View Full Version : Should my new Supra run like this?
After a bout of owning an FTO GPX I have decided to get a proper car (honestly, that FTO was the worst car I have owned) namely a Supra!!!
No, it isn't the TT version, but seeing as this is my first rear wheel drive car, despite owning other fast cars in the past, I thought it a wise move. Especially as it has only 30-odd k on the clock.
Anyway, I seem to be having a problem, other than controlling the car in anything other than bone dry roads. Namely the engine only really gets going after 5000 rpm. Below that and is seems a mite sluggish. Is this okay - are the supra engines tuned for high RPM performance?? I have noticed that the engine makes "pinking" noises even whilst running (so it isn't due to cooling parts retracting), albeit standing still.. Does this mean I will need to use Optimax, and would this account for the lack in performance? Do you need to re-set the ECU in order for the change in fuel to be accepted?
Otherwise the car is a goodun, and I am well pleased. I have already done a 360deg skid coming off a roundabout, mind, so I must remember that it takes a different kind of drive control to a GT4 or Prelude...
Thanks all in advance,
Russell
NAs are pretty dead below 4000. 5000 seems a bit high.
YOu should be able to run on normal 95 RON without problems. Can you describe the "pinking" noise in a bit more detail? Does it only happen when the engine is on load or ist it going all the time?
...and FFS take it easy while you are getting used to it.
michel lane
16-03-06, 22:38
check your tyres .. i bet you got cheap ones on the car hence problems with traction ...get some goodyears F1 , it will make a big different... check your plugs for the pinking noise.
I agree... take it easy, this might be the N/A version but I've had mine over a year and it still gives me the occasional surprise...
The sliding is almost certainly due to crappy tyres on the rear... swap them out for something decent and the car will feel very different... :)
NAs are pretty dead below 4000. 5000 seems a bit high.
I wouldn't say pretty dead! They're quicker off the mark than a TT (whilst your waiting for the boost to pick up).
I certainly used to find a bit of a power surge around 4200 rpm and above like suggested in my old NA. It will step out easily if you're being quite aggresive in the wet.
Is it an auto?
if you stamp (and I mean STAMP) on the throttle under 40mph it should "f@cking take off"..:D
and if it doesn't you may have a problem....?
SupraStar 3000
16-03-06, 22:54
yes,.. sounds odd to me.
NAs are no couch potatos
Regarding the traction: Maybe you have re-molds
The tyres are Bridgestone Grid III models, 225 50 R16 from memory. I am taking it easy, now. Just used to front and four wheels driving.
The "pinking" noise is exactly like the noise you often hear after the car has been turned off - like the hot parts are cooling down, except that the noise is apparent even when the engine is running. I cant hear it when the car is moving, but it is apparent when still and with the window open. I wouldn't be bothered, but I would have thought that a pinking noise would not be heard whilst the car is running?
There is a definate increase in performance at about 5k, it may be a bit lower but not much. Its not like a VTEC bump - more like a steady increase in urge.
Thanks for you help guys, keep them coming.
Russell
letmeshowyou
16-03-06, 22:59
my old NA used to pick its heels up above 5000 (was quite noticable on the dyno chart too iirc). I wouldnt say it was 'sluggish' below that though.
any more details on the car - age, whats been done etc?
To put the speed of my Supra into perspective, I would have thought my old ST24 was just as quick up to 4-5k, after that the Supra pulls away. It just seams a bit lifeless at low RPM and I would have thought the extra torque over and FTO or Prelude would have provided much more grunt low down. Perhaps it's because the Supra is a bigger, heavier car??
Mine does make that noise as well but only when it is stationary and I am out side it is very faint from the drivers seat, seems to have gone slightly now I have an aftermarket exhaust
L reg, 40 odd K but some are Km's. Absolutely standard other than a fancy sat nav thing and some kind of engine timer that keeps the engine going, if needed, after the key is out of the ignition. Thats what the garage said, anyhow... Must admit if I coast to a halt the engine switches off pretty quick if not straight away, so I kinda accept this is a proper extra rather than a fault, unless someone has experience with something like this?
engine timers are for Turbos as it is designed to keep the turbo running until the oil cools down enough with out bunging it up (I think thats right) so not sure why you have one in your NA
The tyres are Bridgestone Grid III models, 225 50 R16 from memory.
Is that on the front and/or rear? If you have those sizes on the rear that will be cause of the lack of grip. The stock car should have either:
Fr: 225/50/16
Rr: 245/45/16
or
Fr: 235/45/17
Rr: 255/40/17
michel lane
16-03-06, 23:05
225 ??.. is this right ??i thought they all ran on 255 ??
letmeshowyou
16-03-06, 23:07
it might explain the sluggishness too. Maybe they don't grip til above 5krpm lol
For the timer, I can only assume that the previous owner (i am the second in this country) was primin the car for a single turbo conversion, but didn't go through with it. As I said, if you think there is something wrong, then let me know. I can't think of anything that would let the engine run after switch off unless it were a timer, though...
The wheels are after market ones and are all the same size, namely 225 50 R16. This could be quite critical, in the handling stakes. Now that I think on it, and it is too late and too cold to check, now, but there are some pretty big spacers on the rear wheels...
Jesus, and I thought AVForums was a quick forum.
Guess that the speed of replies co-incides with the speed of the car the forum is based on?
letmeshowyou
16-03-06, 23:23
yeah - but none of us could keep up with the GTO forum. They get to 60ft so quickly!
back on topic - I'd look to get those wheels sorted mate. That should help with the handling problems. Not sure on this sluggishness though!
dangerous brain
16-03-06, 23:33
The pinging noises with the engine running would actually be more of a concern to me. Get it to a decent independent garage soonest and see if it does have an obvious fault. If it does get your backside back to where you got it from asap. Also not trying to scare monger you at all but consider this one thing cars like this have got really low miles for a reason I hope that yours isn't because the car didn't work properly.
Mine pings and crackles quite a bit after a hard run, even when the engine's still running.... although it's a TT, I thought this was normal.
supra_surj
17-03-06, 00:00
yea mine run on 255 on the rear and 235 on the front. That must be where your losing the grip. As for the noise...have no idea. Think my TT is abit different. lol!
Surj
I was wondering if the noise was generated by a lot of heat because I've still got the front cat installed (total guesswork here).
Anyone else get the cooking popcorn sound effects and plinking noise after a hard run? (comes from the front of the exhaust area, not the engine itself).
Prof. Monkey
17-03-06, 06:25
Make sure you are not getting mistaken for the odd sound the charcoal cannister makes!
Also I bet your FTO was MIVEC and the Prelude was VTEC. The supra only has one Cam profile, not a more agressive one above 5000rpm. You are still in a turbo/variable valve mind set.
If you dragged either a FTO or Prelude, you would be well ahead before there cam engage points reached.
I am sure there is an NA owner nearby that could come and have a drive in your car to confirm the car is OK?
Anyone else get the cooking popcorn sound effects and plinking noise after a hard run? (comes from the front of the exhaust area, not the engine itself).
Yep, but I've still got both cats so I assumed it was those cooling...? it's deffo not coming from the engine....
Now that you mention it, the noise does seem to eminate from under the car, rather than the engine bay. If I lift the bonnet, then the noise seems to be from "within" the mess of technical wonders rather then the engine. Probably slightly to the drivers side, too.
I though that it was dodgy for the low milage, too. However, VIne Place, a local dealer, had a few that were about the same age as mine. So I thought, if there is precident, then I will go for it. Honestly, a flintstones car would be better thna an FTO.
225 ??.. is this right ??i thought they all ran on 255 ??
Nope, mine came with 225s all round.
I will get the wheels sorted, but it will take a while to get the money together.
Any advice on tyres? I will replace the alloys, too, probably 17".
Russell
Have you still got the standard airbox on or is there a horrible green thing where it should be ??
I get the pop corn sound after a run think as said before its the cats, if your going to get 17" wheels go for the Stock UK ones they are nice and fill out the rear arch plus you can upgrade to UK breaks at a later stage
Is it this (http://info.bonsaicars.com/test/car_stock/index1.php?car_stock_id=205) one?
From this (http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?t=59811) thread?
No, it isn't that one. Vielside bodykits should be all burnt at the stake - they look absolutely awful. Especially the back spoiler. One of the things that sells the supra is the huge rear wing. Changing it is like buying an Audi and replacing the four rings with a Skoda badge - Still a nice car, but the image is utterly ruined (in some folk's eyes at least).
The airbox is standard, as is the exhaust. I guess there are still two cats. then?
Good advice on the standard wheels. How much do they cost on the s/h market? On second thoughts I will look myself. Aren't the UK spec supra breaks the same as the GT4 ones? If so they are bloody huge!
Good advice on the standard wheels. How much do they cost on the s/h market? On second thoughts I will look myself. Aren't the UK spec supra breaks the same as the GT4 ones? If so they are bloody huge!
Good call on the Veilside, at least there's a few of us around with some taste ;)
A 2nd hand set of stock 17in wheels will cost anything from £50 to £400 dependant on how lucky you are. They don't seem to come up for sale very often, so you have to be quick.
I believe the brakes on (only) the ST205 are the same as the UK Supra, they're more than sufficient unless you want to do a lot of track days.
dangerous brain
17-03-06, 15:34
Ah right the plinking noise is after you get out of the car or when you are coasting down after a run now that makes sense. I thought you were saying you could hear these noises as you drove along. Those noises are usually the bloody hot hot parts of the exhaust system contracting back to a cold size after being very hot. You'll get the most noise from the bit closest the hot part ie the exhaust manifold which is why it sounds like the noise is in the engine bay.
What I was alluding to was if you are hearing plinking noises at 5000 rpm then you have issues that need resolving pronto. :)
there are some 17" wheels on ebay starting bid 99p there are a few around £100 on there as well, sorry dont have links was having a look while I was at lunch
I have the items on my watch list. MAy be able to persuade him to post as going so far south is not exactly desirable.
Russell
the post isnt too much think I paid about £30 for mine but they were Tyerless
Am I correct in thinking that any wheels from any Supra (of the latest gen) are interchangable? So if I bought some UK spec standard wheels they would fit a JDM NA Supra?
Am I correct in thinking that any wheels from any Supra (of the latest gen) are interchangable? So if I bought some UK spec standard wheels they would fit a JDM NA Supra?
Any 17in MKIV Supra wheels will fit any MKIV supra, it doesn't matter where they came from (Jap car, UK, car or NA/TT), its only the 16in Jap wheels that will not fit over the 'UK' brakes.
dangerous brain
18-03-06, 00:42
Am I correct in thinking that any wheels from any Supra (of the latest gen) are interchangable? So if I bought some UK spec standard wheels they would fit a JDM NA Supra?
Yeah just watch out for the wheels being bigger on the back than the front. I've seen some recently coming up where all 4 wheels were the same size which is pap. UK spec 17"s are the best bet for the Jspec car as they will definitely fit over UK spec brakes others including 19"s don't necesarily.
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