Toyota MR2 Message Board - View Single Post - 20V MK1 Engine Swap Lots of problems

SilverFire · 12-21-2007, 03:23 PM

I just replaced the silvertop in my MR2 and I'm having a few problems. Unfortunately, I don't know what I'm doing and the shop that got it running for me took 3 days and 2 techs to figure out the vacuum lines so I'm not particularily confident that they're much better...

Anyway, the problems:

It takes 2-3 minutes of cranking (10 seconds cranking, 10 seconds cooling the starter) to start when it's cold, but once it's started it fires up again right away.

When the engine first starts up, it has no power whatsoever to speak of. after the temp gauge gets up to the cold mark, it starts to improve until it gets to normal operating temperature.

Once at normal temperature, I can drive around town without too much trouble provided I'm easy on the throttle. Somewhere around 1/3 to 1/2 throttle (depending on the gear) it either bogs down horribly, or just plain has no power. That all depends on how fast I get there. If I go fast, like to pass someone or pull out into traffic, it bogs. If I floor it slowly, like to accelerate for a speed limit change, it will rev just fine all the way up to 7k and likely beyond (I ran out out of clear road there), but it accelerates in 2nd like it used to in 5th on the highway. Maybe a little slower. Also if I go in between, like to climb a steep hill, it has no power and knocks audibly.

I'd be tempted to say the timing's out, but the shop checked it and it's dead on 10 degrees BTDC with the diagnostic plug jumpered.

I suspect that running way lower octane(91) was a contributing factor to the old engine's demise, so I'm running on 100 octane race gas for now. The old ST pulled hard with just a little knock under heavy load until its demise, so everything AROUND the engine is good.

What else could it be? The new engine's timing belt cover was broken in shipping, could it be a sensor that got messed up around there?

Thanks!

12-21-2007, 03:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
SilverFire Cage Fighter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Edmonton, AB Posts: 299 Thanks: 6 Thanked 15 Times in 13 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	Lots of problems - maybe related... I just replaced the silvertop in my MR2 and I'm having a few problems. Unfortunately, I don't know what I'm doing and the shop that got it running for me took 3 days and 2 techs to figure out the vacuum lines so I'm not particularily confident that they're much better... Anyway, the problems: It takes 2-3 minutes of cranking (10 seconds cranking, 10 seconds cooling the starter) to start when it's cold, but once it's started it fires up again right away. When the engine first starts up, it has no power whatsoever to speak of. after the temp gauge gets up to the cold mark, it starts to improve until it gets to normal operating temperature. Once at normal temperature, I can drive around town without too much trouble provided I'm easy on the throttle. Somewhere around 1/3 to 1/2 throttle (depending on the gear) it either bogs down horribly, or just plain has no power. That all depends on how fast I get there. If I go fast, like to pass someone or pull out into traffic, it bogs. If I floor it slowly, like to accelerate for a speed limit change, it will rev just fine all the way up to 7k and likely beyond (I ran out out of clear road there), but it accelerates in 2nd like it used to in 5th on the highway. Maybe a little slower. Also if I go in between, like to climb a steep hill, it has no power and knocks audibly. I'd be tempted to say the timing's out, but the shop checked it and it's dead on 10 degrees BTDC with the diagnostic plug jumpered. I suspect that running way lower octane(91) was a contributing factor to the old engine's demise, so I'm running on 100 octane race gas for now. The old ST pulled hard with just a little knock under heavy load until its demise, so everything AROUND the engine is good. What else could it be? The new engine's timing belt cover was broken in shipping, could it be a sensor that got messed up around there? Thanks!