russraff Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 After a bout of owning an FTO GPX I have decided to get a proper car (honestly, that FTO was the worst car I have owned) namely a Supra!!! No, it isn't the TT version, but seeing as this is my first rear wheel drive car, despite owning other fast cars in the past, I thought it a wise move. Especially as it has only 30-odd k on the clock. Anyway, I seem to be having a problem, other than controlling the car in anything other than bone dry roads. Namely the engine only really gets going after 5000 rpm. Below that and is seems a mite sluggish. Is this okay - are the supra engines tuned for high RPM performance?? I have noticed that the engine makes "pinking" noises even whilst running (so it isn't due to cooling parts retracting), albeit standing still.. Does this mean I will need to use Optimax, and would this account for the lack in performance? Do you need to re-set the ECU in order for the change in fuel to be accepted? Otherwise the car is a goodun, and I am well pleased. I have already done a 360deg skid coming off a roundabout, mind, so I must remember that it takes a different kind of drive control to a GT4 or Prelude... Thanks all in advance, Russell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digsy Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 NAs are pretty dead below 4000. 5000 seems a bit high. YOu should be able to run on normal 95 RON without problems. Can you describe the "pinking" noise in a bit more detail? Does it only happen when the engine is on load or ist it going all the time? ...and FFS take it easy while you are getting used to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michel lane Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 check your tyres .. i bet you got cheap ones on the car hence problems with traction ...get some goodyears F1 , it will make a big different... check your plugs for the pinking noise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 I agree... take it easy, this might be the N/A version but I've had mine over a year and it still gives me the occasional surprise... The sliding is almost certainly due to crappy tyres on the rear... swap them out for something decent and the car will feel very different... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 NAs are pretty dead below 4000. 5000 seems a bit high. I wouldn't say pretty dead! They're quicker off the mark than a TT (whilst your waiting for the boost to pick up). I certainly used to find a bit of a power surge around 4200 rpm and above like suggested in my old NA. It will step out easily if you're being quite aggresive in the wet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 Is it an auto? if you stamp (and I mean STAMP) on the throttle under 40mph it should "f@cking take off".. and if it doesn't you may have a problem....? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraStar 3000 Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 yes,.. sounds odd to me. NAs are no couch potatos Regarding the traction: Maybe you have re-molds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russraff Posted March 16, 2006 Author Share Posted March 16, 2006 The tyres are Bridgestone Grid III models, 225 50 R16 from memory. I am taking it easy, now. Just used to front and four wheels driving. The "pinking" noise is exactly like the noise you often hear after the car has been turned off - like the hot parts are cooling down, except that the noise is apparent even when the engine is running. I cant hear it when the car is moving, but it is apparent when still and with the window open. I wouldn't be bothered, but I would have thought that a pinking noise would not be heard whilst the car is running? There is a definate increase in performance at about 5k, it may be a bit lower but not much. Its not like a VTEC bump - more like a steady increase in urge. Thanks for you help guys, keep them coming. Russell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
letmeshowyou Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 my old NA used to pick its heels up above 5000 (was quite noticable on the dyno chart too iirc). I wouldnt say it was 'sluggish' below that though. any more details on the car - age, whats been done etc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russraff Posted March 16, 2006 Author Share Posted March 16, 2006 To put the speed of my Supra into perspective, I would have thought my old ST24 was just as quick up to 4-5k, after that the Supra pulls away. It just seams a bit lifeless at low RPM and I would have thought the extra torque over and FTO or Prelude would have provided much more grunt low down. Perhaps it's because the Supra is a bigger, heavier car?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daston Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 Mine does make that noise as well but only when it is stationary and I am out side it is very faint from the drivers seat, seems to have gone slightly now I have an aftermarket exhaust Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russraff Posted March 16, 2006 Author Share Posted March 16, 2006 L reg, 40 odd K but some are Km's. Absolutely standard other than a fancy sat nav thing and some kind of engine timer that keeps the engine going, if needed, after the key is out of the ignition. Thats what the garage said, anyhow... Must admit if I coast to a halt the engine switches off pretty quick if not straight away, so I kinda accept this is a proper extra rather than a fault, unless someone has experience with something like this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daston Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 engine timers are for Turbos as it is designed to keep the turbo running until the oil cools down enough with out bunging it up (I think thats right) so not sure why you have one in your NA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 The tyres are Bridgestone Grid III models, 225 50 R16 from memory. Is that on the front and/or rear? If you have those sizes on the rear that will be cause of the lack of grip. The stock car should have either: Fr: 225/50/16 Rr: 245/45/16 or Fr: 235/45/17 Rr: 255/40/17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michel lane Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 225 ??.. is this right ??i thought they all ran on 255 ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
letmeshowyou Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 it might explain the sluggishness too. Maybe they don't grip til above 5krpm lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russraff Posted March 16, 2006 Author Share Posted March 16, 2006 For the timer, I can only assume that the previous owner (i am the second in this country) was primin the car for a single turbo conversion, but didn't go through with it. As I said, if you think there is something wrong, then let me know. I can't think of anything that would let the engine run after switch off unless it were a timer, though... The wheels are after market ones and are all the same size, namely 225 50 R16. This could be quite critical, in the handling stakes. Now that I think on it, and it is too late and too cold to check, now, but there are some pretty big spacers on the rear wheels... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russraff Posted March 16, 2006 Author Share Posted March 16, 2006 Jesus, and I thought AVForums was a quick forum. Guess that the speed of replies co-incides with the speed of the car the forum is based on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
letmeshowyou Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 yeah - but none of us could keep up with the GTO forum. They get to 60ft so quickly! back on topic - I'd look to get those wheels sorted mate. That should help with the handling problems. Not sure on this sluggishness though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangerous brain Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 The pinging noises with the engine running would actually be more of a concern to me. Get it to a decent independent garage soonest and see if it does have an obvious fault. If it does get your backside back to where you got it from asap. Also not trying to scare monger you at all but consider this one thing cars like this have got really low miles for a reason I hope that yours isn't because the car didn't work properly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoboblio Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 Mine pings and crackles quite a bit after a hard run, even when the engine's still running.... although it's a TT, I thought this was normal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supra_surj Posted March 17, 2006 Share Posted March 17, 2006 yea mine run on 255 on the rear and 235 on the front. That must be where your losing the grip. As for the noise...have no idea. Think my TT is abit different. lol! Surj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoboblio Posted March 17, 2006 Share Posted March 17, 2006 I was wondering if the noise was generated by a lot of heat because I've still got the front cat installed (total guesswork here). Anyone else get the cooking popcorn sound effects and plinking noise after a hard run? (comes from the front of the exhaust area, not the engine itself). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prof. Monkey Posted March 17, 2006 Share Posted March 17, 2006 Make sure you are not getting mistaken for the odd sound the charcoal cannister makes! Also I bet your FTO was MIVEC and the Prelude was VTEC. The supra only has one Cam profile, not a more agressive one above 5000rpm. You are still in a turbo/variable valve mind set. If you dragged either a FTO or Prelude, you would be well ahead before there cam engage points reached. I am sure there is an NA owner nearby that could come and have a drive in your car to confirm the car is OK? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted March 17, 2006 Share Posted March 17, 2006 Anyone else get the cooking popcorn sound effects and plinking noise after a hard run? (comes from the front of the exhaust area, not the engine itself). Yep, but I've still got both cats so I assumed it was those cooling...? it's deffo not coming from the engine.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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