Mk2 MR2 turbo recommission
Discussion
I've been offered first refusal on a car that, given my Toyota background and general love for their products, I bizarrely have next to no interest in. As title really. It'll be an import, as all of the turbo models were, it's red, and I believe, modified. I have little info on it, other than the owner did some mods, drove it, span it, shat himself, laid it up in his mate's garage and promptly moved abroad, I suspect to put as much distance between it and himself, given his maiden voyage experience with it.
I'm led to believe the resultant spin ended up with a possible damaged wishbone, which also brings with it the possibility of chassis damage, depending on how hard the hit was.
All of this happened between 5 and 8 years ago, depending on who's relating the story. I was meant to see the car on Friday, but circumstances conspired against all concerned, and I'm working away for the next 5 weeks, but have a mate getting pics of it tomorrow.
In a way, it's a good mindset to have. I'm not interested remotely in the car as a keeper, so there's no emotion here. Meaning I won't overpay. Quite the opposite if I have my way. The guy garaging it simply wants it gone, and is willing to put pressure on the seller whatever the offer, to ensure it vacates the premises. The owner is still paying rent so it's dead money and hopefully he'll be realistic enough to accept a low offer.
I'm very much hoping it turns out to be a Rev 5, at least that would make it more desirable on the open market. Whatever it is though, I'm imagining it'll need a fuel pump, cam belt, and some careful investigation and preliminary work before I try to fire it up. I leave my own cars laid up for 3 years at a time occasionally, and have had no trouble whatsoever with any of them, but bringing them back out still means a reasonable amount of diligence prior to getting them running again.
Anybody had any direct experience of this particular model, and any quirks I should be aware of?
I'm led to believe the resultant spin ended up with a possible damaged wishbone, which also brings with it the possibility of chassis damage, depending on how hard the hit was.
All of this happened between 5 and 8 years ago, depending on who's relating the story. I was meant to see the car on Friday, but circumstances conspired against all concerned, and I'm working away for the next 5 weeks, but have a mate getting pics of it tomorrow.
In a way, it's a good mindset to have. I'm not interested remotely in the car as a keeper, so there's no emotion here. Meaning I won't overpay. Quite the opposite if I have my way. The guy garaging it simply wants it gone, and is willing to put pressure on the seller whatever the offer, to ensure it vacates the premises. The owner is still paying rent so it's dead money and hopefully he'll be realistic enough to accept a low offer.
I'm very much hoping it turns out to be a Rev 5, at least that would make it more desirable on the open market. Whatever it is though, I'm imagining it'll need a fuel pump, cam belt, and some careful investigation and preliminary work before I try to fire it up. I leave my own cars laid up for 3 years at a time occasionally, and have had no trouble whatsoever with any of them, but bringing them back out still means a reasonable amount of diligence prior to getting them running again.
Anybody had any direct experience of this particular model, and any quirks I should be aware of?
A friend of mine had a Rev 3 rapid car typical Toyota build quality.
3sGTE engine is a nice reliable unit on stock internals as long as the boost isn't turned up too much.
It's a tightly packaged engine and being mid mounted not the easiest to work on.
Iirc alternators were a common failure due to positioning also turbos and piston Ringland failure if the boost was turned up.
Other than that they were fairly good.
3sGTE engine is a nice reliable unit on stock internals as long as the boost isn't turned up too much.
It's a tightly packaged engine and being mid mounted not the easiest to work on.
Iirc alternators were a common failure due to positioning also turbos and piston Ringland failure if the boost was turned up.
Other than that they were fairly good.
Heaveho said:
I understand there's a small coolant pipe that costs pennies, buried in the bay that requires engine removal to replace. Something I'll have to assume will need addressing given the history of the vehicle, unless there's something in the paperwork to suggest it's been done.
The hose from hell as it is commonly known, it can be done without engine removal (i have done it) from underneath but is very fiddly, can't remember off the top of my head what needed to be removed to facilitate removal/fitting but certainly easier than removing the entire engineNothing super particular, other than the typical caveat that due to the age of the car, a lot of the rubber hoses, vacuum lines etc might be starting to perish and show signs of age.
Of course engine out would be best, but if you just want to prove its running and move it on, then probably no need to go that far.
The 3SGTE is a pretty reliable lump, I dailied an MR2 turbo for a while.
I would probably, change the oil, plugs (put some oil down the bores when you do), cambelt & water pump (and coolant, you'll need to read the bleed procedure as it involves hanging hoses above the bleed points due to the length of it all) + aux belt.
Drain and replace fuel, you may get away without doing the pump.
Turn it over a few times without the plugs in and the fuel pump disconnected, connect it all back up & i'll bet she'll fire straight into life.
Of course engine out would be best, but if you just want to prove its running and move it on, then probably no need to go that far.
The 3SGTE is a pretty reliable lump, I dailied an MR2 turbo for a while.
I would probably, change the oil, plugs (put some oil down the bores when you do), cambelt & water pump (and coolant, you'll need to read the bleed procedure as it involves hanging hoses above the bleed points due to the length of it all) + aux belt.
Drain and replace fuel, you may get away without doing the pump.
Turn it over a few times without the plugs in and the fuel pump disconnected, connect it all back up & i'll bet she'll fire straight into life.
Ah well, I finally saw it today. Fuel pump's seized, there are bits removed as the owner was going to " two tone " it, it's already half in primer down one side, and although it's a red T bar MRS Turbo on a J plate, it's hard to tell as the owner didn't replace the dust sheet the last time he was messing about with it, and it's absolutely filthy now.
Wasted trip in the end, as the owner has decided to recommission it himself and take it to where he now lives in mainland Greece. I very much doubt that'll actually happen, but from what little I saw of it, and what little I would have bid, he's welcome to it, not buying it suits me down to the ground.
Of much more interest parked under sheets next to it under various covers were a metallic blue1980 Lancia Beta coupe in lovely condition, a Triumph 2.5 PI estate on Stag alloys and a Mk2 RS2000, none of which were for sale.
All's well that ends well. I'll continue my search for the things that I'm actually interested in, those being a Mk5 RS2000, a Mk1 Scirocco GTI but mostly a widebody Mitsubishi Starion Turbo.
Wasted trip in the end, as the owner has decided to recommission it himself and take it to where he now lives in mainland Greece. I very much doubt that'll actually happen, but from what little I saw of it, and what little I would have bid, he's welcome to it, not buying it suits me down to the ground.
Of much more interest parked under sheets next to it under various covers were a metallic blue1980 Lancia Beta coupe in lovely condition, a Triumph 2.5 PI estate on Stag alloys and a Mk2 RS2000, none of which were for sale.
All's well that ends well. I'll continue my search for the things that I'm actually interested in, those being a Mk5 RS2000, a Mk1 Scirocco GTI but mostly a widebody Mitsubishi Starion Turbo.
I don't think it's rotten from what I know of it. I think it's all there despite the fact some parts are stripped, it was driven into the facility it currently resides in, and from the description of it not starting, it sounds like the fuel pump's had it, not something difficult to diagnose. Or cure, if I'm right in thinking it's accessible from under the console between the seats.
I know they have a bit of a following, but it's a relatively early car on a J plate, in the not very bright red popular then. I don't personally regard it as particularly desirable. The boot badge say MR S Turbo, something that for some reason made me check to make sure it wasn't an auto, but it's a manual. No idea if there's any paperwork with it.
I know they have a bit of a following, but it's a relatively early car on a J plate, in the not very bright red popular then. I don't personally regard it as particularly desirable. The boot badge say MR S Turbo, something that for some reason made me check to make sure it wasn't an auto, but it's a manual. No idea if there's any paperwork with it.
Heaveho said:
I don't think it's rotten from what I know of it. I think it's all there despite the fact some parts are stripped, it was driven into the facility it currently resides in, and from the description of it not starting, it sounds like the fuel pump's had it, not something difficult to diagnose. Or cure, if I'm right in thinking it's accessible from under the console between the seats.
I know they have a bit of a following, but it's a relatively early car on a J plate, in the not very bright red popular then. I don't personally regard it as particularly desirable. The boot badge say MR S Turbo, something that for some reason made me check to make sure it wasn't an auto, but it's a manual. No idea if there's any paperwork with it.
From what I can remember you can not change the fuel pump with the tank in place, the access is just to disconnect the plug, relatively easy to remove/replace the tank though, sounds like it will be a revision 2 if on a J plate (assuming it was correctly registered), the turbo models where either GT or GTSI know they have a bit of a following, but it's a relatively early car on a J plate, in the not very bright red popular then. I don't personally regard it as particularly desirable. The boot badge say MR S Turbo, something that for some reason made me check to make sure it wasn't an auto, but it's a manual. No idea if there's any paperwork with it.
quigonjay said:
Heaveho said:
I don't think it's rotten from what I know of it. I think it's all there despite the fact some parts are stripped, it was driven into the facility it currently resides in, and from the description of it not starting, it sounds like the fuel pump's had it, not something difficult to diagnose. Or cure, if I'm right in thinking it's accessible from under the console between the seats.
I know they have a bit of a following, but it's a relatively early car on a J plate, in the not very bright red popular then. I don't personally regard it as particularly desirable. The boot badge say MR S Turbo, something that for some reason made me check to make sure it wasn't an auto, but it's a manual. No idea if there's any paperwork with it.
From what I can remember you can not change the fuel pump with the tank in place, the access is just to disconnect the plug, relatively easy to remove/replace the tank though, sounds like it will be a revision 2 if on a J plate (assuming it was correctly registered), the turbo models where either GT or GTSI know they have a bit of a following, but it's a relatively early car on a J plate, in the not very bright red popular then. I don't personally regard it as particularly desirable. The boot badge say MR S Turbo, something that for some reason made me check to make sure it wasn't an auto, but it's a manual. No idea if there's any paperwork with it.
There's a whole host of visual clues to help with working out the revision but the year of manufacture generally tells you most if what you need to know.
On a J it's likely to be a revision 2 car so sadly not as desirable as a 5 or even a 3 but still a great drive.
I was a huge MR2 nerd back in the day and still moss my old Turbo, I only just stumbled across your post but I'm following with interest.
A lot of the knowledge around them has diluted onto lots if different Facebook groups now but the old forums like IMOC-UK, MR2OC etc still have searchable content that might be of use.
I still have workshop manuals somewhere and there's digital copies available tok if you do need such things.
On a J it's likely to be a revision 2 car so sadly not as desirable as a 5 or even a 3 but still a great drive.
I was a huge MR2 nerd back in the day and still moss my old Turbo, I only just stumbled across your post but I'm following with interest.
A lot of the knowledge around them has diluted onto lots if different Facebook groups now but the old forums like IMOC-UK, MR2OC etc still have searchable content that might be of use.
I still have workshop manuals somewhere and there's digital copies available tok if you do need such things.
Edited by thetapeworm on Monday 16th February 21:38
thetapeworm said:
There's a whole host of visual clues to help with working out the revision but the year of manufacture generally tells you most if what you need to know.
On a J it's likely to be a revision 2 car so sadly not as desirable as a 5 or even a 3 but still a great drive.
I was a huge MR2 nerd back in the day and still moss my old Turbo, I only just stumbled across your post but I'm following with interest.
A lot of the knowledge around them has diluted onto lots if different Facebook groups now but the old forums like IMOC-UK, MR2OC etc still have searchable content that might be of use.
I still have workshop manuals somewhere and there's digital copies available tok if you do need such things.
Cheers. I'd be very surprised if it comes my way now, but who knows. I mentioned earlier I'm ex Toyota, from the era when these were current, and have a mate who would probably come in on it with me, who was also at the dealership when I was, which would possibly help me be more positive about the likelyhood of a purchase. On a J it's likely to be a revision 2 car so sadly not as desirable as a 5 or even a 3 but still a great drive.
I was a huge MR2 nerd back in the day and still moss my old Turbo, I only just stumbled across your post but I'm following with interest.
A lot of the knowledge around them has diluted onto lots if different Facebook groups now but the old forums like IMOC-UK, MR2OC etc still have searchable content that might be of use.
I still have workshop manuals somewhere and there's digital copies available tok if you do need such things.
Edited by thetapeworm on Monday 16th February 21:38
Its just as likely I'll buy something else in the meantime though, especially if I let my Boxster go. I've already got a lovely Mk1 T bar, this Mk2 was just a word of mouth chance encounter, and I'm not that interested in it tbh. Not knocking them, they've just never been on the radar for me.
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