Need help...

[KongGMC]

Alright well I got the Supra runnin. No leaks so far. I am having some trouble though. At first I had the distributor in wrong but I moved it over a tooth and I checked the timing with my light. Seems to be sitting at about 20-25 degrees before TDC. Idles about like it used to before I ever took it apart though. Missfires at idle and missfires a little bit when reving it up. Sounds good though.:biglaugh: Anyways, after it get's warmed up for a minute it it doesn't wanna idle. The idle get's unstable and it tries to stall itself out unless you give it gas. It had a code for a bad TPS before I took it all apart. I'm thinking the TPS needs to be either recalibrated or replaced. Is there a walkthrough for dummies on recalibrating them? If anyone could help me there that would be super.

I also broke a vacuum hose connector off of something. I noticed I had a vacuum line disconnected under the intake manifold above that vacuum cylinder thing and while I was rummaging around under it trying to figure out where it connected, the hose just fell off in my hand with the connector still plugged into it. I took a pic of it.

If anyone knows where this goes PLEASE help a brother out. Also would this affect idle or cause a missfire at idle? Anyway, here are some more pics of the mostly completed BHG job for those who wanted to see.

 

[AJ'S 88NA]

You're going to have to find the vac leak first. Your timing if you checked it according to the TSRM with the jumper wire is too much advanced. Spec is 10 deg BTDC. Either of those can cause the problems you have.

I don't see any vac lines to the thermostat housing. And the vac hose you have stretched over to the charcol can isn't suppose to be that way.

 

[KongGMC]

For some reason before I took it all apart to do the BHG job, when I tried to drive it with the timing set at 10* before TDC it had NO power at all and would not accelerate above 2,500-3,000rpm. If I bumped it up a bit it gained more and more power the higher it was bumped. With it set to 10* now it missfires real bad and wants to stall out. With it like it is it will idle a little higher but stays running. That's why I think the TPS is shot or needs to be recalibrated. What else could cause the missfire besides a vacuum leak? I know I gotta get that fixed but it was missfiring at idle before I ever took it all apart. Ideas?

 

[AJ'S 88NA]

Are you sure about the timing of the cam gears in relation with everything else?

Some thing is wrong if you have to advance it that far.

This may help with the vac hose.http://www.cygnusx1.net/Supra/Library/EPC/291410/catalog.aspx?F=1708&P=2

Also check you firing order. And you injector clips for proper contact and order.

 

[IJ.]

My "guess" on the timing thing is the balancer has "slipped" it's outer ring and TDC Mark is no longer correct.

Pull #1 plug grab a chopstick and slide it into the plug hole so it's sitting on the piston, turn the motor by hand and watch the chopstick rise.

There will be a few degrees of lag before it heads back down this will be true TDC, compare the timing marks and let us know where it is.

 

[KongGMC]

TDC is correct. I pulled the plug and did that with a screw driver. What is the balancer? Anyway the physical timing of the engine is perfect. I checked it over and over again before putting the timing cover back on and even took the timing cover back off and checked it again while trying to get the distributor in correctly. All of the fuel injector plugs are connected tightly. No leaks anywhere other than the vacuum leak. I have to go to church in a minute but I'm gonna use that vacuum hose chart and figure out which one I broke off and let ya'll know which # it is. I might be able to glue the connector back on too.

 

[AJ'S 88NA]

TDC is correct. I pulled the plug and did that with a screw driver. What is the balancer? Anyway the physical timing of the engine is perfect. I checked it over and over again before putting the timing cover back on and even took the timing cover back off and checked it again while trying to get the distributor in correctly. All of the fuel injector plugs are connected tightly. No leaks anywhere other than the vacuum leak. I have to go to church in a minute but I'm gonna use that vacuum hose chart and figure out which one I broke off and let ya'll know which # it is. I might be able to glue the connector back on too.

Balancer is the crank pully, or the thingy on the end of the crank with the timing mark on it.

Chopsticks huh IJ? must be eating oriential today? I use a pencil eraser down

 

[KongGMC]

No other ideas about what might cause a missfire at idle? How do I check the injectors to make sure they are working?

 

[IJ.]

Unplug/replug one at a time with it idling and see which one doesn't change the idle.

 

[KongGMC]

Well I got her running pretty darn good now I think. When I had to restab the distributor and all that, I noticed the rotor had a lot of play in it. By that I mean the metal pointer on the rotor was very loose and you could wiggle it up and down. So I replaced that and the distributor cap, reconnected all of the wires and double checked their locations on the cap. That smoothed it out quite a bit. I took it for a test drive to the gas station, cut her off, and checked all of the fluids. I noticed it was making a little noise. Not sure if it is a knock or a tap but I topped off the oil with Lucas cause I only put 4 quarts of engine oil in it to begin with. Drove it around for about 30 minutes or so and it seems to be doing loads better now. It still has a missfire at idle but it's kinda hard to tell it. I also still have the timing advanced a bit to combat the malfunctioning TPS but that doesn't seem to be bothering it much. I have decided not to fix the vacuum hose issue. It drives well enough to sell, doesn't leak any fluids. WHICH REMINDS ME! GUESS WHAT I FOUND! I was rumaging around in my bags of left over bolts from the parts I didn't put back on(mostly A/C junk) and found the plug that goes inside that coolant drain cock on the side of the block. Oh well. Atleast that isn't leaking now. That rubber plug is holding up just fine.

Anyway, I'd like to thank all of you that have spend time trying to help me. I will never get to finish this car cause I'm having to sell it. But I can honestly say I've enjoyed working on this thing and if I ever get another riceburner project it's gonna be a Supra! Only I'll probably try to find a turbo Supra next time.

 

[suprarx7nut]

Excellent example of the impact routine maintenance can have on a car's performance. (cap and rotor)

Get about 6 quarts total in there. It doesn't hurt anything to go a little over in our cars, but it can KILL to go a little under.

Sad to hear it has to go, but at least it sounds like you enjoyed the adventure and hopefully gained some knowledge and experience that will help you in the future, whether it be with a Supra or any lesser vehicle

 

[KongGMC]

6 quarts seriously?! That'll put it at a full quart overfull. Is this something everybody does with there Supra? Seems like I've always been taught that overfilling would cause problems.

 

[IJ.]

6 is perfectly safe in a 7M

 

[jdub]

Suggest you drain your oil and get that Lucas crap out of there:
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/images/lucas/lucas.htm

Oil additives are not going to "fix" anything...just run a quality oil and filter.

 

[KongGMC]

Suggest you drain your oil and get that Lucas crap out of there:
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/images/lucas/lucas.htm

Oil additives are not going to "fix" anything...just run a quality oil and filter.

I give this guy credit for going through the effort of doing this but I have personally changed oil on vehicles that have been running Lucas and the oil wasn't foamy at all. Furthermore, I had a knock going on in the engine and it muffled it and the engine also seems to be running better on top of it. That's all I can ask for since I'm selling it.

 

[jdub]

I give this guy credit for going through the effort of doing this but I have personally changed oil on vehicles that have been running Lucas and the oil wasn't foamy at all. Furthermore, I had a knock going on in the engine and it muffled it and the engine also seems to be running better on top of it. That's all I can ask for since I'm selling it.

So, you going to tell the guy you sell it to that it has knock and you used Lucas to quite it down? :3d_frown:

Lucas is crap...period.

Don't even try to sell it here unless you do...I'll post what you did, then lock the thread immediately unless you provide full disclosure.

 

[supramk3man]

Not to hijack, but the Lucas test... I have used Lucas many times and it has help quit some top end noise. I have also drained the oil after 15 mins of the motor running and shortly after had the oil pan off also. i have never seen any foam, any where in the motor. Could we post that site on the discussion board and get some others thoughts. I would hate to think a additive such as Lucas is hurting our motors. Many people use this stuff it might be good to bring this to the light.

 

[jdub]

So, you're trying to tell me that an oil additive will solve a mechanical problem...i.e. lifter noise, rod knock, etc?

Sorry, but that just doesn't float. All you do is mask the problem...so will using a 50W motor oil. There's a solution to a mechanical problem...fix it. There is not an additive on the planet that will do it for you.

Use it if you like...there's one born every minute (that's why the additive companies stay in business)...and, this has been discussed on SM before. Instead of opinions (that don't mean squat), why not ask how it works...I think you will see very quickly that pseudo science applies.

 

[supramk3man]

I wasn't saying that is a motor rebuild in a bottle or a all in one fixer. I was just asking if it had been discussed, guess i should have searched.

 

[jdub]

I have used Lucas many times and it has help quit some top end noise. I have also drained the oil after 15 mins of the motor running and shortly after had the oil pan off also. i have never seen any foam, any where in the motor.

That's not how I read this

I wasn't saying that is a motor rebuild in a bottle or a all in one fixer. I was just asking if it had been discussed, guess i should have searched.

Sorry, but based ont the top statement, it sure sounded like another "believer" to me.