New Car, Some Small Issues. Some Help Please

[Beccara]

ok, I just took ownership of a 89 GT-R Celica tonight, its a ST183 engine

I've notices a couple of issues dirving it home tonight

1.
The speedo seems to jump around a little, its stable at 80km say and will every few scounds jump to 90km and i know the car is doing 90km as i have a friend tailing me tonight. From what i heard the Speedo is electronic so it may be a big costly problem?

2.
Cooling System

The rad will need replacing soon, its clogged up with dirt and crap from the country roads. also i drove the car from kapiti beach to porirua, the temp guage never went higher than 1/2.

When i got home i opened the front and could hear boiling from the RAD and RAD res, i've grown up on BMW's and learnt to drive in them so i'm not used to toyota noises, is this normal? i noticed there some water under the overflow pipe coming out the right hand side of the RAD res, is this just pressure relive or is it a sign of overheating?


Anyi deas on what this could be from the experts out there? the guy i got this off drove it to and from work today without any issues and has done for atleast a month, 1100km's a week in it without any issues at all, so i'm woundering if its just typical engine noises for this car.

Many Thanks

[Just_Juzz]

Flush the radiator and then see how you go. Remember to replace the coolant with a good brand and the right mix.

Check the sensor on your speedo, as that may be the problem. Not a major.

If you are going to try get a new radiator, look at a reconditioners or wrecker above getting a brand spanker.

[Beccara]

Thanks for that, does anyone have any recomendations for mix and brand of coolent?

Also is there a standard purging and bleeeding process for the clieicas?


and to sound reall noobish, where am i likly to find the speedo sensor in the engine bay and is it safe to remove it, clean it and replace it without the chance of transmission fluid or such leaking?


Thanks Very much, you all have been most helpful

[Spannergal]

ok, I just took ownership of a 89 GT-R Celica tonight, its a ST183 engine

I've notices a couple of issues dirving it home tonight
...
2.
Cooling System

The rad will need replacing soon, its clogged up with dirt and crap from the country roads. also i drove the car from kapiti beach to porirua, the temp guage never went higher than 1/2.

When i got home i opened the front and could hear boiling from the RAD and RAD res, i've grown up on BMW's and learnt to drive in them so i'm not used to toyota noises, is this normal? i noticed there some water under the overflow pipe coming out the right hand side of the RAD res, is this just pressure relive or is it a sign of overheating?


Anyi deas on what this could be from the experts out there? the guy i got this off drove it to and from work today without any issues and has done for atleast a month, 1100km's a week in it without any issues at all, so i'm woundering if its just typical engine noises for this car.

Many Thanks

Definitely not normal - overflow hose is just that - never fill the rad res - as this is were the coolant will go when there is too much pressure. temp gauge should definitely have gone higher than it did from the sound of things.

check that the pressure noted on the rad cap is the right one for your engine - if relieves at too lower pressure the engine will overheat.

[Beccara]

ok i'll have a look, where would i find the correct pressure for a st183 based 89 celicia GT-R?

I drove it from porirua into wellington today and i didnt notice any bubbling noises when i stopped, this was in rush hour traffic so i'm hoping its a one off issue

[Spannergal]

would probably be something to ask your local toyota - don't have it myself

[celica_tommo]

coolant - not one of the el cheapo ones. Any at repco for ~$30 for 4 or 5 litres would be fine

radiator cap - Standard Opening Pressure: 58.8 - 103 kPa (0.6 - 1.05 kgf/cm2, 8.5 - 14.9 psi)

[Mr Revhead]

boiling sounds from the rad arnt the best, from what you say yo need another one.

temp guage could be normal, ask other celica owners whats normal for their car. but sounds ok to me, ae101 levins only go to half or just under as do lots of other cars.

[Beccara]

i've taken it for a spin again, no boiling sound or bubbling sounds so thats good, could have been a 1 off, i looked at the rad cap, all it has on it is

6.0

stamped into the metal on it, the writing is just saying dont open when hot

[Twolitre]

i've taken it for a spin again, no boiling sound or bubbling sounds so thats good, could have been a 1 off, i looked at the rad cap, all it has on it is

6.0

stamped into the metal on it, the writing is just saying dont open when hot

I think you'll find that's 0.9 as it's rated in bar, unless it looks new just replace it, the speed sensor should be on top of the gearbox with a three wire plug going into it.