1st Car Need Some Help

PancakeFace124 · 07-21-2009, 01:04 PM

Hey guys, I just got my first car. It's a 1988 MK1 MR2. Got the car for $2000. I have just a few questions.

1st - Where can I buy an OEM throttle cable online and how much will it cost. The one I have now is starting to fray and it needs to get replaced, my local guy said $180 for the cable (which is ridiculous). A link would be great

2nd - I'm having some overheating issues, after driving the car for about 10 minutes the temp guage will be all the way up and you can hear the engine coolant bubbling. I didn't know how to go about fixing this.

Any general maintenance tips would be greatly appreciated

Anyways, here take a look at the car.

mr3 · 07-21-2009, 08:57 PM

Good luck finding a new throttle cable. I bought one used that was in good shape for $20 from a local guy parting his car out. Nice looking car but I'm not a big fan of the 16's. I had some big chrome rims on my car but they were just because the tires were good and they were cheap. Make sure there isnt any air in the coolant. There are a few bleeder valves. 1 in the engine bay on the drivers side of the engine above the transmission and 1 in the frunk that you have to bleed. I think there is another 1 too. There are a few good threads about how to do this. Just do a search and you'll be good.

palos · 07-21-2009, 10:37 PM

Lithia Toyota is one of the forum's sponsors and you can ask for a price quote from Aaron for the speedometer cable. You may want to include your zip code, though I'm not certain whether Aaron has the time to quote shipping charges. Otherwise, you can always try the usual suspect nationwide parts houses for their prices.

There are three "bleed valves" for the cooling system. One above the transmission, one by the brake reservoir and a third by the radiator.

The Toyota Factory Service Manual is referred to as the BGB (the Big Green Book) and if you search this forum you can find a link to download the same. The manual is highly recommended, downloading the same is your decision.

Air in the cooling system is a fairly common malady, that usually can also be diagnosed by a bouncing idle, usually between 800 rpms and 2500 rpms. If you haven't been experiencing the bouncing idle, you will need to do a compression and/or leak down test to determine if you have a head gasket problem.

Nice looking example of the MK1 MR2.

jholder · 07-21-2009, 10:47 PM

I'm not a mk1 guy, but you might also want to check the thermostat for proper operation if bleeding the coolant doesnt fix it. (the quick and dirty check is to pull the thermostat, and put it into a pot of water just off the boil (i think the thermostats are spec'ed for 185* but not sure, check the service manual). You should see the thermostat open at that point if it is functional.

AustinTXMk1 · 07-21-2009, 11:17 PM

I get a lot of my OEM parts from Toyota Parts of Dallas (Texas) ToyotaPartSales.com
Throttle cable is an expensive item and what I think my source quoted me it's about $150 plus shipping. They are still available. The fourm's parts vendor may or may not be able to improve upon the quotes already noted. If you can find a good used one then that may be your best bet... but that's the risk - finding a good one.

I agree with the BGB and bleeding of the cooling system. I'd start here as you don't want to have to go much deeper than that if you don't have to...

PancakeFace124 · 07-22-2009, 07:10 AM

Thanks for all the responses guys, I'll look up this BGB and take a look at bleeding the system. I'll check back and let you guys know how it turns out. And palos, you're right I do get that bouncy idle once in a while.

muffinman · 07-22-2009, 10:05 AM

Welcome

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PancakeFace124 · 07-22-2009, 10:46 PM

Problem solved, there was a pinhole in the radiator tubing which let air into the lines. New hose installed, now were running.

muffinman · 07-23-2009, 10:41 AM

glad to hear that you got it solved

07-21-2009, 01:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
PancakeFace124 No Skills Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 23 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	1st Car Need Some Help Hey guys, I just got my first car. It's a 1988 MK1 MR2. Got the car for $2000. I have just a few questions. 1st - Where can I buy an OEM throttle cable online and how much will it cost. The one I have now is starting to fray and it needs to get replaced, my local guy said $180 for the cable (which is ridiculous). A link would be great 2nd - I'm having some overheating issues, after driving the car for about 10 minutes the temp guage will be all the way up and you can hear the engine coolant bubbling. I didn't know how to go about fixing this. Any general maintenance tips would be greatly appreciated Anyways, here take a look at the car.

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07-21-2009, 08:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
mr3 Cage Fighter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Plymouth Mtg, Pa Posts: 848 Thanks: 19 Thanked 26 Times in 25 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	Good luck finding a new throttle cable. I bought one used that was in good shape for $20 from a local guy parting his car out. Nice looking car but I'm not a big fan of the 16's. I had some big chrome rims on my car but they were just because the tires were good and they were cheap. Make sure there isnt any air in the coolant. There are a few bleeder valves. 1 in the engine bay on the drivers side of the engine above the transmission and 1 in the frunk that you have to bleed. I think there is another 1 too. There are a few good threads about how to do this. Just do a search and you'll be good.

07-21-2009, 10:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
palos … Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 170 Thanks: 0 Thanked 20 Times in 18 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Lithia Toyota is one of the forum's sponsors and you can ask for a price quote from Aaron for the speedometer cable. You may want to include your zip code, though I'm not certain whether Aaron has the time to quote shipping charges. Otherwise, you can always try the usual suspect nationwide parts houses for their prices. There are three "bleed valves" for the cooling system. One above the transmission, one by the brake reservoir and a third by the radiator. The Toyota Factory Service Manual is referred to as the BGB (the Big Green Book) and if you search this forum you can find a link to download the same. The manual is highly recommended, downloading the same is your decision. Air in the cooling system is a fairly common malady, that usually can also be diagnosed by a bouncing idle, usually between 800 rpms and 2500 rpms. If you haven't been experiencing the bouncing idle, you will need to do a compression and/or leak down test to determine if you have a head gasket problem. Nice looking example of the MK1 MR2.

07-21-2009, 10:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
jholder I put the ho in 'hosale Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 444 Thanks: 8 Thanked 14 Times in 11 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	I'm not a mk1 guy, but you might also want to check the thermostat for proper operation if bleeding the coolant doesnt fix it. (the quick and dirty check is to pull the thermostat, and put it into a pot of water just off the boil (i think the thermostats are spec'ed for 185* but not sure, check the service manual). You should see the thermostat open at that point if it is functional.

07-21-2009, 11:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
AustinTXMk1 Intermediate/ Adv Skills Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 22 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	I get a lot of my OEM parts from Toyota Parts of Dallas (Texas) ToyotaPartSales.com Throttle cable is an expensive item and what I think my source quoted me it's about $150 plus shipping. They are still available. The fourm's parts vendor may or may not be able to improve upon the quotes already noted. If you can find a good used one then that may be your best bet... but that's the risk - finding a good one. I agree with the BGB and bleeding of the cooling system. I'd start here as you don't want to have to go much deeper than that if you don't have to...

07-22-2009, 07:10 AM	#6 (permalink)
PancakeFace124 No Skills Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 23 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Thanks for all the responses guys, I'll look up this BGB and take a look at bleeding the system. I'll check back and let you guys know how it turns out. And palos, you're right I do get that bouncy idle once in a while.

07-22-2009, 10:05 AM	#7 (permalink)
muffinman Brain Surgeon Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 1,811 Thanks: 24 Thanked 102 Times in 99 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Welcome BGB : Free File Hosting Made Simple - MediaFire

07-22-2009, 10:46 PM	#8 (permalink)
PancakeFace124 No Skills Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 23 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Problem solved, there was a pinhole in the radiator tubing which let air into the lines. New hose installed, now were running.

07-23-2009, 10:41 AM	#9 (permalink)
muffinman Brain Surgeon Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 1,811 Thanks: 24 Thanked 102 Times in 99 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	glad to hear that you got it solved