86 Major Tune Up Newby to MR2 OEM or Aftermarket?

[landtoy80]

I normally work on my Land Cruisers, Supra and the Camry but I am having to work on a MR2 for a friend. I never worked on a MR2 but as its just a major tune up, it has 82,000 mi, it should not be too bad.

I need to do plugs, wires, belts, valve cover gasket, belts, rad flush/w t-stat etc. I think I know the answer but do I need to go with Toyota parts or are there good parts at Napa, Carquest for the MR2? I mostly use OEM parts but I don't have time to order and wait for the parts. (May still have to as its an older car)

A shop wrote up a list of things that I don't know why they want to replace them other than to make $$$ of them but here they are:
Tension Pulley
H20 Pump
Cam Seals
Crank Seal
Oil Pressure Sending Unit

I have not seen the car yet but the owner says its not leaking anything on the ground. Are any of the above things I should replace as a normal PM? No emissions testing required in this area.

They want the timing belt changed too. I have never replaced one, is it an issue for the MR2 to replace?

I normally would do searches and other research but I am packing and moving and have to be out of the house end of the month. I have to look for a new job and now work on the MR2 and have 2 weeks to do all three.

[MR2Jedi]

Originally Posted by landtoy80

I normally work on my Land Cruisers, Supra and the Camry but I am having to work on a MR2 for a friend. I never worked on a MR2 but as its just a major tune up, it has 82,000 mi, it should not be too bad.

I need to do plugs, wires, belts, valve cover gasket, belts, rad flush/w t-stat etc. I think I know the answer but do I need to go with Toyota parts or are there good parts at Napa, Carquest for the MR2? I mostly use OEM parts but I don't have time to order and wait for the parts. (May still have to as its an older car)

A shop wrote up a list of things that I don't know why they want to replace them other than to make $$$ of them but here they are:
Tension Pulley
H20 Pump
Cam Seals
Crank Seal
Oil Pressure Sending Unit

I have not seen the car yet but the owner says its not leaking anything on the ground. Are any of the above things I should replace as a normal PM? No emissions testing required in this area.

They want the timing belt changed too. I have never replaced one, is it an issue for the MR2 to replace?

I normally would do searches and other research but I am packing and moving and have to be out of the house end of the month. I have to look for a new job and now work on the MR2 and have 2 weeks to do all three.

The year/model would help.
Use NGK plugs
OEM wires
OEM Valve cover gasket
Gates belts from any of the popular auto stores
OEM thermostat
OEM timing belt(if you're gonna change it)

Timing belt is not fun 1st time around. But I've done about a dozen of them and it's gotten alot easier.

[landtoy80]

Title" 86 Major Tune Up..." <<<it has 82,000 mi, it should not be too bad>>>

So its a 1986 with 82,000 mi

[MR2Jedi]

I'm blind...A thousand pardons please.
Thats pretty low mileage.
If it does need a water pump,front oil seal and cam seals, it would be best to do it when you do the timing belt since you'll have all that stuff off anyway.
Have these techs who recommended those things had it apart?

[landtoy80]

No, they just said its needed from looking at it. I think they were trying to make the repairs so costly that they sell the car to them cheap.
They wanted $1300 for the tune up and parts and $577 to replace clutch.

[MR2Jedi]

Unless your losing coolant via the water pump or over heating, I don't see why you need a water pump.
Samething with cam and front oil seal. Unless they took the front cover off and found oil leaking there, I don't see how they could know the seals need to be replaced.
They sound shady to me. Maybe get a second opinion.

[not12listen]

if you do the timing belt (just a good idea with that many miles and years), do the tensioner just to be safe. and be sure to use a deep well 12-point 10mm socket. if you use a 6-point, you will most likely round that bolt and be in a world of pain and misery.

personally, i have had pure bad luck with NGK plugs - 2500 miles and they're losing power. i would recommend factory Denso plugs personally - ran them for over a year straight with zero issues of any kind.

oil pressure sending unit is easy to test. start the car. look at the oil pressure gauge. rev the engine up to 6000rpm for 2 or 3 seconds and watch the oil pressure gauge - if it moves UP in oil pressure, then i would say its working fine.

if/when you do the timing belt, you'll be able to inspect the front main seal, the cam seals and water pump. if the water pump has failed, you will see water spill out of it from the 'weep hole' which, i believe, is right on top. it is an easy part to replace overall, and is not too expensive either.

so, if you are in question/doubt of the water pump, just replace it.