mr2-digest Saturday, January 10 1998 Volume 02 : Number 091 Re: MR2 MKI SC : Something On My Car MR2 MKI SC: Need help from SC owners MR2 Mk1 bouncing idle MR2 Mk1 sagging door Re: MR2 MKI SC: Need help from SC owners Re: MR2 MKII Turbo Rain + Corner + Boost = ??? Re: MR2 rain/corner/boost Re: MR2 MKII Turbo Rain + Corner + Boost = ??? Re: MR2 Malibu Rallye & Cheapie-Cheapie Tires MR2 Stop Light Bulb Replacement. Re: MR2 MKI SC : Something On My Car MR2 Re: mr2 MK2 problems (worn key) Re: MR2 Stop Light Bulb Replacement. Re: MR2 MkI Problem, Help! Re: MR2 HKS questionable quality MkI MR2 Turbo manifolds and 3 Qs RE: MR2 Definite Sales RE: MR2 Definite Sales MR2 LSD Trans Installed MR2 Extra bolt? Yep! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 11 Jan 98 11:36:42 PST From: "David Youl" Subject: Re: MR2 MKI SC : Something On My Car Joe, Your paint has contaminants on it. The effects of being parked outside, acid rain etc all build up on the cars paint. The solution though is a very simple one. Purchase a paint cleaner (like a polish) it only has cleaning agents and doesn't protect the paint. This will remove any contaminants and also any fine scratches. I use Meguiars products and find them excellent. After you go over the whole car with the paint cleaner, then apply some Meguiars "Wet Look" Poly Sealant. This is different to normal polishes as it doesn't remove a thin layer of paint, it applys a layer of protection. Once you do this, run the back of your hand (the front has oils which damage the paint) along the surface and feel how smooth it is. You will be amazed. No I don't work for Meguiars, just use their product and swear by them. Dave 89 Mk1 na White - ---------- > Folks, > > When I bought my car I was really impressed with the paint job but it felt > a little rough to the touch. After I washed and waxed it the rough feel > was still there. I thought it might be tree sap so I bought some polishing > gel that was formulated to remove tar, & tree sap. The bottle said it > would not harm paint or clear coat finishes. > > Well no luck!!! I tried this stuff and the finish is still rough! If you > scrape (in a hidden spot) with a razor blade this junk comes off but no > product I've found will remove it without doing harm to the paint!! > > I'd love it if anyone had any ideas. > > ____________________________ > Joe Kowalski, CA > 88 Orange Pearl SC > > ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 19:06:47 +0000 From: Rick Martinez Subject: MR2 MKI SC: Need help from SC owners All SC owners: Does anyone know where to purchase a distributor cap and rotor for an 88 SC? I ordered one from my dealer, but it won't be in until Tuesday and I need to get to work on Monday! Or, are there any SC owners in the Austin, TX area with an extra one lying around that I can "borrow" until Tuesday? If I can get one that works from an auto parts chain store, I can use that until I get the Toyota cap. Anybody using one from a chain store? Thanks in advance. Rick Martinez 1991 Black NA 1988 Blue SC rickm@utxsvs.cc.utexas.edu rick_martinez@hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 17:22:23 -0800 (PST) From: momosc@sasquatch.com Subject: MR2 Mk1 bouncing idle Hi Yes, I'vehad the bouncing idle on my Mk1 NA and it was A result of air pockets in my coolant giving the idle sensor erroneous readings. A coolant flush and refill solved the problem. Mo ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 17:24:37 -0800 (PST) From: momosc@sasquatch.com Subject: MR2 Mk1 sagging door Hi Same thing happened to the driver's side door of my '87. It was a result of a worn upper door hinge. i replaced it with factory part, adjusted it properly and no more problem. Mo ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 19:55:56 -0600 From: "Steve Hoult" Subject: Re: MR2 MKI SC: Need help from SC owners >All SC owners: > >Does anyone know where to purchase a distributor cap and rotor >for an 88 SC? I ordered one from my dealer, but it won't be in >until Tuesday and I need to get to work on Monday! Or, are >there any SC owners in the Austin, TX area with an extra one >lying around that I can "borrow" until Tuesday? If I can get one >that works from an auto parts chain store, I can use that until I get >the Toyota cap. Anybody using one from a chain store? Thanks >in advance. Most of the big chain stores stock them. I got one at AutoZone for about $17 Steve Hoult '89 Visit the MR2 SC Registry at it NEW location http://mr2sc.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 20:52:41 EST From: MK II NA Subject: Re: MR2 MKII Turbo Rain + Corner + Boost = ??? >From my experience, a 90 degree turn on slick streets with strong throttle in an MKII is nearly impossible. The best thing to do is to slow down in the rain. I can always powerglide thru a turn on dry streets but trying to powerglide in the rain just makes it worst than letting off the throttle but letting off the throttle on dry streets could be just as bad. Ever since my car was lowered, it is very seldom that I feel the back end about to give. ADRENLN "recovering Mr2holic because it quit raining" ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 18:06:43 -0800 From: Randy Chase Subject: Re: MR2 rain/corner/boost Phil Esra wrote: - -bobbetting- > I spun at least once at the first few autoxs I ever went to, and > almost never do now. Phil....man, I still spin once every 3 or 4 runs. If I aint spinning, I aint trying hard enough. 8-) I have spun the MR2 over 250 times now. The ability to control the spin and know where the car will end up has proved beneficial in ProSolos and SoloII events, where I tend to spin the car at the finish and reverse thru the timing lights. 8-) I am installing a video camera in the car. I want to create a tape of all the spins I do in one year. My motto is "be good, be fast, or be entertaining". 8-) Randy Chase '91 MR2 N/A "MAYSPIN" <--- thinking of getting licence plates ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 18:14:20 -0800 From: Randy Chase Subject: Re: MR2 MKII Turbo Rain + Corner + Boost = ??? Phil Cutajar wrote: - -snip- and you can actually have an instructor drive > your car, or ride with you while you drive. One of the best things you can do to improve *your* skills is to let an instructor drive your car or give you a ride in his/her car to show you what you can do in your car. Having an instructor ride along is okay, but IMHO, not as useful as having the instructor drive or better yet, doing it both ways. That way you can see what "smooth" is and how hard you can push it (and where). I agree with Phil C. that a school is the best bang for your buck. Second best is if your local region does "practice days". This will let you take passengers and swap cars, etc with more runs (10-15) to figure things out. YMMV and all that.. Randy Chase '91 MR2 N/A ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 18:19:49 -0800 From: Randy Chase Subject: Re: MR2 Malibu Rallye & Cheapie-Cheapie Tires asjoseph@as.net wrote: > I'm not surprised, Greg. You're not the lone ranger. Everyone > complains about high-priced, brand name performance tyres. I will chime in here also that my RE71s lasted about 9k miles (rears). My cheapie > Nitto's are a VR rated, _hard_ compound tyre. They're suppose to have a > high treadware rating. They're noisy on the track, but they're awesome in > the rain, especially on a lightweight car. And, they're cheap. I also ran the Nittos. They are hard, last a long time, and work okay. - -snip- > I never buy expensive tyres, anymore. I agree with this to some extent. I will eat whatever tires I buy. So why buy expensive tires? I don't like to pay more than $100/tire for street tires. Right now I am running on the Toyo FZRs. I love them for the traction and wet ability, but I think they are starting to go on me and I have only owned them about 6k miles. Tires are a compromise. Randy Chase '91 Mr2 N/A ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 18:22:55 -0800 From: sguinn45@sprynet.com Subject: MR2 Stop Light Bulb Replacement. Austin Tracy and I had Bkfst today to BS about MR2' and the coming SSC. He noticed, when we left the restaurant that my left stoplight wasn't working. The Owners Manual says to pry off the outside lens and the rest will just come out. I just couldn't bring myself to put a lot of pressure on the lens with a screwdriver. Is there a secret to this? I'm sure the lens costs big $. Austin has a neat car. Especially like his wheels,very nice 15". Must get some. Regards, Steve ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 18:23:01 -0800 From: Todd Clark Subject: Re: MR2 MKI SC : Something On My Car Meguiar's has a terrific web site http://www.meguiars.com It explains how to remove contaminates and how to keep them off. Todd 88 MR2 SC (NOVELL) >Joe, > >Your paint has contaminants on it. The effects of being parked outside, >acid rain etc all build up on the cars paint. The solution though is a very >simple one. Purchase a paint cleaner (like a polish) it only has cleaning >agents and doesn't protect the paint. This will remove any contaminants and >also any fine scratches. I use Meguiars products and find them excellent. >After you go over the whole car with the paint cleaner, then apply some >Meguiars "Wet Look" Poly Sealant. This is different to normal polishes as >it doesn't remove a thin layer of paint, it applys a layer of protection. >Once you do this, run the back of your hand (the front has oils which >damage the paint) along the surface and feel how smooth it is. You will be >amazed. > >No I don't work for Meguiars, just use their product and swear by them. > >Dave > >89 Mk1 na White > >---------- >> Folks, >> >> When I bought my car I was really impressed with the paint job but it felt >> a little rough to the touch. After I washed and waxed it the rough feel >> was still there. I thought it might be tree sap so I bought some >polishing >> gel that was formulated to remove tar, & tree sap. The bottle said it >> would not harm paint or clear coat finishes. >> >> Well no luck!!! I tried this stuff and the finish is still rough! If you >> scrape (in a hidden spot) with a razor blade this junk comes off but no >> product I've found will remove it without doing harm to the paint!! >> >> I'd love it if anyone had any ideas. >> >> ____________________________ >> Joe Kowalski, CA >> 88 Orange Pearl SC >> >> > > > ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 21:26:47 EST From: Conti64542 Subject: MR2 Re: mr2 MK2 problems (worn key) In a message dated 98-01-09 06:39:13 EST, you write: > 3. My key (I only have one, yeah, I know, I should have a spare...) > seems to unlock the drivers door and trunk better when it's turned one > way as opposed to the other (not that I can tell the difference except > by trial and error). The passenger door seems to work pretty much > equally as well with it either way. For that matter, I usually don't > have much trouble unlocking the passenger door, but the driver door > (especially) can cause me to have to fumble around to get the key just > right so that it will allow me to unlock the door. Combine this with > the misfiring alarm and someone is going to think I'm breaking into and > stealing a MR2 one of these days! :). It seems likely that either my > key is worn or the locks are worn. The fact that the drivers door seems > to work a little better than the other two locks makes me think the > lock, but I can't imagine how the trunk could really be that badly worn, > and the fact that rotating the key 180 degrees helps makes me think the > key is the problem. Maybe both are to some degree?? I suppose it's > probably cheapest to just have new locks put all around the car with new > keys? (assuming that making a copy of my key will make an equally > defective key if the key is at fault). > > Otherwise I can remove the pass. lock to find the code that I don't know > to get a new key made.... but I suspect that won't be as cheap as a copy > key, and is likely to only prove that the locks need to be replaced, at > which point I should just replace all of them rather than have new ones > keyed to the existing key I would think. the least expensive solution is to go to your Toyota dealer and have the code read from your existing key. Since Toyota uses fixed depths (I think there are 4) for the keys, it should be easy to read them from the less worn side. Many dealers will be able to "punch" a new key for you. If your dealer can't do it, then take the key to a locksmith. They can look it up in their books, too, but it will cost more. Then make *many* copies of this pritine key and save for a rainy day! - -Renni ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 21:39:36 EST From: MK II NA Subject: Re: MR2 Stop Light Bulb Replacement. try taking off the middle (in between the lights) and the rest is easy ADRENLN ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 22:10:59 -0500 From: Stephen Gunter Subject: Re: MR2 MkI Problem, Help! At 09:26 AM 1/10/98 -0500, Jason Hirst wrote: >Today I ran into a start up problem with my 87NA. I wonder if any of >the MKI owners has ran into the same problem or not. > >My car has 121K miles on the clock. Today I tried to start the engine >but it failed to start. There wasn't any cranking sound from the >engine at all. The dashboard lights were sort of blinking or shall I >say fading and there was the long beep sound each time when I attempted >to start the engine. I repeatedly try to start the engine but the same >response occur during each attempt. Then I succesfully started the >engine after 10 to 15 tries. > >..................... > >You may want to check out the ignitor. If your spark is consistant than >look to a dying fuel pump. Check your diagnostic codes as well. > >JH >'85 MK1 > It shouldn't be the ignitor...he said the engine woildn't turn over at all.....sounds like the starter to me.... Stephen Gunter,1990 Levin, icq 285675 http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/7177 home of the Toyota Mods WebRing ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 22:13:03 -0500 From: Stephen Gunter Subject: Re: MR2 HKS questionable quality At 10:07 AM 1/10/98 EST, FZZR wrote: > Well I have a HKS exhaust on my MR2 SC. I started to hear some noise from >the back so I checked it out. The exhaust hangers that hold on to the muffler >had just snapped off. I was shocked. On a muffler that cost $450 I would >hope it would last longer than that. My stock muffler has 147,000 miles on it >and it is still good. My little over a year old HKS muffler is falling apart. >I know HKS makes good stuff but I am not so sure about this exhaust. Looks >like I might be going back to the stock one. >******************************************* >Chuck >FZZR@AOL.COM >88 MR2 SC (150,000 miles) >89 Yamaha FZR 1000 (40,000 miles) >******************************************** Well, you could always re-weld the supports. Much cheaper than buying a new system....... Stephen Gunter,1990 Levin, icq 285675 http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/7177 home of the Toyota Mods WebRing ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 21:18:01 -0600 From: "Andrew P. Tasi" Subject: MkI MR2 Turbo manifolds and 3 Qs Sorry to post this to everybody- Somebody wanted to know about a week ago who had posted about turbo manifolds for the Mk-I MR2s. That was I... but I can't remember who you were, and I've accidentally deleted your mailing. Crud. The shop I referred to is South Florida Performance in Miami (305) 233-8520. I spoke with Frank and Sean who echoed what their ad in SCC read-they build custom exhaust manifolds guaranteed against cracking. They also said they do a lot of other tuning work and will turbocharging a Mk-I this month with: - -flowed head with larger valves, cams, and JE pistons. - -Spearco liquid to air intercooler - -roller bearing turbo that can flow 1000 cfm (I don't remember the model designation) I still have three questions: - -Has anybody on the list dealt with them, and if so what are your impressions? - -How do you tell if an NA MR2 has the 4A-GZE block, as I understand some post '87s supposedly did? - -Where's a good spot on the net to learn about turbos (brands, models, the whole nine-yards)? Regards, Andrew P. Tasi Black '88 MR2 T-top ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 19:16:43 -0800 From: "BryanW" Subject: RE: MR2 Definite Sales Lsaccone wrote on Saturday January 10, 1998 at 2:29pm: >Ok, I'm sorry that I haven't gotten back to anyone about the parts for sale, >but I haven't had as quick of a recovery as I had hoped for. Also I have to >way to get to the car. Anyways, what I need is an email from everyonw who >wants something. I am selling the engine and tranny with anything else that >needs to be included... I forgot to mention that it has a brand new RPS Turbo >clutch with 2000 miles on it included!! for $2,000. I need definites on what >everyone wants. EVERYTHING MUST GO!! I have to pay people to get the engine >and stuff out of the car so I can't have maybees. Thanks again for all the >support from the list. >Thanks, >Larry - ------------------------------------------------------ | Your boss can read your Email. Is this what you want? | http://www.goplay.com/email/1000001 - it's FREE! ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 19:17:45 -0800 From: "BryanW" Subject: RE: MR2 Definite Sales Sorry bout the last post my email i messing up. I am interested in some parts but i forgot the year of the car and which parts we discussed. Bryan Lsaccone wrote on Saturday January 10, 1998 at 2:29pm: >Ok, I'm sorry that I haven't gotten back to anyone about the parts for sale, >but I haven't had as quick of a recovery as I had hoped for. Also I have to >way to get to the car. Anyways, what I need is an email from everyonw who >wants something. I am selling the engine and tranny with anything else that >needs to be included... I forgot to mention that it has a brand new RPS Turbo >clutch with 2000 miles on it included!! for $2,000. I need definites on what >everyone wants. EVERYTHING MUST GO!! I have to pay people to get the engine >and stuff out of the car so I can't have maybees. Thanks again for all the >support from the list. >Thanks, >Larry - ------------------------------------------------------ | Your boss can read your Email. Is this what you want? | http://www.goplay.com/email/1000001 - it's FREE! ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 22:31:40 EST From: Daucott Subject: MR2 LSD Trans Installed Well, 12 hours and one knuckle later my '93 MR2 trans is installed. All went well and the extra time of assy was largely cleaning time and generally being careful (it took 7 hours to remove it). I had a helper for half the day and then the last 6 hours I was on my own. Tomorrow I will do a sanity check and then start/drive it. I intalled a new clutch and it is wonderful! No more super stiff clutch and the action feels perfect. I also installed a new crank seal just for the heck of it. I can't wait to drive it! Dave A. daucott@aol.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 22:34:06 EST From: Daucott Subject: MR2 Extra bolt? Yep! In my installation I actually ended up with one (1) uno ein extra bolt!! This is perhaps the first time I've had an "extra" and it's really irritating. It was in my bag of "trans to engine" bolts and is an M8 bolt, 14mm head, about 25mm long. Anyone know where it goes? It's definitely from the "under side" of the car. I'm not real worried about it but it must have a home somewhere. :-) Dave A. daucott@aol.com ------------------------------ End of mr2-digest V2 #91