New MR2 (86) - Blown Head Gasket.

[phoenix_iii]

Just picked up a low mileage MR2 with a blown head gasket!

Car has been sitting for about four months, but fired right up when jumped. Car was NOT run with blown head gasket, owner saw overheating (6 miles to work so not a long trip) and brought it to the mechanics, then brought it home after the fixing quote!

Besides the (thanks FAQ)
". Clean the car and the engine bay good. Remove grease and oil from engine. Water will get in spark plug galley and probably the dizzy cap (distributer cap). If it has not, then you have not cleaned the engine well enough.

2. Tune up. Dizzy cap, rotor, wires and spark plugs. Fuel filter. Air filter. oil filter. oil. Transmission fluid. Check timing. It is a good idea to replace the Cam timing belt. Replace any leaking gaskets. Flush and burp cooling system.

3. 'keepin' it stock'

4. Now that the engine is tuned and working well, shut the hood and stay away.

5. read 1-4 again.

6. Inspect suspension, tires, and chassis. (suspension felt great from the push test, tires probably need to be replaced (sidewalls starting to show cracking from dry-rot most likely, not low psi-wise))

7. Get the car aligned. This will give you a good idea of what may need replacing. Yes it is upfront dollars, but it is good to know. - Plan to!

8. N/A

9. Look under the seat and carpet for spare change.

10. Lift rear trunk carpet. Stare at the road surface below through rust holes. Those probably need to be fixed " - Not on this one!

My friend who is a toyota mechanic will be helping me do all of this, and I have a Haynes Manual. =)

Input welcome
(car has 88k on it... that's it)


*Muffler has a hole in it! Where to get a replacement? Not looking for ultra-lightweight or performance or big fart pipe, OEM or similar to stock or if there is a better replacement, that would be good. Can have this welded up where my friend works.
*Trunk release cable is broken (This is the SECOND one I've seen with this). How to replace/fix/prevent from happening again?

*Lastly, the 'roof' spoiler was ripped off by vandals (used screwdrive to correctly remove the four screws it looks like)... where would I find a replacement? Pick-and-pull I assume, what years are compatible for that part? !=)

Thanks gents! Glad to be one of you now.

[MR-Fixer]

Pull the head off. Have a machine shop or good mechanic inspect it. Replace head gasket.
Fix all rotted, leaking, cracked, boken, non working parts encountered in pulling the head.
Its a fairly formidable job. Bring friends.

But first how do you know the head gasket is blown? Pls. describe symptoms.

[phoenix_iii]

Original owner brought it in to a shop.
Oil = Milk chocolate (checked by me).

Shop said head gasket, owner was driving and it started to over heat (6 miles to work and back each day was the duty of this particular mr2 for the last few years).

First they replaced fan/temp sensor and switch because shop thought radiator wasn't coming on.

[MR-Fixer]

Oh Geez, I hate that milk chocolate colored oil. I've had a Mk I for over 6 years. I've never taken it into a garage or shop except to get the AC system recharged. They are a waste of money, and a significant percentage of them are highway rip off artists.

Of course taking your head or block into a machine shop doesn't count.

Well start ripping off your head. Put the bolts and nuts off each part or part group in separate bags, or boxes. This will help when putting it back together.

[phoenix_iii]

My mechanic friend will be doing the repair... he said we will need some good working room and I am lining up a place. =)

[Gairloch]

Let us know how it goes. Include pics! I love reading about projects like this.

You have your shopping list of supplies put together yet?

[3sgtepower]

Should be ready for another 200,000 miles once you get all the repairs necesary done. Good mileage to dollar ratio toyotas tend to have.