------------------ From: J Kho Date: Tue, 23 Jan 1996 11:09:59 PST Subject: Upgraded tires and rims... Hi there everyone. Normally I just read the digest and don't post anything to it, but I have a question for all of you. I have an '89 SC MKI and am planning to upgrade the OEM 185/60/R14" wheels to 215/40/R16" wheels. In addition, I also plan to lower the suspension by one inch with TRD components. People on the digest have indicated that tire clearance for the 16" wheels would not be a problem with the stock suspension. However, I was wondering for my situation: 1. Will there be tire clearance problems with the 16" wheels and the lowered suspension? 2. Will the width of the 215/40/R16 cause steering problems (i.e. will the tires be too wide such that I can't turn the steering wheel to its locked position without rubbing the fender) 3. Should I consider a 15" tire instead? 4. Which modification should I do first (i.e. lower the suspension and then get the tires or vice versa?) Thanks in advance, Jason - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ J Kho 284 Albert Street Waterloo, Ont N2L 3T8 (519) 888-7457 ------------------------------ From: Scott McBurney Date: Tue, 23 Jan 1996 09:18:11 -0600 Subject: Toyota Screen Saveer & Blown Engines If you want the toyota screen saver, an easy way to get it is to call Toyota at 800-GO-TOYOTA and ask them to send you their CD-ROM. You can install the screen saver from there, and it works. On the topic of blown engines, I was at my dealer yesterday ordering a new fog light. (damn those are expensive!) There was a 91 MR2 Turbo on the rack with the engine and transmission out of it! (what a sight, all that empty space in there) It seems that it had 48k miles on it, and the owner had never checked the oil in it (I believe he never even changed it - what an idiot). The mechanic said the owner ran it on practically no oil and blew the engine. It is now in the process of a lengthy and expensive rebuild. Proof that some people shouldn't be allow to own an MR2! They might give the rest of us a bad reputation. Scott McBurney 91 MR2 - 137,000 Miles and still going! ------------------------------ From: aly abulkheir Date: Tue, 23 Jan 1996 12:13:32 -0500 (EST) Subject: Re:HKS/Trust Exhaust MK1 Regarding the gentleman's question on which exhaust is better for the mk1 NA MR2, 90% of my sources prefer the HKS. It has been stated to last longer, perform better overall, look better, and even sound better. I just purchased a TRD header and when I get some more funds, my choice will definitely be the HKS exhuast. The Trust has been said to be more free flowing, but it has been stated here that this is not the best setup for the 4AGE engine for overall power. The HKS is advertised with a 6hp increase while the Trust is rated for a 10hp increase. But according to Chris Myer and John Broderick, what is felt and what counts is really Torque. From what I gather, the HKS offers more Torque increase for a better overall power increase, something you will feel, and something that will last and perform. Hope this helps. Aly, '85 MR2, Red with all options abulkh34@matrix.newpaltz.edu ------------------------------ From: uunet!keithley.com!marks (Mike Marks) Date: Tue, 23 Jan 96 11:23:32 EST Subject: bike/ski racks I can't help with ski racks since I don't ski, but the Bard-Wyers "Stealth" rack will fit on the MkII and allow you to carry two bikes. It rests on the bumper and connects via straps to the towing hooks and the rear trunk lid. It clears the spoiler quite well, too. - -- Mike Marks '93T, 34k, in hibernation until the weather warms up :( '85 Dodge, 102k, with bad rings :) ------------------------------ From: "Miceli, Fred (Contractor)" Date: Tue, 23 Jan 1996 02:03:41 -0500 Subject: Re: Looking for MR2 Brian, Where do you live? I am also looking for a turbo MR2!!!!! Fred ------------------------------ From: "Kostas G. D. Chryssos " Date: Tue, 23 Jan 1996 22:54:54 +0200 Subject: Re: mr2-digest V1 #92 >Subject: Re: Gulping Sound > >Joey writes: > >>I recently bought a 91 MR2 Turbo. It has been making this gulping sound >>from the engine compartment around 3000 RPM, just when the Turbo comes o >Joey, is the sound happening when boost is just starting build, or just >after you let off the gas? I bought a '91 Turbo a few weeks ago and was at >first alarmed to hear a gulping or almost a burping sound whenever I would >- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > This is the sound the relief valve does. This valve is connected to the air pipe going into the intercooler. It is controlled by the vacuum in the plenum and relieves boost when the throttle is let off. It is like a burp, though mostly baffled by the air filter. An open after market filter makes this very pronounced. I have devised a little air filter to cut this sound. If though you hear a loud clapping noise, this is coming from the air flow meter on top of the air filter. Both sounds are ok. ___________ ________________ ________ __ ___/__ | / /__< /___ __ )___ __/ _____ \ __ | / / __ / __ __ |__ / ____/ / __ |/ / _ / _ /_/ / _ / /____/ _____/ /_/ /_____/ /_/ (Kostas G. D. Chryssos Ph.D.) 30,Ikarias str. Glyfada GR16675, Athens, Hellas Tel: xx-301 9628212, Fax: xx-301 9628539 ------------------------------ From: uunet!netrunner.net!hkphoto (howard kuflik) Date: Tue, 23 Jan 1996 18:01:20 -0500 Subject: radiator fans Well it's me again with the project car from hell....this time the fans on the radiator dont shut off at all...the code when checked says"11" can you tell me where that is ????? (says A/C switch???is that in the car that controls blower?) I replaced the temp switch in the radiator and they still stay on... So much for warming the engine up... Thanks Howard 1986 MR-2 n/a ------------------------------ From: uunet!idirect.com!mrtwo (Bill Chen) Date: Tue, 23 Jan 1996 20:16:23 -0500 Subject: TVVC vs. EVC This has probably been brought up before but excuse me for asking it again. This spring I plan to up the boost of my MR2 and am a bit confused as whether to purchase the TVVC or to go into even more debt with the EVC. I know that the EVC prevents spiking and allows for "safer" boost. I have heard from shops here that many an MR2 has blown it's turbo from over boosting with the TVVC (dial up more boost to beat the other guy thing). I plan to run the TVVC at 13psi expecting the ocassional spike to 14psi. I know that the EVC can give me 15psi but is it worth the extra money? Does the extra performance justify this? Also someone mentioned that the EVC allows for faster spooling time. I have not heard this, can anyone back this up with facts? Figuring for an HKS exhaust and filter I have seen the EVC timed at 13.7s in the 1/4 mile. I expect low 14s for the TVVC and the above mentioned mods. I appreciate any more information that anyone can provide. Thanks again. - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Bill Chen | |MrTwo@idirect.com | |36 Ingleborough Court Unionville, Ontario | |L3R 8M6 Canada | |(905) 946-1170 (416) 816-6135 | - ------------------Life begins at 150mph--------------------------- ------------------------------ From: uunet!idirect.com!mrtwo (Bill Chen) Date: Tue, 23 Jan 1996 20:25:56 -0500 Subject: Re: mr2-digest V1 #93 I was wondering if anyone else is having problems with their leather seats on their Mk II MR2. Aside from the fading black leather, I now have to remove the seats of my stored MR2 and have the seats repaired. It seams the stitching on the seat part has come out at two places. The stitch in between is coming out which will soon leave me with a six inch rip. I'm looking at about two hours multiplied by $50. Also is there any way to test a turbo? I'd like to know if mine is not performing up to par so that I can have it replaced before my ECP expires. Thanks. - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Bill Chen | |MrTwo@idirect.com | |36 Ingleborough Court Unionville, Ontario | |L3R 8M6 Canada | |(905) 946-1170 (416) 816-6135 | - ------------------Life begins at 150mph--------------------------- ------------------------------ From: uunet!qni.com!rande Date: Tue, 23 Jan 1996 20:15:54 -0600 Subject: RE: 1992 MR2 VR-4 le >The car came from factory only in the non-turbo version (2.2 liter) but with >a sports-tuned fuel injection computer control and intake/exhaust ports >giving it an extra 35 horses and lower end torque to avoid the typical turbo >lag found on virtually all single turbocharged engines (including the MR2 >Turbo). Why are they trying to reduce turbo lag on a non-turbo engine? Randy Eickhoff _/_/ _/_/ _/_/_/ _/_/ rande@qni.com _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ '91 MR2T 37k 24/64 AS _/ _/ _/ _/_/_/ _/ '85 MR2 122k current project _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ Kansas City Region SCCA _/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/_/_/ Crown Autocross Club of Kansas City ------------------------------ From: uunet!aol.com!Jage3 Date: Tue, 23 Jan 1996 19:34:20 -0500 Subject: New Member I am really glad that I found this list... I just moved to Columbus OH and was wondering if anybody could give me information about the nearest MR2 owners club. Please send it to my address, as I don't know if my subscription request has been processed yet. Thanks. Jonathan Jacoby '94 NA Super Red MR2 ------------------------------ From: "Mark A. Shehan" Date: 23 Jan 96 22:42:52 EST Subject: Re: blown MKII turbo engine Brad- I'll reply to the digest since you sent your note to both the digest and my e-mail address. I spun the #1 connecting rod bearing at 130 K miles. I was at an autocross in Converse, Indiana at the time.... at between 6500 and 7000 rpm, in second gear, under full boost, traversing a slalom. The first thing I noticed was a severe loss in power, and then a loud, high speed "clank, clank, clank". Unfortunately, as it ultimately turned out, I didn't get out of it and shut off the engine soon enough... I ended up limping through the rest of the course. To make a long story short, I first tried replacing the bearing in that particular journal, cleaning up the crank and rod journals. This wasn't good enough as it almost immediately spun the bearing again. I then tore apart the engine, put new rings, new rod in the number one cylinder, and new bearings all the way around. This still wasn't good enough. It turns out that the crank journal was damaged too much. The engine would run, but not without a "click click click" when releasing the throttle. I didn't trust it to say the least. I ended up having a used engine with 23 K miles on it swapped in. My mechanic managed to find one for $1000, and I got to keep my old engine!!! Admittedly keeping the old engine wasn't part of the original bargain. I'll be rebuilding the old engine next winter. I'm debating how far to go with engine mod's. A larger turbo, higher boost and larger intercooler are certainly part of the plan. Mark Shehan '91 MKII turbo 148 K miles Ann Arbor, Michigan ------------------------------ From: "Mark A. Shehan" Date: 23 Jan 96 22:42:55 EST Subject: Re: Bad turbo? Danny- Couple of questions. How many miles are on the turbo? What boost levels have you been running? Has the oil been changed regularly? Do you use synthetic oil? If the car has at/near 100 K miles, has been running above stock boost for any significant length of time, or has been subject to infrequent oil changes will non-synthetic oil then there is a good possibility that the turbo has gone bad. You should probably remove the intake plumbing to see if there is play in the impeller shaft of the turbo, significant fresh oil in the intake plumbing and/or mechanical marks from metal-to-metal contact before deciding to splurge for a new turbo. My turbo began burning significant oil, and making a metal-to-metal noise at around 120 K hard miles (including running at 15 psi for a number of K miles, and autocrossing regularly). I replaced the turbo shortly thereafter. If you replace the turbo I would recommend buying a remanufactured CT-26 unit from Turbo City for about a third of what Toyota will charge you for a new one. Replacing the turbo yourself will take anywhere from a couple of days to a week (after work hours) with the proper tools, depending on how easy the fasteners in the exhaust system are to remove. Toyota will charge you an arm and a leg to do it yourself. Hope this helps. Mark Shehan '91 MKII turbo 148 K miles Ann Arbor, Michigan ------------------------------ From: uunet!interserv.com!kca Date: Tue, 23 Jan 1996 21:42:12 -0800 Subject: Stereo Wiring Harness Has anybody out there who's car originally came with the 3-in-1 stereo tried to wire in an after-market stereo? Is there an easy way to replace the deck (i.e. a wiring harness available that is a direct plug-in)? Or am I pretty much stuck with rewiring the whole car? I would like to retain the original wiring if at all possible while using the stock subwoofer amplifier, but if I have to rewire the car there's no way I'm not putting something better in. I purchased an adapter that's supposed to make a direct connection, but it isn't anything close to the plug that came out of the back of the 3-in-1. Kip Anderson kca@interserv.com P.S. This really makes me wish I had a manual so I could at least figure out what wires go where. ------------------------------ From: Charlie Reynolds Date: 24 Jan 96 00:31:13 EST Subject: Bike Rack & Red Line Oils BIKE RACKS: Mike Inskeep was looking for bike/ski racks: I have had great success with an Enflite bike rack that hooks on over the engine compartment. Its the kind of rack that takes 2 bikes and holds them by the forks and the rear tire, you're on your own to secure the front tires. I attach the rack to the front edge of the engine hood (the rack has rubber coated hooks) and underneath the spoiler to the tow hooks under the bumper. The back of the rack pokes up and the tires just clear the spoiler (26"x2" mountain bike tires). One word of caution, if you have 2 heavy bikes you should be aware that hitting a large bump may dent the lightweight (is it aluminum?) engine hood and trunk as this is where the bulk of the bike weight lands (albeit on rubber pads). So far I have not scratched the paint or dented the car and I've been able to take my mountain bikes on some great trips. The only ski rack I've seen on an MR2 was the suction cup type of rack mounted to the passenger window. I didn't like it. REDLINE OILS: Ok, like everyone else my transmission is very notchy. So today I reviewed the MR2 web site and several accumulated digests to determine which oil is right for a '92 without limited slip. After a lot of reading and a phone call to Redline, they confirmed that the NS is appropriate for the non-limited slip transaxle. So next I tried to locate 75W90NS. No one in Nashville stocked the NS, Options Auto Salon didn't have it, and Millen didn't either. Finally I gave up and asked Redline to mail me the order direct (800-624-7958) $47.95 (5 quarts just in case I spill) including shipping. Today was expensive, new oil and 2 new AVSs from the Tire Rack. Keep it between the lines- Charlie Reynolds '92 NA ------------------------------ From: uunet!aol.com!AstonMrtn Date: Wed, 24 Jan 1996 03:51:13 -0500 Subject: re: bike/ski racks > >I'm looking to buy a bike/ski rack for my '91-T, does anybody >have any > Do you have t-tops? I assume so, since racks are readily available for hardtop versions. I looked around a LOT for a rack for my car, and the only thing I found that was recommend/approved was a trailer hitch mount. A company makes a trailer hitch that'll bolt onto your MR2 without any modifications or drilling (if you look on the subframe, there are a number of holes drilled that it probably attaches to), and then you can buy a trailer hitch bike rack. For skiis, a friend of mine saw an MR2 with some sort of skii holder attached to the engine cover. I'm designing a mountain bike rack for my MR2 with t-tops, and if there's enough interest, may even sell it. I'll let everyone know how it turns out when I finally get around to prototyping it. It'll only hold one bike though - - but it will be held on top of the car, in a somewhat traditional manner. - -Matt '91 White NA ------------------------------ From: uunet!aol.com!AstonMrtn Date: Wed, 24 Jan 1996 03:30:39 -0500 Subject: High idle... My '91 MR2 NA recently started idling pretty high on cold start ups. When first started, it jumps up to about 2250rpm, then quickly settles down to 1750-1900, and slowly lowers as the car warms up. This seems normal, except for how it shoots up so quickly. While this isn't necessarily cause for concern, I'm curious as to whether or not it's ok! Also, it started doing this about 30 miles after I added a bottle of fuel injector cleaner to the tank at fill-up. I'm sure that had something to do with it; maybe my injectors were just really dirty before (I don't think it ever got above 1500 rpm when cold - I bought it used). I've since refilled the tank a couple times and see the same results. - -Matt '91 White NA ------------------------------ End of mr2-digest V1 #94