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Soarer Central General Soarer Chat Need help and opinions

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Karen Farmer
TryHard
WA
Soarer TT

Posts: 267
Reg: 12-2007

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Thursday, August 26, 2010 - 05:27 pm, by: Karen Farmer (Angel_wings)

My friend Ben is getting sick of my constant texts about what the hell to do with my car.
I need some opinions and help on what you would do if it was yours-
My car was was pretty great- i now live in Esperance and it isnt made for the country and has been neglected.
Before i moved my car had an overheating problem which was fixed.At one stage we thought we may need to replace the engine as it got completely fried but seemed to pull through ok.
The car overheated again 3 months ago- checked it out and was told there is a tiny leak in the head gasket- filled it with coolent and its been sweet.

At the moment my car needs MAJOR TLC- a complete full service. has oil leaks and coming up with brake errors and the newest being OIL PRESSURE error. I have been quoted $1600 for a major service- problem is not many people in this town know anything about these cars.
My friend Ben has said hes pretty sure my engine is rooted and i would save money replacing it- i tend to agree. I dont need to pay much for labour to replace the engine- thanks ben

I just want some opinions on what would be not only the cheaper- but the better option to take.

Fire away!!

Allan Langford
Tinkerer
Vic
UZZ31

Posts: 96
Reg: 05-2010

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Thursday, August 26, 2010 - 06:18 pm, by: Allan Langford (Allan)

oil pressure warnings are never good!

as for Soarer's not being made for a country, it would more be a case of inappropriate wheel / tire / suspension choice for the roads your traveling even more so if your running anything more then a 17inch wheel.

considering your car is a TT you can also expect turbos to be shagged or close too being shagged

Turbos rebuilt or single kit $2k+
Engine freshen up $2k+
labour $megaK
Suspension / body freshen up $2k - $3k

now look at the cost of repairs Vs another soarer vs your desire to continue being a soarer owner Vs buying a holden ute with a bull bar and truck mud flaps

With and sports GT car be it soarer, supra etc if you have to ask how much maintenance costs your probably better off with something else as cost of ownership is typically more then the purchase price!

Mike Triggs
Goo Roo
Western NSW
3.0GT G-Pack

Posts: 1505
Reg: 07-2005

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Thursday, August 26, 2010 - 07:56 pm, by: Mike Triggs (Mikeandimah)

There's no particular reason why a non-lowered Soarer can't be a "country car". I drove ours fairly extensively in outback WA and it was fine. The main issues are avoiding roos (much the same with any car other than an old 4WD) and especially, avoiding the dead ones already lying on the road. Other than that, a super-comfortable tourer.

Needless to say also, you should avoid dirt roads, again, no different to most modern non-SUVs.

Jeff Bedsor
DieHard
QLD
TT

Posts: 888
Reg: 10-2006

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Friday, August 27, 2010 - 07:32 am, by: Jeff Bedsor (Jeff_bedsor)

Allan Langford wrote on Thursday, August 26, 2010 - 06:18 pm:
considering your car is a TT you can also expect turbos to be shagged or close too being shagged

Not necessarily, it's a 94 model and has minimal mods so they could be fine and last forever.
The same as the engine, it might just need a few gaskets and a general service and cleanup. See if there is another Sparer owner around that has some mechanical knowledge and knows of the problems that affect Soarers. It mightn't cost you more than $500 assuming there isn't anything major wrong.

Karen Farmer
TryHard
WA
Soarer TT

Posts: 269
Reg: 12-2007

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Friday, August 27, 2010 - 11:05 am, by: Karen Farmer (Angel_wings)

I took it to one mechanic who said he didnt think the engine was that bad- just needed a complete service.
That was before the oil pressure error started coming up.
I juust dont want to spend the quoted $1600 on a complete service for the engine to still be coming up with these drastic errors.
Selling the car and getting something else isnt a option at the moment.
Im going traveling at the end of the year and want it in great condition to be left in a shed.

Im just stuck on what road to take- buy a new engine or get the complete service and risk the engine needing a rebuild anyway.
I do have about $3000 to spend on it.
There is one other soarer here- a stock V8 driven by an old man. no luck there.

the turbos were looked at 8 months ago and were in fantastic condition- the car isnt driven hard at all. But due to the lack of servicing the condition could have gone downhill.

I pretty much need someone who knows these cars to look it over and tell me if its worth fixing- or give me a hopefully good opinion by computer!!

Tom Richards
TryHard
nsw
V8

Posts: 416
Reg: 08-2005

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Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Friday, August 27, 2010 - 11:24 am, by: Tom Richards (Tomr)

is the oil level correct? has it had a recent oil/filter change? Is there water in the oil?
If you had a leak in the head gasket, just filling the radiator with coolant will not fix it. You would need to use a chem weld product to fix the leak.

Karen Farmer
TryHard
WA
Soarer TT

Posts: 271
Reg: 12-2007

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Friday, August 27, 2010 - 11:38 am, by: Karen Farmer (Angel_wings)

No it hasnt had a recent oil/filter change- oil pressure warning has come up twice in the past 2 weeks. only flashes once and disapears.

The headgasket leak- took it to one meachanic who said there was no leak.. took it to another who tested it and said no leak, then re-tested and said a small leak. I know it needs to be fixed- that will be done if i get the major service.

Its wether i get a mojor service or replace the engine- thats what im stuck on and theres no one in esperance that can really give me any direction... im just trusting mechanics who tell me that they havent worked on these cars before-- there is a toyota dealership here- would it pay to take it there for them to look at before making any decisions?? would be paying them mega $$ to go over it though.

Tom Richards
TryHard
nsw
V8

Posts: 417
Reg: 08-2005

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Friday, August 27, 2010 - 12:38 pm, by: Tom Richards (Tomr)

hi karen,

i would give it an oil and filter change first up.

For the small headgasket leak, go to an auto shop and buy a "chem weld " product to put in the radiator

See how the car runs then, these 2 simple things may fix all the problems.

If the engine sound ok and is running smooth, if the oil pressure light still comes on,check the lead to the sensor, that it is not shorting out, if that is ok try replacing the sensor, or have the oil pressure actually measured.

Mike Triggs
Goo Roo
Western NSW
3.0GT G-Pack

Posts: 1506
Reg: 07-2005

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Friday, August 27, 2010 - 09:39 pm, by: Mike Triggs (Mikeandimah)

Karen Farmer wrote on Friday, August 27, 2010 - 11:38 am:
It is whether I get a major service or replace the engine- that's what I'm stuck on and there's no one in Esperance that can really give me any direction... I'm just trusting mechanics who tell me that they haven't worked on these cars before-- there is a Toyota dealership here- would it pay to take it there for them to look at before making any decisions?? would be paying them mega $$ to go over it though.

Karen, just because it's a Soarer, it doesn't become rocket science to work on them... I've had several non-specialist mechanics work on our car (the guy in Exmouth also did boat engines and outboards, while the guy on Norfolk Is covered every make under the sun, plus bikes). Admittedly, ours is non-turbo, but still any decent mechanic should be able to have a look and fix any issues (assuming they're not major, then the dollar signs start to flash).

Are there any Lexus owners in town? Ask them where they get their cars serviced- the n/a six was used in GS300 up until 2005 and your motor is very similar.