Common problems?

Davis · 12-07-2006, 07:23 PM

Hi guys i need some help. I'm going to check out this white 91' mr2 this weekend and i was wondering if you guys can help me with what common problems the mr2 has so i can ask the owner. I know of some like the t-top leaking and the speedometer messing up, but i still need some more information. I've been working for like a year and a half now (im currently 17 and still in highschool, so im living with my family) i saved up about $3,000 and my grandpa is going to help pay for it to. I don't want to buy an mr2 with to much problems with it because for one thing i dont make so much money and the other thing is i dont want my family to yell at me saying all this crap about used cars (they dont like the idea of me buying a used 91 mr2

) well anything helps! thanks guys!

-Davis

CyFi · 12-07-2006, 08:00 PM

Dont only ask, but look for yourself.
Check the inside of the door jams for rust, check that no gears when driving grind at all, push them in fast at differnt rpms, make sure it doesnt grind, this is probably the most common problem. Leaking t tops is normal and i dont think theres any that dont. If possible perform a compression or leakage test, how many miles does it have?

Davis · 12-07-2006, 08:05 PM

Thanks for the gear grinding and rust info, the car has 61k miles on it.

Davis · 12-07-2006, 09:35 PM

anymore help would be appreciated

johnsaholic · 12-07-2006, 09:56 PM

check for Vin stickers on each part of the car, fenderss, door jam, door, trunk.. if u see no vin stickers than the part has been replaced(accident). thats the main concern for me. its because i work at a dealership and i look at trade in cars everyday. so i know how to spot a fcuked up ride. look for matching paint jobs on bumpers, also when you test drive. do a full throttle and see if the boost is good. OIL leaks man.. so bad on MR2's. check the engine oil to see if its nice and gold. the tranny.. very important like CyFi said.. shift to second and thrid gear fast for grinds

jlantz85 · 12-07-2006, 10:00 PM

look around underneath the car for excessive rust also

Davis · 12-07-2006, 10:16 PM

wow thanks john about the vin stickers i never knew that! im a newbie at this haha. Okay i'll check for rust underneath the car to, thanks jlantz.

artur1976 · 12-07-2006, 10:53 PM

If you need carfax email me. arturbujak@sbcglobal.net

http://www.eustis.army.mil/acs/used_car_inspect.htm Print that out and take it with you. Its easy to miss stuff when buying a used car.

Get going at about 40 and accelerate slowly to 70-80mph. If there is shaking in the sterring that could be exspensive repair.

NA mr2s have a common problem with leaky valves so if the car has sat for a a while there will be white smoke at warm up.

Buy a compression gauge its only $20 at autozone. Its well worth it to check compression.

Davis · 12-07-2006, 11:09 PM

oh i forgot to mention if it was a turbo or n/a (its an n/a) and its really $5500 not $3000 sorry if i made it sound that way

thanks Artur for the the info!

I'll email you for the car fax later. How much does it cost to fix the steering wheel if it shakes? just curious. Thanks again

artur1976 · 12-07-2006, 11:23 PM

NA for $5500 should be close to perfect condition if its 91-93 version.

Steering wheel shake can be caused by lots of things. Mostly cosly would be worn out steering rack ($200 parts and $200 labor. Out of balance wheels and worn out tires,wheel alingment,worn ball joints. It could cost you more than $500 to fix it.

Davis · 12-08-2006, 12:38 AM

oh i see, well thats the cleanest looking mr2 that i have found 50miles from my place, but we'll see lol. $500+

hopefully no problems.

12-07-2006, 07:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
Davis Radical Dreamer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Long Beach, California Posts: 4,536 Thanks: 85 Thanked 125 Times in 113 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	Common problems? Hi guys i need some help. I'm going to check out this white 91' mr2 this weekend and i was wondering if you guys can help me with what common problems the mr2 has so i can ask the owner. I know of some like the t-top leaking and the speedometer messing up, but i still need some more information. I've been working for like a year and a half now (im currently 17 and still in highschool, so im living with my family) i saved up about $3,000 and my grandpa is going to help pay for it to. I don't want to buy an mr2 with to much problems with it because for one thing i dont make so much money and the other thing is i dont want my family to yell at me saying all this crap about used cars (they dont like the idea of me buying a used 91 mr2 ) well anything helps! thanks guys! -Davis

12-07-2006, 10:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
artur1976 Cage Fighter Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Fort Worth texas Posts: 1,651 Thanks: 2 Thanked 34 Times in 34 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (71/99% )	If you need carfax email me. arturbujak@sbcglobal.net http://www.eustis.army.mil/acs/used_car_inspect.htm Print that out and take it with you. Its easy to miss stuff when buying a used car. Get going at about 40 and accelerate slowly to 70-80mph. If there is shaking in the sterring that could be exspensive repair. NA mr2s have a common problem with leaky valves so if the car has sat for a a while there will be white smoke at warm up. Buy a compression gauge its only $20 at autozone. Its well worth it to check compression. Last edited by artur1976; 12-07-2006 at 11:17 PM..

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12-07-2006, 08:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
CyFi Moved on Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Phoenix Posts: 1,401 Thanks: 12 Thanked 38 Times in 35 Posts iTrader Rating: (11/100% )	Dont only ask, but look for yourself. Check the inside of the door jams for rust, check that no gears when driving grind at all, push them in fast at differnt rpms, make sure it doesnt grind, this is probably the most common problem. Leaking t tops is normal and i dont think theres any that dont. If possible perform a compression or leakage test, how many miles does it have?

12-07-2006, 08:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
Davis Radical Dreamer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Long Beach, California Posts: 4,536 Thanks: 85 Thanked 125 Times in 113 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	Thanks for the gear grinding and rust info, the car has 61k miles on it.

12-07-2006, 09:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
Davis Radical Dreamer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Long Beach, California Posts: 4,536 Thanks: 85 Thanked 125 Times in 113 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	anymore help would be appreciated

12-07-2006, 09:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
johnsaholic Some Skills Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Diego, California Posts: 50 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	check for Vin stickers on each part of the car, fenderss, door jam, door, trunk.. if u see no vin stickers than the part has been replaced(accident). thats the main concern for me. its because i work at a dealership and i look at trade in cars everyday. so i know how to spot a fcuked up ride. look for matching paint jobs on bumpers, also when you test drive. do a full throttle and see if the boost is good. OIL leaks man.. so bad on MR2's. check the engine oil to see if its nice and gold. the tranny.. very important like CyFi said.. shift to second and thrid gear fast for grinds

12-07-2006, 10:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
jlantz85 diesel skills Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Clayton, Indiana Posts: 225 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	look around underneath the car for excessive rust also

12-07-2006, 10:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
Davis Radical Dreamer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Long Beach, California Posts: 4,536 Thanks: 85 Thanked 125 Times in 113 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	wow thanks john about the vin stickers i never knew that! im a newbie at this haha. Okay i'll check for rust underneath the car to, thanks jlantz.

12-07-2006, 11:09 PM	#9 (permalink)
Davis Radical Dreamer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Long Beach, California Posts: 4,536 Thanks: 85 Thanked 125 Times in 113 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	oh i forgot to mention if it was a turbo or n/a (its an n/a) and its really $5500 not $3000 sorry if i made it sound that way thanks Artur for the the info! I'll email you for the car fax later. How much does it cost to fix the steering wheel if it shakes? just curious. Thanks again

12-07-2006, 11:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
artur1976 Cage Fighter Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Fort Worth texas Posts: 1,651 Thanks: 2 Thanked 34 Times in 34 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (71/99% )	NA for $5500 should be close to perfect condition if its 91-93 version. Steering wheel shake can be caused by lots of things. Mostly cosly would be worn out steering rack ($200 parts and $200 labor. Out of balance wheels and worn out tires,wheel alingment,worn ball joints. It could cost you more than $500 to fix it.

12-08-2006, 12:38 AM	#11 (permalink)
Davis Radical Dreamer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Long Beach, California Posts: 4,536 Thanks: 85 Thanked 125 Times in 113 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	oh i see, well thats the cleanest looking mr2 that i have found 50miles from my place, but we'll see lol. $500+ hopefully no problems.