Why isn't my MR feeling as quick as it should

[timmy2take]

I got a rev 3 turbo the other week. It's got a straight through exhaust system, air filter and is making 250bhp. In my eyes it should be a little more than that.

It seems to have good/bad days when it feels like 265-270bhp (What I think it should be) and other times a bit sluggish, a bit like all turbo cars I guess.
But it has more sluggish days than good, even when it's chilly.

I've noticed in my inbox Eurocarparts have a sale ending today so I was thinking of going to pick up a few bits.
Plugs
Leads
Rotor?

Anything else that may help it out?

[Draven]

Well first your bum feelings of how fast it is will vary depending on how you're feeling that day.

If you really want to know how much it is putting out stick it on a dyno.

I would recommend giving it a full propper service.

Good Quality Oil
Filter
Plugs
Leads
Disty Cap
Rotor

Out of these I would certainly recommend getting toyota genuine leads. They are bit more expensive but are fantastic quality.

Check the coolant.. when was that last changed? check for error codes.

how does the car run on tickover does it hunt at all?

Get each cylinder checked make sure they are making around 170 psi each.

[SonicSW20]

Air filter / fuel filter oil filter / oil change as well. May as well do the lot, at least then you know all those bits are good.

[Draven]

Air filter / fuel filter oil filter / oil change as well. May as well do the lot, at least then you know all those bits are good.

Ooo I know i'd missed something yes 100% on changing the fuel filter. They are pennies really and a nice clean one can really help.

[timmy2take]

What plugs are recommended for a standard ish MR2 rev 3 please?

Sorry I'm being lazy I'm just about to order it all now

[super]

http://www.fensport.co.uk/Parts/Model_2 ... ory_8/1299

Explains your choices well.

[bobhatton]

All MR2 Turbos run under the control of the knock sensor as we do not have the same fuel here that they were build for in Japan.
So if the ECU see knock it will back the timing off and add fuel and the engine will drop power.
You must run it on the best fuel, 99+ octane.

I would set your timing to 8 deg BTDC, reset your ecu and see how it goes then.

[2mad]

Mr2 ecu's have I think two main running modes 1. bad gas mode, the ecu cuts boost, runs extra fuel and retards timing (It does this on warm up too).
2, normal operation mode, allows higher boost, leaner fuel and advanced timing.

Basically you could have a problem (knock) the ecu find bad enough to go into bad gas mode.


On my rev2 setup I had lovehorsepowers knock leds fitted, not sure how to do this with a rev 3 (should be the same just ground an led through the vsv pin).... . Does the ecu still allow full boost (stock vsv system) when your car is driving poorly. If its cutting boost this would mean its gone into bad gas mode and its detected excessive knock.

[timmy2take]

It boosts fine. Although it does seem a tad laggy compared to my last rev3

Boost comes in hard at 4k whereas my last one seemed to be early 3k

Maybe it's the Hybrid turbo on it. When it runs nice it does pull harder at the top end than my last one, but saying that was running 1.2 bar of boost and maybe pushing the turbo to it limits so it was running out of puff.

I'll get my mechanic to have a look at the timing whilst its down with him.

Thanks

[Ryan S]

does the car have a CAT on it??

[timmy2take]

Yes, straight through exhaust system

[Ryan S]

Yes, straight through exhaust system

hmmm, when i first bought my first tubby the cat was bu88ered, the symptoms you are describing are exactly the same except i'd get a cat temp warning light come on as well. you'd also see the boost fluctuate. car felt awful, like it was holding back. what's your boost gauge doing while you're driving on boost?

[2mad]

Didnt know you were running a hybrid, I'm in the ct20b's are better than hybrids camp, after running a blitz bag hybrid ct26 and ct20b.

Do the usual boost leak tests inducing bov .


Like you said, it could just be running out of puff