SO I bought my '92 1JZ-GTE on 12/31/09 with a list of minor issues that need to be corrected. I got derailed in planning repairs & upgrades when I got love tapped from behind by a dump truck on 1/13/10, 2 weeks into ownership.
I recently got my dump truck settlement, but am also saving cash for a full paint job, so I am holding off on the body work & paint until later this Summer.
In the meantime, I had a laundry list of mostly minor issues that need attention, and I decided to send the car to a trusted mechanic & let him take his time with it, since it's not my DD. The mechanic used to own a 2JZ-GTE Lexus, so the 1JZ should not be entirely foreign to him.
The list is as follows. I could do half of this myself, but figure I'll let my guy handle it since it's already at his shop...
1. Sagging driver's door, probably bad hinge. Shopping for used hinges.
2. CC Actuator missing, also shopping for used part there.
3. Air Conditioning non-functional. Previous owner said it needs a recharge. Already converted to R-134. "Needs recharge" means "Needs leak fixed" in my book, so mechanic is to track this down & repair.
4. Brakes squeaking. I could probably diagnose this in the driveway, but since he's got it...
5. Buzzing/vibration from engine, almost sounds to me like a pulley. Waiting to hear the real diagnosis so I can laugh at how wrong my amateur hunch was.
6. Previous owner said too much vacuum, and had a vac line pinched near the charcoal canister as a remedy. Makes me nervous, mechanic to track down vacuum issue.
7. Outside mirror control not working. Pressing UP or LEFT had no effect, pressing DOWN or RIGHT causes all lighting (interior and exterior) to dim to half brightness, and often turns the radio off until the switch is released. Guessing the aftermarket head unit was wired way improperly, and I could also do this in the driveway, but again- since he's got it...
8. Minor oil leak, appears to be valve cover gasket. Lower half of engine caked in what appears to be residue from an old oil leak. He's going to clean that all off with carb cleaner so future leaks will be more noticeable, and replace the valve cover gasket. I could replace the gasket myself, but I couldn't really access the underside of the engine to clean it, so he gets both jobs.
9. While he's at it, he's going to do a LOF, and probably replace belts & hoses for good measure.
I also need a new radio antenna, but I'm going to save that for later. (I gotta do something myself.)
I recently got my dump truck settlement, but am also saving cash for a full paint job, so I am holding off on the body work & paint until later this Summer.
In the meantime, I had a laundry list of mostly minor issues that need attention, and I decided to send the car to a trusted mechanic & let him take his time with it, since it's not my DD. The mechanic used to own a 2JZ-GTE Lexus, so the 1JZ should not be entirely foreign to him.
The list is as follows. I could do half of this myself, but figure I'll let my guy handle it since it's already at his shop...
1. Sagging driver's door, probably bad hinge. Shopping for used hinges.
2. CC Actuator missing, also shopping for used part there.
3. Air Conditioning non-functional. Previous owner said it needs a recharge. Already converted to R-134. "Needs recharge" means "Needs leak fixed" in my book, so mechanic is to track this down & repair.
4. Brakes squeaking. I could probably diagnose this in the driveway, but since he's got it...
5. Buzzing/vibration from engine, almost sounds to me like a pulley. Waiting to hear the real diagnosis so I can laugh at how wrong my amateur hunch was.
6. Previous owner said too much vacuum, and had a vac line pinched near the charcoal canister as a remedy. Makes me nervous, mechanic to track down vacuum issue.
7. Outside mirror control not working. Pressing UP or LEFT had no effect, pressing DOWN or RIGHT causes all lighting (interior and exterior) to dim to half brightness, and often turns the radio off until the switch is released. Guessing the aftermarket head unit was wired way improperly, and I could also do this in the driveway, but again- since he's got it...
8. Minor oil leak, appears to be valve cover gasket. Lower half of engine caked in what appears to be residue from an old oil leak. He's going to clean that all off with carb cleaner so future leaks will be more noticeable, and replace the valve cover gasket. I could replace the gasket myself, but I couldn't really access the underside of the engine to clean it, so he gets both jobs.
9. While he's at it, he's going to do a LOF, and probably replace belts & hoses for good measure.
I also need a new radio antenna, but I'm going to save that for later. (I gotta do something myself.)