New owner needing some help.

[Ranger X]

Wow, it has been forever since I've been on this site. Seems like this section is kind of dead, but I'll take any advice I can get. So, over the summer I bought a '91 N/A SW20 needing some help, as a project. I guess I didn't realize what I was getting into Long story short, my car is finally drivable, but still quite a ways from being able to daily drive. So I turn to you hopefully generous folks.

Main issues:

- No 3rd or 5th gear. Shifter feels sloppy in general; very hard to find gears. Sometimes pops out of 1st gear when taking off. When I bought it, it wouldn't go into ANY gear, the shifter cable was apparently broken. I had a mechanic I know fix it for me, but it's still not right, and I'd rather fix it myself now, just to learn. Could someone link me to info on how the shifter cables work on these cars? I have only ever owned cars with an FR layout so I've never had to deal with shift cables. If I need to replace the cables, where's the best place to get them, and how much do they cost?

- Car runs great at first, but after a while of driving, it struggles to accelerate. Feels like it's running out of gas, but it's not, unless there's something weird going on with the fuel pump. Sometimes it even dies when I step on the gas. If I start it back up, it's fine. I was told the ECU was replaced, so maybe the ECU is bad? Or maybe it's the wrong one?

Any help would be appreciated...I've done a bit of searching, but couldn't find much. Thanks in advance!

[MR2Jedi]

Originally Posted by Ranger X

Wow, it has been forever since I've been on this site. Seems like this section is kind of dead, but I'll take any advice I can get.

Yeah,with less than 20,000 MR2's being imported into the US, they are rare and getting rarer all the time, making this is one of the slowest sections on Toyota Nation.

Main issues:

- No 3rd or 5th gear. Shifter feels sloppy in general; very hard to find gears. Sometimes pops out of 1st gear when taking off. When I bought it, it wouldn't go into ANY gear, the shifter cable was apparently broken. I had a mechanic I know fix it for me, but it's still not right, and I'd rather fix it myself now, just to learn. Could someone link me to info on how the shifter cables work on these cars? I have only ever owned cars with an FR layout so I've never had to deal with shift cables. If I need to replace the cables, where's the best place to get them, and how much do they cost?

I would check the linkage from the shifter all the way to the tranny and lubricate it.

Heres a link to a great Toyota parts store with some great prices. There are also diagrams there showing the related area of the part your inquiring about.
http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...layCatalogid=0
-

Car runs great at first, but after a while of driving, it struggles to accelerate. Feels like it's running out of gas, but it's not, unless there's something weird going on with the fuel pump. Sometimes it even dies when I step on the gas. If I start it back up, it's fine. I was told the ECU was replaced, so maybe the ECU is bad? Or maybe it's the wrong one?

I would check the fuel filter. It is many times neglected. If clogged, it can cause sporatic fuel flow.
You should also test your fuel pump. Use a pressure tester hooked up to the fuel line. With the key in on postion (engine not running) measure the pressure. I'm sorry, but I don't have the specs for the nominal pressure.
Any help would be appreciated...I've done a bit of searching, but couldn't find much. Thanks in advance!

[Ranger X]

Thanks, that helps a lot! I will definitely change the fuel filter...it's in the engine bay on these cars right?

I guess I should clarify about the shifting issue. It's not that it grinds or won't go into gear...I simply can't find 3rd or 5th gear, at all. I can't feel a notch for those gears. And, the shifter is very sloppy in general...neutral feels about more like where 3rd gear would be on any other car, but I'm not sure how normal that is. I think the mechanic I mentioned just "made" a cable rather than putting on a factory Toyota part, and obviously didn't do a very good job...I'll have to ask him about it, but like I said I'd rather fix it myself to learn. Anyway, that link you posted takes me to "page not found"

[MR2Jedi]

Sorry, fixed. And here it is again:

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...layCatalogid=0

Yeah , fuel filter is in the engine bay.
The MR2's shifter cables are notchy to start with. Hope a new set of OEM's will fix your problem. I believe only a Toyota Dealer or Toyota parts store will carry those.

[sabing]

Try replacing your transmission fluid, see if that helps your shifting issue at all. good luck with fixes
fuel filter is under the air filter in case you havent looked yet, you may be able to see it from the top depending on if you have an aftermarket intake or not or you can definitely see it from the bottom clamped onto sort of the side of the firewall.