MR2 typical problems? and auto trans? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

rmeyer13 · 10-12-2006, 09:38 AM

Hi,
My wife is looking to buy a 1991 MR2 automatic (woman), and I was just wonder what type of typical problems I should look for. The guy is asking 6000 for it and it has 95000 miles, i thought this was a little high considering the blue book is 4500 and the paint isnt in the best shape, also it is an auto and not too many people are after an automatic. I drove the car the other day and it is so encreditably slow, so i was wondering if there are swaps available for the automatic or things I can do to pep it up, ( reason being,I do have to see and drive it occasionaly.) Thanks for your help

***MRQtwinturbo*** · 10-12-2006, 10:08 AM

price too high..for that price..you could find a 91 turbo....not much aftermarket support with auto NAs...

mr2_dori · 10-12-2006, 10:14 AM

yah i agree, thats way to much for that car. you can get a mr2 turbo for what that person is asking. and if you want some pep!!!! well the 5sfe engine that comes with the N/A modle. lol good luck. have to swap that, and get that engine out of there

rmeyer13 · 10-12-2006, 12:06 PM

Thanks for the responses, I thought it was too much as well, but the guy said that it's an enthusiast car and people "are into them", but I didnt think to many people wanted the auto's.

thesavage · 10-12-2006, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmeyer13

Hi,
My wife is looking to buy a 1991 MR2 automatic (woman)

Woah! Your wife is a woman? No way!

meoggi · 10-14-2006, 02:49 PM

definatly way to much. no way. as far as it being slow well you will have to settle with it . being that is an automatic

phreakgirl · 10-14-2006, 03:14 PM

People still buy automatics, and pay good money for them. Not my choice but what the hell.

I'd find one for less though.

mikey89014 · 10-19-2006, 03:30 AM

Just to let you guys know, i just put $1586 into an auto trans overhaul for my 86....., but im 40 years old. mike

QuadCamSix · 10-20-2006, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikey89014

Just to let you guys know, i just put $1586 into an auto trans overhaul for my 86....., but im 40 years old. mike

Owch man, im about to throw out a perfectly good auto tranny because I cant give the thing away. Its for a 91 though. Maybe I should hold on to it a while.

As to your question. There is not much you can do to the slow ass auto engine thats in there. The good news is that you can pick up a 1MZ from a camry with the stronger auto tranny attached and you have all the supporting stuff you need to install it. That engine and auto are actually a quite potent combo in an MR2.

You may want to check the adjustment on your kick down cable so that the transmission downshifts with less pedal effort. That may fix the sluggish feeling the car has.

mikey89014 · 10-20-2006, 01:59 AM

Yeah the trans for a 91 is entirely different, thats why i had to fork out that much money for my 86 to get it rebuilt. the 85-86 auto trans are scarce, or i would have bought a good used one for it.

But, as it is i got a 1yr. 12k warranty etc., It drives very well now....Mike

tHa kNiGHt FaLL · 10-22-2006, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikey89014

Just to let you guys know, i just put $1586 into an auto trans overhaul for my 86....., but im 40 years old. mike

yea...i woulda bought a junkyard trans for like 300.00 and swap it myself.

you'd be able to swap it 5 times before you get the rebuild price. rebuilds are tricky especially for automatics. i don't know anyone who has one rebuilt and was satisfied w/ it

Zz_005_zZ · 10-26-2006, 07:46 AM

First of all the automatics are gonna be in the non-turbo cars anyways, seeing as the turbo model only came in the 5- speed.As for the price... waaaay too high. If your wife wants an mr-2 either she should learn how to drive stick which not many women these days wanna do, or u can can a few mods for the car... but like peeps said previously, there are very few mods out there that will suffice. When I had my 91 N/A 5 speed, there were hardly any mods whatsoever... only for the turbo cars.Remember u can always add a turbo, or a supercharger to a car.... depending on the cars engine, what u will have to do to get the hp u are really looking for, but I think 7 psi is the max any stock n/a engine can take (on any car). Hope things go well for you, and I am happy to hear your wife wants to be a part of the mr2 world.

QuadCamSix · 10-26-2006, 10:19 AM

Well, there ARE 3S-GTE automatic ECU's out there. From the celica and caldina. They are VERY tough to find. I have a GEN I 3S-GTE at the shop with the flex plate still attached. We even had the A/T ECU here for a whild. Im kicking my self for not wrighting down the part number before we sold it.

So, if you want a fast automatic, you can put in a turbo motor with the auto from the V6 camry and find one of the caldina ECU's. Good luck though....

Zz_005_zZ · 10-26-2006, 04:52 PM

I love learning new things..... I love this Forum!!

mikey89014 · 10-28-2006, 01:33 AM

I have to say im satisfied so far with my rebuilt trans, It shifts very well and no leaks, etc. I aslo heard from other people that Automatics aren't worth it to get rebuilt, but im not gonna swap out different junk yard trannys, or buy a used one without knowing its history, etc. I think the $1586 was alot too, but with 12000 warranty, its ok for a hard to find tranny, and im not about to hack it up for a stick shift trans.