3S-GTE USDM Turbo Engine Should I buy this MR2?

Scherm · 10-11-2009, 09:09 PM

I found an turbo for about $5000 with <100k miles, but it has a few issues to warrant the price. According to the owner, who I emailed a few times, the car won't take boost over 5 psi, and needs control arm bushings. The issue with the boost was looked into by a "guy" who tuned a couple of things but didn't fix it. They came to the conclusion that the car needed a new distributor cap, rotor, and plugs. I asked if he, or the previous owner had boosted the car, and he told me that the previous owner had a MBC that broke. I also looked up his name on MR2oc, and found that he had some coolant leakage issues in the past.

The car generally looks in good shape, but all these issues are just really fishy. Considering the price, I'm not sure if it would be worth it. What interests me the most is the boost controller breaking. I didn't even know that was possible. When you couple that with coolant leaking and the car not taking boost anymore, I really question it. What do you guys think of it? Is the price worth the trouble?

3SGTE-RHD · 10-12-2009, 12:16 AM

Could be the turbo, as I think these turbos are coolant cooled. If he had an MBC hooked up, and it broke, then it could be running waste gate pressure which is ~5psi. MBC can break, some of them are just a ball and spring design, if the springs gets old and either doesn't decompress, or breaks all together, there goes your MBC.

A cracked turbo housing and bad seals in the turbo could make for a coolant leak, if it's leaking in that area, and could also count for the 5psi max boost. If it's running a CT26b turbo, then it'll be $100 for a replacement give or take, so really, that's not all that bad.

Scherm · 10-12-2009, 09:55 AM

Apparently the coolant leaking problem was fixed by replacing the waterpump. I have a friend who's had some experience with the 3sgte, I'll probably have him take a look at it.

mr.ac · 10-12-2009, 09:58 PM

it doesnt sound too bad, the coolent, it the water pump, as for the mbc. it could be the vacuum likes have a crack or a leak.
but then that depends is it a stock turbo or has it been upgraded?
as for the bushings I'll just get polyurathine kit from twosrus.com

if you haven't seen the car tell him to post up some pics, then post them up we can probably guess if its a good deal or no.

either way I would ask to sell it a bit lower, you don't know how bad it could be. It could be just a couple of dollers to fix or a couple hundred.

Scherm · 10-12-2009, 11:09 PM

Modifications Include:

ENGINE/EXHAUST:
-JDM Transmission
-JDM Intake Manifold
-Gutted EGR
-Berk Intercooler Kit
-HKS SSQ BOV
-3" Stainless Downpipe
-HKS Exhaust
-TurboXS MBC

SUSPENSION/WHEELS/BRAKES:
-Tien Springs
-Stock Swaybars/Struts/Strut Braces
-MB Weapon Wheels w/ Falken Tires
(17x7 215/40/17 Front, 18x9 255/35/18 Rear)
-Drilled & Slotted Rotors

EXTERIOR:
-JDM 94+ Taillight Conversion
-JDM Headlights
-JDM Fiberglass Engine Lid
-Clear Corners
-25% Tint

INTERIOR:
-MOMO Racing Wheel
-Autometer Boost Guage
-Apexi Turbo Timer
-Shift Knob
-Silver Trim
-Panasonic Headunit (cd/mp3/aux/usb)
-Kicker 6.5 Front Speakers
-Custom Mounted 6x9 Rear Speakers

I snagged that all off an older cardomain for it. I'll look at the car soon, and definitely do a compression test before purchasing. I still need to work out the issue of the steering wheel. I have to have an airbag. I can't tell if the turbo is aftermarket, but i'm assuming you guys can.

LeePeyton · 10-14-2009, 12:17 AM

well, with all that you just answered your own question. what does half that cost? really? LOL

Scherm · 10-15-2009, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeePeyton

well, with all that you just answered your own question. what does half that cost? really? LOL

Are you saying the mods a worth the price? All those mods aren't worth a damn thing if the engine is blown within a few weeks.

I think my real question here is how much of an issue is this psi thing.

LeePeyton · 10-16-2009, 12:32 AM

well, i would want to know the compression on the cylinders and i would joo him down.
5k is a little much no matter what is done to it if the engine is blown. i didn't have
compression in mine for ****e when i bought it. thought it was a blown head gasket...
long story short i've been rebuilding it since march. every little thing. if it's running with low psi and the cylinders check out with the mod list i would consider it. talking some one down never hurt though.

the psi thing alone it could be simple it could be complicated. i would bank worst case scenario but hey your just going to build it any way right?

P.S. i was just saying if those mods are paid for they are mods you don't have to do later. rebuilding an engine your self is cheaper than half that stuff.

Scherm · 10-17-2009, 10:21 PM

That is true, but I don't intend on doing a significant amount of modding. I'm a student after all and don't have the money to risk causing an issue I can't afford. I might do a compression test at some point. How much does it generally cost to bring a car to a shop and get a compression test done?

10-11-2009, 09:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
Scherm mad skills Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Maine Posts: 67 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Should I buy this MR2? I found an turbo for about $5000 with <100k miles, but it has a few issues to warrant the price. According to the owner, who I emailed a few times, the car won't take boost over 5 psi, and needs control arm bushings. The issue with the boost was looked into by a "guy" who tuned a couple of things but didn't fix it. They came to the conclusion that the car needed a new distributor cap, rotor, and plugs. I asked if he, or the previous owner had boosted the car, and he told me that the previous owner had a MBC that broke. I also looked up his name on MR2oc, and found that he had some coolant leakage issues in the past. The car generally looks in good shape, but all these issues are just really fishy. Considering the price, I'm not sure if it would be worth it. What interests me the most is the boost controller breaking. I didn't even know that was possible. When you couple that with coolant leaking and the car not taking boost anymore, I really question it. What do you guys think of it? Is the price worth the trouble?

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10-12-2009, 12:16 AM	#2 (permalink)
3SGTE-RHD Buy Domestic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 17 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Could be the turbo, as I think these turbos are coolant cooled. If he had an MBC hooked up, and it broke, then it could be running waste gate pressure which is ~5psi. MBC can break, some of them are just a ball and spring design, if the springs gets old and either doesn't decompress, or breaks all together, there goes your MBC. A cracked turbo housing and bad seals in the turbo could make for a coolant leak, if it's leaking in that area, and could also count for the 5psi max boost. If it's running a CT26b turbo, then it'll be $100 for a replacement give or take, so really, that's not all that bad.

10-12-2009, 09:55 AM	#3 (permalink)
Scherm mad skills Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Maine Posts: 67 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Apparently the coolant leaking problem was fixed by replacing the waterpump. I have a friend who's had some experience with the 3sgte, I'll probably have him take a look at it.

10-12-2009, 09:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
mr.ac Just Say NO to Snorkes Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 388 Thanks: 0 Thanked 19 Times in 18 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	it doesnt sound too bad, the coolent, it the water pump, as for the mbc. it could be the vacuum likes have a crack or a leak. but then that depends is it a stock turbo or has it been upgraded? as for the bushings I'll just get polyurathine kit from twosrus.com if you haven't seen the car tell him to post up some pics, then post them up we can probably guess if its a good deal or no. either way I would ask to sell it a bit lower, you don't know how bad it could be. It could be just a couple of dollers to fix or a couple hundred.

10-12-2009, 11:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
Scherm mad skills Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Maine Posts: 67 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Modifications Include: ENGINE/EXHAUST: -JDM Transmission -JDM Intake Manifold -Gutted EGR -Berk Intercooler Kit -HKS SSQ BOV -3" Stainless Downpipe -HKS Exhaust -TurboXS MBC SUSPENSION/WHEELS/BRAKES: -Tien Springs -Stock Swaybars/Struts/Strut Braces -MB Weapon Wheels w/ Falken Tires (17x7 215/40/17 Front, 18x9 255/35/18 Rear) -Drilled & Slotted Rotors EXTERIOR: -JDM 94+ Taillight Conversion -JDM Headlights -JDM Fiberglass Engine Lid -Clear Corners -25% Tint INTERIOR: -MOMO Racing Wheel -Autometer Boost Guage -Apexi Turbo Timer -Shift Knob -Silver Trim -Panasonic Headunit (cd/mp3/aux/usb) -Kicker 6.5 Front Speakers -Custom Mounted 6x9 Rear Speakers I snagged that all off an older cardomain for it. I'll look at the car soon, and definitely do a compression test before purchasing. I still need to work out the issue of the steering wheel. I have to have an airbag. I can't tell if the turbo is aftermarket, but i'm assuming you guys can.

10-14-2009, 12:17 AM	#6 (permalink)
LeePeyton Building Motor from Hell Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tennessee/USA Posts: 1,696 Thanks: 23 Thanked 67 Times in 61 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	well, with all that you just answered your own question. what does half that cost? really? LOL

10-16-2009, 12:32 AM	#8 (permalink)
LeePeyton Building Motor from Hell Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tennessee/USA Posts: 1,696 Thanks: 23 Thanked 67 Times in 61 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	well, i would want to know the compression on the cylinders and i would joo him down. 5k is a little much no matter what is done to it if the engine is blown. i didn't have compression in mine for ****e when i bought it. thought it was a blown head gasket... long story short i've been rebuilding it since march. every little thing. if it's running with low psi and the cylinders check out with the mod list i would consider it. talking some one down never hurt though. the psi thing alone it could be simple it could be complicated. i would bank worst case scenario but hey your just going to build it any way right? P.S. i was just saying if those mods are paid for they are mods you don't have to do later. rebuilding an engine your self is cheaper than half that stuff.

10-17-2009, 10:21 PM	#9 (permalink)
Scherm mad skills Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Maine Posts: 67 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	That is true, but I don't intend on doing a significant amount of modding. I'm a student after all and don't have the money to risk causing an issue I can't afford. I might do a compression test at some point. How much does it generally cost to bring a car to a shop and get a compression test done?