Tune up questions for 1990 Celica GT

[Poison Ivy]

Any suggestions. Change plugs , plug wires , distributor cap??? air filter , fuel filter , any thing else. All suggestions appreciated.


Thanks.

[canadiancelica]

Fuel filter(Dealer)
Air Filter (GET a trd from the dealer or K&N aftermarket)
OEM Plug Wires(dealer)
OEM Dist cap(Dealer)
OEM Rotor button (Dealer)

Buy a bottle of Kleens (cleans) from your local GM/Chev parts department and follow instructions on cleaning your TB/Intake manifold. (TIP: once you get to the point where your engine is OFF, just quickly pull off you throttle body and cold start injector and spray some product in there and lean what you can with a lintless rag-make sure you clean both side of the TB flap)
- You should also get a new gasket for the Throttle body and cold star t injector)

A day or 2 before you change your fuel filter, run the tank really low, dump in 2 bottles of injector cleaner and add a gallon of gas just to get it into the tank. Do a good highway run and burn the hell outta whats in the tank, then replace the filter and fill the tank. Using the cleaner will stir up dirt and you want to get that out in your old filter.

Install 4 NGK Iridium spark plugs-they are pre-gapped (DO NOT BUY PLATINUM)

After all that, especially if you purchase a TRD or K&N air filter you will notice a significant difference in your vehicle.

I also suggest you use Mobil 1 10W30 100% synthetic oil and an Toyota oil filter from the dealership for best performance !

If you have a manual transmission, you should also buy the following oil at your local GM/Chev dealer. GM Synchromesh Friction Modified ATF fluid. AND YES THIS ATF FLUID IS OK TOUSE IN YOUR MANUAL GEARBOX !!

[alltracman78]

Coppers will work just as good as irridium in a stock 5SFE. The irridium just lasts longer, but costs ALOT more.
And make sure you check the gap. NEVER trust the gap out of the box.

You also don't need to replace the tb gasket unless it is damaged. It's metal, so it's reuseable.

Only use the Synchromesh if you're having shifting issues. If not, stick with regular gear oil. It will protect your trans better.
And if you do use Synchromesh, get the Penzoil version. It's the same, but half the price.

[ELCelica]

get a TRD air filter and a TRD N-type 1.3 kg/cc radiator cap, use synthetic oil (I use Castrol Syntec, considering Castrol has sponsored most TTE cars, I'd trust them), look in the owner's manual about spark plugs. That's some good stuff to do on the cheap end, the car will breathe better, be better lubed, and the cap will increase cooling performance.
If you want to spend a bit extra, get a lightweight flywheel and get some good brakes (these cars seem to have brake issues/problems)

[canadiancelica]

Originally Posted by alltracman78

You also don't need to replace the tb gasket unless it is damaged. It's metal, so it's reuseable.

Mine isn't, its that brown papery type crap. Hence the recommendation. LOL

[alltracman78]

Ah, you must not have an OEM one.... :P

Castrol full synthetic isn't 100% syth oil. Which is why I don't trust them....
A flywheel will cost $$$ plus it has to be installed.
All he wants to do is a simple tune up. No need for that at all.

I dont' know where you got the thing about bad brakes. The brakes on these cars are FINE.
Now your [or his] particular ones might need new parts, but there is no overall problem with brakes on a 5th gen.