a pause for thought

[mrd-mr2]

hi all
I last posted maybe summertime last year about fixing a steering wheel....

but something major has happened now...
my oil light stayed on the week b4 xmas so i put the car away till last week when it went to a local garage, the guy said that i needed a oil pump, but with all the fuffle of taking engine out changing cam belts, refitting engine etc.... cost would be in region of £700 - £900, anyway it was my first mr2, it was a jap import, that funny greeny/blue shade with a full mrd kit fitted by mrd....

the thing now is what to do?
I aint a mechanic so breaking it is out the question

what would you do?

I had envisaged getting a nice leather interior, and a brushed aluminium kit for the dash, sporty it up like...

I stuck her through 1 mot and the bloke never shut up about how good she was underneath...

what would you do?

thanks
steve

[Ben]

Plenty of options I would have thought. Judging by the comments of how solid it is underneath it would be a shame to break it, and like you said that isn't really an option. How about an engine swap with a low-milage second-hand unit? You could either stay with the 3SGE or go turbo. I don't know prices I'm afraid, I'll let some more knowledgeable members pitch in with figures

[nikaiyo]

Does the garage know Mr2's at all, you dont need to take the engine out to do a cam belt, or an oil pump (not 100% sure on oil pump.)


Might be worht giving 3S or Rogue or someone a call and see howmuch they would charge for similar work

[The TVIS Kid]

Are you sure there is even a problem with your oil pump. The oil light usually means you are low on oil but have you noticed the car leaking any or burning any? I'm sure on the early 3sge engines lots of them had dodgy oil sensors. I had one on my gen 5 celica (same engine). My oil light would sometimes come on but I checked the oil and it was fine. Once i had done some research it seems a common problem. You can either get a seond hand unit (brand new they are reasonably expensive)to fit it into the sump or just unplug the connecter. You should check the oil once a week anyway so its not really a problem.

[-:[KM]:-]

^^^^
Assuming that's the Low Oil Level Light and not the Low Oil Pressure Light of course..

[Razor04]

A new Oil pump is reasonably cheap from toyota can be fitted with the engine in the car, cambelt has to be removed though, you may as will do the water pump whilst your in there its next to the oil pump.
Its pretty labour intensive to do this lot. You'd be lookin at around £600
Where are you based?

[simmo490]

where are you based mate, if you want to sell the car as a whole i may be interested

dave

[silverhawk160]

Bud your quote is a RIP OFF, my mr2 has been of the road for 4 days now as the water pump has just started leaking unfortunatly its not being fixed till this weekend but I`ve had 3 quotes so far for a new cambelt kit and new red coolant and new water pump 1st was from a specialist garage near to where I work they quoted £370 inc labour,parts,vat. 2nd quote was from toyota water pump £85+vat, cambelt kit was £60+vat and 3.6 hours labour at £79 per hour+VAT £515.66 inc vat WOW but the parts guy was offering discount for club members. 3rd quote was from a good friend who`s a mechanic in a garage £200 for new blueprint cambelt kit and new blueprint water pump including labour and VAT plus included is an engine flush with this top stuff that will apparently clean the buckets thoroughly(my engine doesnt tap at all) just want to keep it going and new oil and red coolant too. I`d phone around as many garages havent even worked on a mr2 so are unwise how to get the job done as there not alot of room around the mr2 engine bay plus they pray on the oppertunity to rip us mr2 owners of (bulls*** wont baffle my brain) but it happens, as for parts I`d go straight to toyota as many dealerships offer club discount on parts and then just get them fitted else where. Hope you get this sorted without emptying your wallet

[simmo490]

hi mate, what do you mean by flushing the buckets?? and how would that effect tapping?? dave

[silverhawk160]

hi mate, what do you mean by flushing the buckets?? and how would that effect tapping?? dave

Tappets or hydraulic lifter or thats what they where on my rs, I may have confused myself over a thread i`ve read last year. I`ve had my mr2 for nearly a year now so I think it could do with a bottle of engine flush treatment and fresh oil

[simmo490]

Hi mate. Not hydraulic on a 2 there solid.

Dave

[mrd-mr2]

hi
thanks for the responses

oil pressure was 5 psi..... was told it should be 60 psi

I have asked other garages and the cheapest was just over 500 all in.

so against my better judgement i've decided to try and sell it whole.

It was my 1st mr2, the colour i wanted and the full kit too but with my dogs it really is'nt practical

so she has to go,
if anyone is interested i'll put up a link for pics

thanks again for the response.

I'm 15 mins from j14 m6 - stafford

steve

[simmo490]

interested mate, can you PM me al;l deatails and how much u want, cheers

[mrd-mr2]

hi

am in the middle of uploading some pics

Like i said i dont know a good one of these from a bad one

but here is a list of things that i know need sorting

air con... regassing?
drivers side mirror does'nt retract
ariel stopped working in down position
speedo does'nt work, rev counter does
driver seat bolster worn
few small cosmetic touch ups paintwork

I have a sumono/simono racing steering wheel and same aluminium fixing hub
I have a small pot of oem paint
there are 5 x bk alloys
mot till may
no tax - disability tax

it flew through mot without recommendations
before oil fault was only used to drive to and from work, 12 miles a day and sunny days driving through chase forest
it was actually too fast for me, am 43 now and love life, the only car i've never floored

imo its a great cheap sports car (when working)

if i've done this properley...
here's the link for pics

http://www.slide.com/r/O_XCx-lS6T8OCkcv ... w=original

any question please ask

i tried to pm.... but was unable to

steve

[simmo490]

What are you after for it mate. Got ure pm btw

Dave

[mrd-mr2]

hi
I really don't know what to ask for her
I paid good money december 07

just thought i'd throw it open to offers here before putting on ebay

if interested pm me an offer

thanks
steve

[simmo490]

hi mate, i dont think you will see uch money in return.

i dont know what you paid for her and i think you will be dissapointed.

do you know if the MRD kit is genuine?

[Razor04]

Mate i know £500 quid is a lot of money but surely it's worth paying out to sort the oil pump? thats a nice lookin car you'll be over the sting of the £500 bill in no time and you'll look back and feel glad you did'nt give the car away

[silverhawk160]

My mate didnt have time to fix my 2, so I had a chat with the boss of the garage near to where I work to do put a new water pump on and cambelt kit+labour inc vat £330 little bit of a saving but at least it will be sorted monday 19th and I can get back in the drivers seat again

[mrd-mr2]

hi

yes the mrd kit is genuine and fitted by mrd too, so its been fitted flush making it a lot easier to fit to another mr2.

I would luv to keep her but i have to move on,

I know the car has lots of life and with a bit of money/time she will scare the poo out of her new owner

I've now puther on ebay, and hey theres a bidof 99p already

I'm not expecting much for her although i've had 2 ppl asking for the kit so i may split, it depends on the offers

thanks to one and all

steve