Guest Paul White Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Hi all, Need some advice. Have a sticky problem… I have to be quite careful here… but please read the whole post before coming to any conclusions and flaming anyone etc etc. My “car” (being a toyota turbo) has had a sticky little overheating problem. Basically I bought this car off a m8 of mine 2 years ago, on the understanding that I have serviced the car regularly, and ensured it was in tip top condition all the time…. I bought the car off my m8, after driving it myself (fully insured) for 1 month. After handing the keys over, the car got hot and started to overheat … I then proceeded to limp the car home refilling water as I went. Cut a long story short… I shall summarise the next series of events. I checked all the pipes etc, radiator, Everything I could – decided it was an odd problem and sent it to the best guy in the country (of which there are only 3 people I would trust to repair my car). He was even recommended to me by many many “car” owners… I live in the south and he lives in the north.. so I got the car up there (trailer)… Here is where things got weird. Now bear in mind this is not a flaming post but a “WE NEED HELP and ideas post”… bearing in mind he is a good chap and a m8 of mine too…. After a few months the guy got round to doing it… I should really write he had a 6 month waiting list…. So eventually he started it. This was back in August 2006. He sorted out the leak by getting the head skimmed, as all indicators pointed to this…. Then all the woes started. After replacing cam belts – all drive belts and giving the car a gold star service the car wouldn’t fire up. So the car was stripped again and again to find out why it wasn’t starting… then sheepishly one day he called up and said.. well sorry its taken time but one of my employees put petrol in the car and it started 1st time. So its ready for you to collect… After collecting the car it overheated again on the way down south… 3 times it overheated and 3 times he came out to bleed it. After the 3rd time he said.. it still has the problem… Well its now September 2008 2 years since the car was handed to him for repair… I went up on holiday to the north to pick it up and it still has the overheating issues. I gave the guy 1 month to get the car sorted. But upon seeing the car.. it was a wreck.. it looked tired .. shabby, things like the electric aerial didn’t work, was running rich etc etc etc. not the car I sent up for repair.. (same car.. just looking very very tired) Well, now im back down here and very disappointed. Basically EVERYTHING you can imagine has been done to find the source of the overheating… you name it its been done, along with the assistance of the other 2 top “car” engineers in the country. He now believes it’s the fault lies with the bottom seating of the HG. i.e. the top of the block needs grinding as he believes someone has tightened the head bolts too much… you can produce a small lip if they are pulled on these aluminium engines.. and 1000th of a micron and a steel head gaskey is unforgiving… hence he believes the leak. Well, he is a nice chap, and yes im disappointed by the lack of progress, and he has done many many tests, - the head was tested, the block xrayed, this and that changed.. NOTE HE IS DOING THIS ALL FOR FREE…. I have sent a few extra parts up to bolt on.. but he has managed to lose some of those.. Sigh… I just want to know when I can drive my “car” again… and what is wrong with it. So if anyone has any ideas why the car is boiling please tell me. 1. if you rag the car it overheats after 30 mins 2. if you drive the car gently it over heats after 30 mins 3. if you drive on a motorway it overheats after 30 mins. 4. the answer is NOT “don’t drive the car less than 30 mins” 5. engine was xrayed 6. new rad fitted 7. new water pump will be fitted 8. cant remember what else.. you name it its been done. What would you do now? Cant sell it.. it don’t work.. cant go get it - it doesn’t drive…. I just want it back – working and drivable… (that “car” is my pride and joy) Thanks in advance… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Raven Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Hi all, Need some advice. Have a sticky problem… I have to be quite careful here… but please read the whole post before coming to any conclusions and flaming anyone etc etc. to remove massive quote I just want it back – working and drivable… (that “car” is my pride and joy) Thanks in advance… First off if the car is in worse shape than when you took it there id ask them to repair it, secondly would putting a new engine in be better all round? Without sounding dumb the heater matrix has been checked right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommygun Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 This should be an interesting thread. Sorry i cannot add any imput Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk-rich Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 the thermostat has been changed right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyT Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Are you reading the temperature from the oem gauge in the dash or do you have independent gauge? Also, as above, has the heater matrix been working? Sorry to hear of your woes bud. I would've seriously got my money back a fair while ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merckx Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 you name it its been done, along with the assistance of the other 2 top “car” engineers in the country. Bite the bullet and take it to someone that has a lot of experience with these cars, have you heard of Chris Wilson on here? Best to get the thread moved to "Supra Chat". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyT Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Bite the bullet and take it to someone that has a lot of experience with these cars, have you heard of Chris Wilson on here? Good choice that. Chris is in Shropshire. Search members for contact details. If you need someone closer, Muffleman (member name) has a Supra specialist business in Crawley, AFR Tuning under traders section. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraAyf Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Hi all, I live in the south and he lives in the north.. so I got the car up there (trailer)… Where in the North as we have a few good garages up here that could help. Also, is he just a good mechanic or a good Supra-specific mechanic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 I would hazard a guess that if "Everything" has been checked then it's not been checked properly. I don't know much about engines, but the only reasons I can think of are blocked water pipes, crap in the water ways, loss of pressure of the water system, inadequate coolant, poor flowing rad, broken/dying water pump, incorrect hose routing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Is the car a mkiv supra? I'm just asking because you posted in "Off Topic" and phrases like "toyota turbo" make me think "mkIII supra". No problem if it's not a mkiv, we just need to know what we're dealing with here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 It loses coolant as you drive yeah? Does it produce any smoke? Colour of it? What is the exact engine we are talking about? Was the rad new? From Toyota? Was the rad cap replaced? Does the coolant overflow fill or empty? Has the 'stat been replaced? What's the exact model of the engine? Does the heater work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 My first move would be to get it to someone who knows what they're doing. Someone like AFR or another close to home so that you can keep an eye on the progress a bit more. 2 years FFS? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 he believes someone has tightened the head bolts too much… you can produce a small lip if they are pulled on these aluminium engines.. and 1000th of a micron and a steel head gaskey is unforgivingIsn't "1000th of a micron" 1/1,000,000 of 1mm then? Is the car a mkiv supra? I'm just asking because you posted in "Off Topic" and phrases like "toyota turbo" make me think "mkIII supra". Neither, if it's got an alloy block. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricky-Ricky Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Sounds like a cracked block or head to me, but you say its been X rayed, and the micron bit leaves me rather puzzled:taped: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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