Please note: some common sense is required in purchasing and taking care of a 20 year old car.
obvious things to change 1st to insure proper running order:
spark plugs ($8-15)
plug wires ($17-70)
distributor cap ($8-15)
rotor ($3-5)
fuel filter ($14-20)
air filter ($6-60)
1. if you're just buying a car that has sat for some time, please be prepared for something to go wrong. most other cars' engines will lock up after sitting for awhile, be greatful that Toyota engines seem to have a resistance to that (for the most part).
2. car won't start. symptom: no noise, or clicking or grinding.
a)check battery connections... if the terminals are corroded, clean them or replace them. make sure the wires aren't chewed to hell and that the body ground is there and secure. also make sure you have a good battery.
refer to this thread here:
http://www.celicasupra.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21051
b)check fuses. all of them.
c)check starter... are all the wires there? are they on good and tight?
You can always directly supply 12volts and see if the starter turns over, but if you're clueless about how to do this, you might not want to try it at the risk of shocking yourself. Take the car to someone who can check it, or remove the starter and take it to AutoZone/AdvanceAuto whatever. (obviously disconnect the battery first)
3. car won't start but turns over fine.
a)engine needs spark to run, you must determine if it's getting any before continuing. take coil wire and hold it to a metal point on the car (with a well insulated tool or you WILL get the shock of your life).
_______________________________
if you're getting spark out of the coil, but not out of your spark plug wires:
>check dizzy cap for bad terminals
>check rotor
>check plug wires
_______________________________
No spark condition:
>check all fuses and relays. (especially EFI and IGN)
>check ground wires (engine block, body, intake, etc.)
>make sure AFM is plugged in
>try pulling engine codes
refer to this thread here:
http://www.celicasupra.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20822
>ignition coils are relatively easy to replace, not sure how to test one
>pray it's not your ignitor, those babies are $400+
_______________________________
No fuel condition:
>same as above
>spray carb/fuel injection cleaner in the intake and see if she tries to start
>try jumpering out the yellow connector by the AFM. With the ignition key on, put your head towards the drivers side firewall, over the intake. After a few seconds you should hear fuel running through the lines. If you hear this, it rules out the fuel pump.
>fuel filter is one of the most common problems to cause a no start, engine sputtering or faltering condition. please change routinely.
>fuel pumps don't offen fail, HOWEVER, most of these cars are on their original pump, so it is common for them to crap out now. YOU MUST REMEMBER to prime the fuel pump before trying to start the car, or you'll get air in the lines and possibly damage the new pump. (priming = turning the key off and on for a few minutes, letting the pump run and turn off before starting)
____________________________
engine then should run, unless you're way out of time. please do a little searching on the subject, and/or refer here:
http://www.cygnusx1.net/supra/library/TSRM_MKII/in/IN_001.html
4. car won't start and turns over fast
a) pull upper timing cover, the timing belt either broke or got loose. do not panic, these are non-interference engines (they won't smash valves and pistons)
I'm sure I'm missing a bunch of things, but it's only 9am and I'm half awake, lol.
obvious things to change 1st to insure proper running order:
spark plugs ($8-15)
plug wires ($17-70)
distributor cap ($8-15)
rotor ($3-5)
fuel filter ($14-20)
air filter ($6-60)
1. if you're just buying a car that has sat for some time, please be prepared for something to go wrong. most other cars' engines will lock up after sitting for awhile, be greatful that Toyota engines seem to have a resistance to that (for the most part).
2. car won't start. symptom: no noise, or clicking or grinding.
a)check battery connections... if the terminals are corroded, clean them or replace them. make sure the wires aren't chewed to hell and that the body ground is there and secure. also make sure you have a good battery.
refer to this thread here:
http://www.celicasupra.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21051
b)check fuses. all of them.
c)check starter... are all the wires there? are they on good and tight?
You can always directly supply 12volts and see if the starter turns over, but if you're clueless about how to do this, you might not want to try it at the risk of shocking yourself. Take the car to someone who can check it, or remove the starter and take it to AutoZone/AdvanceAuto whatever. (obviously disconnect the battery first)
3. car won't start but turns over fine.
a)engine needs spark to run, you must determine if it's getting any before continuing. take coil wire and hold it to a metal point on the car (with a well insulated tool or you WILL get the shock of your life).
_______________________________
if you're getting spark out of the coil, but not out of your spark plug wires:
>check dizzy cap for bad terminals
>check rotor
>check plug wires
_______________________________
No spark condition:
>check all fuses and relays. (especially EFI and IGN)
>check ground wires (engine block, body, intake, etc.)
>make sure AFM is plugged in
>try pulling engine codes
refer to this thread here:
http://www.celicasupra.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20822
>ignition coils are relatively easy to replace, not sure how to test one
>pray it's not your ignitor, those babies are $400+
_______________________________
No fuel condition:
>same as above
>spray carb/fuel injection cleaner in the intake and see if she tries to start
>try jumpering out the yellow connector by the AFM. With the ignition key on, put your head towards the drivers side firewall, over the intake. After a few seconds you should hear fuel running through the lines. If you hear this, it rules out the fuel pump.
>fuel filter is one of the most common problems to cause a no start, engine sputtering or faltering condition. please change routinely.
>fuel pumps don't offen fail, HOWEVER, most of these cars are on their original pump, so it is common for them to crap out now. YOU MUST REMEMBER to prime the fuel pump before trying to start the car, or you'll get air in the lines and possibly damage the new pump. (priming = turning the key off and on for a few minutes, letting the pump run and turn off before starting)
____________________________
engine then should run, unless you're way out of time. please do a little searching on the subject, and/or refer here:
http://www.cygnusx1.net/supra/library/TSRM_MKII/in/IN_001.html
4. car won't start and turns over fast
a) pull upper timing cover, the timing belt either broke or got loose. do not panic, these are non-interference engines (they won't smash valves and pistons)
I'm sure I'm missing a bunch of things, but it's only 9am and I'm half awake, lol.