Am I being paranoid?

Hello!

 

First of all may I say what an awesome site!

After reading a lot of previous threads on valve stem seals, turbo seals and also piston rings going I could really do with an expert opinion please.. as I think I could be worrying for no good reason?

 

I have owned my car for nearly three months now (GZ 93’ auto TT) and have never really used it for any short journeys (mainly weekend trips away, as I work in London during the week)

Last night, took her for a quick spin in slow traffic. On start-up white smoke/condensation was visible and disappeared once she was fully warmed up. I believe this has happened on previous occasions but only when the car is cold started?

After returning back home, I let the car idle and then got the other half to blip the throttle a few times then returning it to idle…nothing at all.

The car was stone cold from start up and has had the second cat removed. She is also due for a service imminently…Am I being paranoid as I believe all of my previous cars have done this due to condensation build up in the cat/exhaust system, always disappearing once fully warmed up.

A friend has followed me in the past and has reported there to be no smoke at various levels of boost.

 

PS can anyone please also recommend which service I should be having… ?

She was imported in July/August 2001 by JIC (with around 58k on the clock) the service book has been stamped (by JIC) in the ‘A’ service box but no receipt to prove exactly what has been done. The next service was precisely a year later in 2002 (circa. 7/8k interval since the last, i.e. 65/66k miles) and was deff. an ‘A’ service (from JPS). The next service was precisley a year later in 2003 (6/7k interval, i.e. 72.5k miles) and was deff. a ‘B’ service from JPS again. She then went in (JPS) for a replacement brake master cylinder and a pre-sale check over (brake fluid was flushed and new pads were added) this was in June and the mileage was roughly 75k.

The car is now due for another annual service and has approx. 78,800k miles on the clock… which service should I be going for now and approx. how much is this going to cost?) should I also be looking at having a coolant flush done?

 

PS The car is a ‘93 GZ should I bother have the airbags inspected and if so is it expensive?

 

PPS Thank you all in advance for the random questions!!

Yes, personally i'd say you were being paranoid about the smoke:)

 

Service wise i'd have a good look at your fluids, coolant and autobox fluids should be red not brown etc. Has the cambelt been changed and when (should be a sticker on the camcover with details of the change), has it ever had a change of fuel filter? when were plugs last changed etc etc.

 

I'd get a list together of whats overdue etc and maybe go to the place in Watford that is recommended on this site (i'll edit a link in for you this place )

 

never heard of anyone having their airbags inspected though thats not to say its not a good idea just can't help you on that one!

Originally posted by Scooter

has it ever had a change of fuel filter?

Where exactly is the fuel filter? I'd like to change it on my car but I don't where to find the damn thing!

I 'think' its underneath, back from the engine/front wheel on the passenger side. I'm sure there's a few old posts on the subject of changing it and how it 'can' be a PITA.......

this has some info looks like its not really a PITA just care required.

“Service wise i'd have a good look at your fluids, coolant and autobox fluids should be red not brown etc. Has the cambelt been changed and when (should be a sticker on the camcover with details of the change), has it ever had a change of fuel filter? when were plugs last changed etc etc.”

 

The cambelt was changed at its first service in the UK (JIC)

As for the fuel filter, plugs and transmission fluid these were all changed at the second service (i.e. almost two years ago)

The car has done 12k miles since these were changed

 

As for the coolant it is slightly brown and not bright red, would a straight‘B’ service suffice with a coolant flush? Or should I opt for the full ‘A’ service?

ooops just realised i'd posted my original thread under the wrong name (after setting up an account up for my mate)

Originally posted by Jake

Where exactly is the fuel filter? I'd like to change it on my 95,000 mile car but I don't where to find the damn thing!

 

It's passenger side, mounted (externally ) on the floorpan just as it curves up to become the bulkhead. Easy to get at if you can get under the car, two 10mm bolts hold it's bracket on the car and you'll need a coughcough sized spanner to remove the fuel lines from each end. Expect fuel spillage

 

-Ian

I had a nightmare changing my fuel filter, but mainly due to the weather! I'd just levered myself under the car and undone the old one when it started absolutely pissing it down. Unfortunately there was a dip in the road just under the filter area, which rapidly turned into a big freezing cold puddle with me in it! I was in such a hurry to put the new one on before hypothermia set in I managed to strip the thread on it and had to put the bloody old one back on and buy a new one. I was not amused. So be careful with it and make sure you have a flare nut spanner.

This time of year as it gets colder I don't think that there are many cars that don't exhaust whiteish steam at startup.

Thanks all for the help finding the filter. I think I'll have a go at changing that since I don't know if mine's ever been replaced.

 

 

Originally posted by SimonB

make sure you have a flare nut spanner.

What's that? Is that what those brake type spanners are called? Like a ring spanner with a gap so you can get it over the pipe?

Originally posted by Ian C

It's passenger side, mounted (externally ) on the floorpan just as it curves up to become the bulkhead. Easy to get at if you can get under the car, two 10mm bolts hold it's bracket on the car and you'll need a coughcough sized spanner to remove the fuel lines from each end. Expect fuel spillage

 

-Ian

 

What this little baby

Originally posted by Peter Sharp

What this little baby

I don't recall seeing one of those when I've been under my car Mind you, I wasn't trying to find it then. I know what I'm looking for now. Thanks for the pic Pete - big help.

bloody hell, almost 3K in miles in 2 months!

 

 

Coolant - get that changed, dont think that has been done since i got it from JIC. not an expensive job.

 

Hope She's running nice for you and your giving her some TLC

Hey Faith!

 

Good to hear from you, how's everything going in NZ?

Bought a new soop yet?

Yeah 3k in almost 3 months, been having too much weekend fun!!

 

She is running a treat (apart from a brief moment of paranoia) with the utmost TLC being shed on her.

 

What service do you reckon she needs as the plugs/trans fluid were changed only 12k / 2 yrs ago? What do you reckon a 'B' with a coolant flush or a straight 'A'?

Also, are the HKS plugs new? and if not, can they still be used?

 

Cheers mate

I'd get the Sparks changed, I remember Leon saying something about those at its checkover, i think i left you some spare new sparks in the boot?

 

noticed the other topic about your petrol smelling exhaust ? that could be linked to old sparks maybe? i used to get pretty good MPG so if thats dropping a bit get someone to check it out while you get it serviced.

 

when i first got the supra i too was paranoid and I also had low MPG, mainly because i used to want to hear the turbo 1 and beat everything off the lights until i calmed down and only went for choice kills, or idiot Nova drivers :-)

 

So for your service then i'd go for B + coolant + sparks (brakes are fine), oil and filter (as always anyway)

 

Are you going back to Leon or someone a lot more local? i found not being local to Leon could be a pain in the backside as he sometimes doesnt realise you need that car back that day or sometimes thinks you can pop in after work - i wish i could have !

 

have you tried liquid blue / gold yet ?

 

NZ = terrible job, need to find another quick, other than that really nice place / people, not as cheap as UK people think !

hey Faith,

 

thanks for the reply but don't you mean it's due for an 'A' (minor) service as opposed to 'B' (major every 27k) as the last 'B' service was at 66k?

 

hope the job huntings going well...

aye i did mean that, sorry - i have to read it upside down being on the other side of the world