Economy light in the dashboard

[Martiv]

Hi all!

Sorry if this is a repost, tried to google this and searched the forum also.

What are the "Economy" green and orange lights on the dashboard meant for?
Im looking for a Supra MK3 to buy and one Im really interested in did have the orange led on.
As much as I check videos of Supras in youtube all the others have green light on while between changing gears(while not holding pedal down). So my question here is, while idleing should the orange light be on or green one?

 

[Jeff Lange]

Supras in North America did not have this feature, so there won't be a LOT of information regarding it, however I would think that at idle it should have the orange light on.

Jeff

 

[Martiv]

Okay, thanks for that Jeff!
If anyone has ideas how the lights should actually work I'd appreciate it!
Here's the car Im looking http://eng.auto24.ee/kasutatud/auto.php?id=647554

It costs around 3400$
It has been on sale around half a year, I think Im going to buy it, because it's 100% stock - I will be able to build it the way I like.
Only thing Im worried about is that same economy light, it might mean somethings wrong with engine...It worked nice idleing, but after working for 15 minutes I revved it one time and then it died out...Im assuming thats just because it hasn't moved about a half year.

 

[enjoyer]

Supras in North America did not have this feature, so there won't be a LOT of information regarding it, however I would think that at idle it should have the orange light on.

Jeff

No, green light is at idle. Also, it's on when you're driving easy. When you push the pedal harder, the orange light comes up. It's to say that you're not driving in the economy range.

 

[RazoE]

what's up with those taillights..?

I know most (now I'm guessing all) European Supras got the square taillights for all years (we only got them from 1986.5-1988) because of the longer license plates, but it looks like you guys use the more squared JDM/USDM plates, Toyota should have updated your taillights too...!

as for revving and dying out, did you drive it or only idle it? Maybe it has a leak, causing it to run super rich. Did you notice and weird smells or smoke.?

 

[Martiv]

Thanks guys!

I didn't drive it, just working idle about 15 min and as i revved it to ~4000rpm it stalled. It didn't do that later when I tried.
The only leak I did found is somewhere in the exhaust, I was checking under the hood, and while revving littlebet white smoke game far below of the turbo, even after the 1st catalytic converter. May that cause this?
The exhaust thing is not a problem for me, but the orange light is the one im not so sure about...

---------- Post added at 05:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:53 PM ----------

Is the green light supposed to be burning even when the engine is cold? Because its almost -10degrees here at the moment.

 

[enjoyer]

Thanks guys!

I didn't drive it, just working idle about 15 min and as i revved it to ~4000rpm it stalled. It didn't do that later when I tried.
The only leak I did found is somewhere in the exhaust, I was checking under the hood, and while revving littlebet white smoke game far below of the turbo, even after the 1st catalytic converter. May that cause this?
The exhaust thing is not a problem for me, but the orange light is the one im not so sure about...

---------- Post added at 05:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:53 PM ----------

Is the green light supposed to be burning even when the engine is cold? Because its almost -10degrees here at the moment.

The green light is ALLWAYS on at idle. Doesn't mater if the engine is cold or hot. The weather is not a factor also. If the orange light is allways on, then something isn't right.

---------- Post added at 11:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:09 AM ----------

what's up with those taillights..?

I know most (now I'm guessing all) European Supras got the square taillights for all years (we only got them from 1986.5-1988) because of the longer license plates, but it looks like you guys use the more squared JDM/USDM plates, Toyota should have updated your taillights too...!

as for revving and dying out, did you drive it or only idle it? Maybe it has a leak, causing it to run super rich. Did you notice and weird smells or smoke.?

All european supras have so called pre89 taillights. Doesn't mater if it's 87 or 92.

 

[SupraClaou]

The economy twin lights (green/orange) are on Euro Spec Supras only. It stays Green at idle when you drive easy...
When you flour the 'pedal to the metal' it will go Orange indicating that you are out of the economy range.
It works with a vacuum valve located on the firewall (driver side) near the small clutch reservoir tank,and it
gets a vacuum hose to make the adjustment between green and orange!

---------- Post added at 06:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:51 PM ----------

Here is a Euro Spec Tacho sheet with the 'ECONOMY' mode.....

 

[Martiv]

"It works with a vacuum valve located on the firewall (driver side) near the small clutch reservoir tank" Could you poste a pic of it please?

 

[SupraClaou]

I will take a picture soon...maybe tomorrow.

 

[Martiv]

Thanks man!

 

[Martiv]

SupraClaou did you hvae time to take the pic?

 

[Martiv]

Okay, So I bought the beauty Everything seems nice so far
But I still need your advise here guys!
The Economy light is always orange, and also, the stock turbo pressure gauge isn't working, It only works when I pedal hard(while driving). May this be related to the economy light? How is the turbo boost gauge working anyway? Is it using a vacuum line for measuring the pressure?
If it's using a vacoom line, maybe the vacuum line is broken or not correctly attached and due to that the gauge and economy light isn't working correctly?

Thanks in advance!

 

[enjoyer]

Okay, So I bought the beauty Everything seems nice so far
But I still need your advise here guys!
The Economy light is always orange, and also, the stock turbo pressure gauge isn't working, It only works when I pedal hard(while driving). May this be related to the economy light? How is the turbo boost gauge working anyway? Is it using a vacuum line for measuring the pressure?
If it's using a vacoom line, maybe the vacuum line is broken or not correctly attached and due to that the gauge and economy light isn't working correctly?

Thanks in advance!

If you're driving slowly/easy, the turbo gauge will be still. It begins to rise somewhere above 3000rpm. Of course, i'm talking about fully stock setup. Of course this doesn't mean that the gauge is corect and ewerything is working. Do you feel the turbo kicking in? How high does the gauge go? These gauges tend to be incorect. If you're so concerned about it, then just hook up a mechanical gauge.
Speaking about the orange economy light, smth is wrong here. Maybe it's just smth with wiring, maybe it's runing super rich,maybe.....

 

[Martiv]

Im sure the turbo works correctly, the gauge stays on -2 and somewhere 4000-4500rpm it jumps to +4...Actually im not so conecred with the boost gauge, it's most probably just incorrect, the more concerning part for me is about the Ecnomy light not being correct one. I also checked my engine for fault codes, by connecting relevant sockets in the diagnostics plug and checking the engine light, I didnät have any fault codes stored ....But the light is still ALWAYS orange...And another thing, I opened my air filter and there was littlebet oil on bottom of it, it came from the turbo ofcourse. How much would be normal for a turbo to leak? It's not that bad if theres littlebet oil I hope?

 

[jetjock]

I'm making an assumption but based on what SupraClaou wrote this isn't much different than the economy gages that used to be found on many cars and can still be bought today. They're nothing more than a manifold vacuum gage with a different face. In your case the setup appears to use a vacuum switch. If true you should measure manifold vacuum with a real gage. If vacuum is correct you can then focus on the switch...