IceMan

Just got my first fishtail experience, 2 shakes each way. Only doing a low speed over a greasy slightly off-camber corner and wondered what the fcuk was going on! The SLIP CONT came on and wouldn't go off again... Anyway, I think this may be primarily related to acceleration and a greasy/muddy surface, but I do have some improtant tyre questions if someone can supply me with help... I'm currently running Japanese Michelin Pilot SX tyres all round (they say Tubeless, Radial X and MXX3 on them too for info). These are fitted to 18" Manaray Vertec VR5 gold alloys. My questions are: 1. Are Japanese tyres poor in UK conditions? My mates tell me that they are made to work in a hotter climate and offer less grip over here - any truth to this? 2. What should the pressures be on the tyres? They're a bit screwed up at the moment... Front: F235/40 ZR18 (left = 26.0, right = 34.0) - yeah, I know! Rear: F265/35 ZR18 (left = 30.5, right = 31.5) 3. I had the car derestricted the other day and I'm wondering if the power steering might or might not be out? Would this help fishtails to occur? How can I check it? cheers for any advice/info! Ice

straightforward question: when should the Overdrive button be pressed in? I know it adds 4th gear and improves fuel consumption, but will it harm fuel consumption at low speed/revs? Obviously on the motorway it's essential but elsewhere? How do you other Supra owners drive? How about using L and 2 in everyday driving? Just wondering as I keep becoming button-switching-man! Ice

Yeah, it comes from the top of the glove box. Trouble is it won't go back in properly (slightly out on right hand edge). Oh well, cheers for the help anyway! Ice

I found it in the glove box... will investigate soonly! cheers, Ice

check your e-mail! Ice

I had a poor alarm fitting - the damn thing blew fuses today until the fitters noticed that the wires to the immobiliser were connected THE WRONG WAY AROUND! Anyway, they leftme with a panel that has been removed from somewhere. No-one knew where it comes from. Let me describe it: Rectangular in shape, 6 inches by 4 inches with a lip along one edge. Looks like a panel that covered fuses (not one of the two main ones from the engine bay). It has metal clips on both narrow edges and a piece of padding on the "inside" of the panel. There are some numbers and letters on it as follows (left hand side): >ABS SAE ABS 555 68-14 010 also has a Japanese symbol followed by - 971 running up the right hand area. So, any ideas? I think it might possibly come from under the driver or passenger leg area somewhere... Ice

can you just confirm that the handbooks from http://www.importhandbooks.co.uk the JPNZ ones? thanx, Ice

I would guess so - when you open the boot lid, there's a big black plastic cover on the inside below the rear windscreen - that's what's rattling. Oh and the plastic area surrounding the (auto) gear lever is also loose and rattling - any ideas on how to remove that too? Cheers, Ice

-bump- Does anyone know how to remove the plastic cover from the boot lid? Please? Ice

Well I've tidied up the poor wiring job from the alarm fitters but that didn't resolve the rattling. However, I discovered that the rattle stops with the boot open... it appears that the black plastic casing over the inside of the boot lid has become loose and it rattles. As the plastic has no screws I guess it's just clipped in, but how do I remove it without breaking it? Where are the clips? If anyone can give any advice or diagrams that'd be cool. I expect someone will have removed the panel before to to reach the rear-windscreen-wiper motor... Ice

Well, Toyota UK are hopeless for me ("we can't promise you one for Christmas") so I scoured the web and found some places that offer handbooks translated from the Japanese originals (sounds more authentic for my Jap TT than a UK handbook!). Does anyone own any handbooks from one of the following?: http://www.importhandbooks.co.uk http://www.jpnz.co.nz The first is a UK company that _might_ be reselling the New Zealand produced JPNZ books but the images shown on their site look crappy and cheap compared to JPNZ. The UK site have handbooks for around £22 whilst the New Zealand books (JPNZ) can be sent Internationally and start at £15 (I guess shipping will increase that!). JPNZ are going to release Workshop Manuals too which could be promising. They sure appear to cover a huge range of Jap imported cars... Oh yeah and I have seen that http://www.mkiv.com have lots of scans from US manuals but I realise that the US cars are gonna differ quite a bit more, particularly in emissions! So, any opinions/feedback or info about handbooks? Thanx in advance, Ice

I've got an annoying rattling sound from the back of the car as I drive over slightly rough surfaces. The other day I had an alarm system pretty poorly fitted and was wondering if there are any particular parts that might be loose? I tried removing the following from the rear: spare wheel corrugated cover; the small bit of wood cover; the fabric on elasticated springs over the boot area... I also tested it with the boot open - the rattle sounded quieter with the boot up (but it's not exactly practical!). Any ideas of what to check? Oh yeah and I run low profile Michelin pilots with 18" alloys so I expect a degree of noise over rough ground... but the rattle sounds like something's loose. Ice

my mate (owns a Skyline) has indicated that using regular unleaded will damage and destroy my engine and that I should be using at least super unleaded and ideally Optimax. I drive a basic un-upgraded Japanese Twin Turbo and the other day I HAD to use regular unleaded as there were no super unleaded stations nearby and now it's worrying me a bit... Anyone give any realistic (with proof if possible) stories of whether it's good/bad/what it means/does to use lower octane fuel? Also what does "pinking" or "knocking" sound like for my reference? Thanx, Ice

sorry mate not me, I owned a Fiesta... Ice

Thanks for the help so far. I thought it'd be easier to ask all my questions in one as it took a while to search for the right info and often it is more technical than I can understand. Hope you can understand my reasoning (I have used Search already). As for my number 1 question: I have found a company called JPNZ who translate original Japanese car manuals to English. Anyone know if these manuals are good? http://www.jpnz.co.nz (they are New Zealand based, though there are companies in the UK who resell their manuals). Otherwise keep the replies coming, it's all useful to me. Ice

Hi, My car: Japanese Toyota Supra Twin Turbo JZA80 (silver) from 1993. Automatic transmission. Stock spec (includes cats), though has nice alloys. My facts: I use the car to commute to and from work mainly so I'm not desperate to increase its performance or remove the cats yet. My questions: 1. I need to get hold of a Toyota Supra manual. Where's best to get one from? Toyota say they can't even get one for a 1999 Supra... 2. I live in North Devon. There are NO Shell stations in North Devon (which = no Optimax). What other types of Super Unleaded are good enough to be used in a Jap TT Supra? 3. With regard to (2) above, what type of octane boost should I use if I have to emergency buy regular RON95 Unleaded? And where is best to buy octane boost from? 4. What type of oil and other fluids should I use? 5. I can see a handle for Transmission Fluid in the engine. Where do you put in Transmission Fluid if it's low? 6. How often should the car be tuned? 7. I've heard that the service interval is 6,000 miles or 12 months - is this correct? 8. The SVA place did a meagre job on the speedo conversion. I'm getting the sorted (+ derestriction soon) but I'm concerned that the Odometer is now reading miles BUT started with KM on the clock (meaning I've gained an extra 20,000 miles). Are there places that can reprogram the odometer properly? 9. I'm considering getting a Bomex aerokit. I've noticed it's just over £500 in Japan for the front, side skirts and rear under bumper, however the cheapest I can get these for in the UK is £1,100 - does anyone know any places that'd sell them cheaper? 10. What places do people recommend for tuning/doing work on Supras (other than basic service)? Are there any in the South-West area (I've been told about Wincanton Motor Services). 11. Anything else I should know about?! Thanks in advance for any help, Ice