Pick Up An St185 Gt4 On Saturday! :)

[broona]

I pick up a GT4 on Saturday, and would like to know if there is anything I'll need to do for reliability first, followed by performance a very close second!

I'd just like to get a little extra bhp for as little as possible outlay, but want reliable power too, anything I should be looking at doing first? Thanks. :D

Edited August 7, 2005 by broona

[MattTodd]

I pick up this GT4 on Saturday, and would like to know if there is anything I'll need to do for reliability first, followed by performance a very close second! 

I'd just like to get a little extra bhp for as little as possible outlay, but want reliable power too, anything I should be looking at doing first? Thanks.  :D

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Heya,

I've got no idea what you should be doing at all, but I don't live far from you, so when I get mine we should have a northern meet. Heh Heh. I looked at that car the other day on auto trader, looks nice!

Matt

[broona]

Sounds like a good idea, will be in touch after I get it!

[GT4 BOOSTER]

Great looking motor . manual boost controller and after market boost gauge should get you 50 bhp , for less than £100

DAKTARI is the gen 5 gt4 wizzard , for all you need to know he's the man.

[broona]

Great looking motor .    manual boost controller  and after market boost gauge should get you 50 bhp , for less than £100

DAKTARI is the gen 5 gt4 wizzard , for all you need to know he's the man.

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Thanks mate, will send him a PM and hope he doesn't mind! :P

[T600]

Welcome Broona.

You're gonna enjoy that. Looks great. Good choice of colour :D

Regards, Tony

[daktari]

Broona...Welcome to TOC matey and the wonderful if sometimes frustrating world of GT4 ownership.

Got your PM. Don`t mind at all. If i can help someone on my path through life then my life will not have been in vain.... I ought to siggy that

So. Nice car matey. You`ve got the basis of a reliable, good handling, fast and damn fine looking car there.

First thing you need to do is make sure everything is tickety boo with the car before you start any modifications. A good full service is the best starting point. I expect you`ll find out pretty soon these aren`t the cheapest cars in the world to run but if looked after properly it won`t be too bad. Pay particular attention to the brakes. Remember the car has to stop from a higher velocity. Unfortunately 185`s aren`t blessed with the best brakes in the world. So it pays to use good quality pads and fluids.

Oh and be prepared for your insurance company to take the wee when you tell them about the mods.

As has already been pointed out the 1st basic mod is to buy a boost controller and guage. Don`t rely on the standard one to give you any information. Notoriously slow reading and when it does wake up it`s totally inacurate anyway.

Two basic types of boost controller. Manual ones will cost you about 30 quid and then there is electronic. Huge choice from various makers. Probably cost you ten times the amount of a manual one. I would suggest you do a search in the forums for boost controllers. There`s plenty been written up about both types. Read and inwardly digest, Then you can work out which will be best for you. I personally am quite happy with a granger type manual one.

Boost gauge. You pays your money and takes your choice. You can get them for as little as 20 quid on eBay. Wouldn`t like to say how accurate they are though. You only want one that reads up to 2 bar / 30PSI maximum. Again do a search and see what people recomend. I`ve got an 80mm GReddy one sat on my dash. Picked it up off eBay for about 40 quid i think.Bit on the large side but at least i know what me turbo`s boosting at.

That covers those two things. Any other questions just ask..

[broona]

Broona...Welcome to TOC matey and the wonderful if sometimes frustrating world of GT4 ownership.     

Got your PM. Don`t mind at all. If i can help someone on my path through life then my life will not have been in vain....    I ought to siggy that 

So. Nice car matey. You`ve got the basis of a reliable,  good handling, fast and damn fine looking car there. 

First thing you need to do is make sure everything is tickety boo with the car before you start any modifications.  A good full service is the best starting point. I expect you`ll find out pretty soon these aren`t the cheapest cars in the world to run but if looked after properly it won`t be too bad. Pay particular attention to the brakes. Remember the car has to stop from a higher velocity. Unfortunately 185`s aren`t blessed with the best brakes in the world.  So it pays to use good quality pads and fluids.

Oh and be prepared for your insurance company to take the wee when you tell them about the mods. 

As has already been pointed out the 1st basic mod is to buy a boost controller and guage. Don`t rely on the standard one to give you any information. Notoriously slow reading and when it does wake up it`s totally inacurate anyway.

Two basic types of boost controller. Manual ones will cost you about 30 quid and then there is electronic. Huge choice from various makers. Probably cost you ten times the amount of a manual one. I would suggest you do a search in the forums for boost controllers. There`s plenty been written up about both types. Read and inwardly digest, Then you can work out which will be best for you. I personally am quite happy with a granger type manual one.

Boost gauge. You pays your money and takes your choice. You can get them for as little as 20 quid on Ebay. Wouldn`t like to say how accurate they are though. You only want one that reads up to 2 bar / 30PSI maximum. Again do a search and see what people recomend. I`ve got an 80mm GReddy one sat on my dash. Picked it up off Ebay for about 40 quid i think.Bit on the large side but at least i know what me turbo`s boosting at.

That covers those two things. Any other questions just ask..   

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Thanks mate, will give me something to think about. Heard good things about Andy Urwin in Newcastle, so will be taking the car along to him for a 'chat'!

Found this webpage dedicated to tuning the 3S-GTE engine, which I believe I have, and it mentions 'Fuel Cut' above 12psi, will I need something to alter this before I can up the boost? Spotted a couple of FCD's on eBay for next to nothing, but don't know if one's necessary? Thanks. :)

I'd also like to fit a BOV, as I like the noise, is there any particular type I should go for/avoid? PS, I don't want a stupidly loud one, just something to let the uninitiated know it's a turbo!

[daktari]

Thanks mate, will give me something to think about. Heard good things about Andy Urwin in Newcastle, so will be taking the car along to him for a 'chat'!

Found this webpage dedicated to tuning the 3S-GTE engine, which I believe I have, and it mentions 'Fuel Cut' above 12psi, will I need something to alter this before I can up the boost? Spotted a couple of FCD's on Ebay for next to nothing, but don't know if one's necessary? Thanks.  :)

I'd also like to fit a BOV, as I like the noise, is there any particular type I should go for/avoid? PS, I don't want a stupidly loud one, just something to let the uninitiated know it's a turbo! 

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Again. Lots to choose from. As far a fuel cut goes, you don`t really want to be boosting above 1 bar to start off with. Thats 14 PSI more or less. Some cars the 'cut' is higher some lower. It`s a case of playing around with it. If you fit a FCD then go for a branded one. At least you`ve got some comeback if it don`t work. I wouldn`t fancy something cobbled up in someones shed. But thats me.

Dump valves ... Again do some searching, ask questions and see whats what. I`ve got a Blitz duo sound. Interchangeable outlets to change the noise. Got the nice soft whooshing one on at the moment. The other one scares me. I`d recomend one of those. I`ve heard that bailey BOV`s aint that clever.

[broona]

Again. Lots to choose from. As far a fuel cut goes, you don`t really want to be boosting above 1 bar to start off with. Thats 14 PSI more or less. Some cars the 'cut' is higher some lower. It`s a case of playing around with it. If you fit a FCD then go for a branded one. At least you`ve got some comeback if it don`t work. I wouldn`t fancy something cobbled up in someones shed. But thats me. 

Dump valves ... Again do some searching, ask questions and see whats what. I`ve got a Blitz duo sound. Interchangeable outlets to change the noise. Got the nice soft whooshing one on at the moment. The other one scares me.    I`d recomend one of those. I`ve heard that bailey BOV`s aint that clever. 

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Thanks again, will see what make they supply when I go in, I was quoted £60 fitted for a standard one, or £90 for a recirculating one, so it may not be a Blitz! :P

[broona]

Harking back to my Rover days (sorry!), I remembered GB Enterprises, whose BOV's always seem to get a decent write up, so I may get one of those. They've also got Mocal boost gauges for £30, are these any good? Questions, questions..........

[mikeb]

Don't use a vent to atmosphere bov, the standard re-circ one is best. Otherwise you confuse the MAF sensor, and your fuel mixture ends up wrong. All for the benefit of making some extra noise.

[GTForbes]

there isn't a re-circ one as standard on a ST185 tho, just make sure the one you choose is a twin piston type to reduce the extra air from escaping

[broona]

Looking good, will look better soon with new wheels on, pic coming soon! :D

Needs a new parcel shelf (on its way), and a new speedo sensor (if anyone knows the best/cheapest place to get one from, please feel free to let me know). Rubbing strips have seen better days too, any idea hom much some new ones would be, or could I just remove them and t-cut the fresh area underneath to match the rest of the car?

I also have an engine management light on when the car warms up, as far to the right of the dashboard as you can get, a picture of the engine in orange, any ideas, or would I have to get it plugged in at Toyota? Thanks again. :P

Oh yeah, and it's offside passenger foglight's broken too, where can I get one from on the cheap? Cheers!

Quick pic of new wheels, will get a better one tomorrow when my phone's charged, and I don't have to let my mate loose with his sub-vga pap!

They're Devil H253's in titanium/shadow chrome finish. :D

[broona]

Bump for the speed sensor, foglight, and annoying dash light!

[daktari]

Try here for speed sensor and foglight... Celica Breakers

The light on the dash is the engine management light. Whats it doing? Just staying on?

You`ll need to find the diagnostic socket under the bonnet. It`s on the R/H side at the back of the engine bay as you look at the engine.

With the ignition turned off bridge terminals T and E1 in the diagnotic connector use a paper clip or a piece of wire with the ends stripped. The ECU stores any faults and they show up during this procedure. Turn on the ignition and count any flashes of the engine symbol on the dash. (Example 5 fashes pause 2 flashes would represent fault code 52)

You may get more than one fault code showing up so have a pen and paper handy.

Let us know what you come up with. Hopefully it`ll be something simple.

[broona]

Try here for speed sensor and foglight... Celica Breakers

The light on the dash is the engine management light. Whats it doing? Just staying on?

You`ll need to find the diagnostic socket under the bonnet. It`s on the R/H side at the back of the engine bay as you look at the engine.

With the  ignition turned off bridge terminals T and E1 in the diagnotic connector use a paper clip or a piece of wire with the ends stripped.  The ECU stores any faults and they show up during this procedure. Turn on the ignition and count any flashes of the engine symbol on the dash. (Example 5 fashes pause 2 flashes would represent fault code 52)

You may get more than one fault code showing up so have a pen and paper handy. 

Let us know what you come up with. Hopefully it`ll be something simple. 

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Thanks mate, will see what they have to offer. :D

The light comes on when the engine warms up, and then stays on until the ignition's turned off, hope it's something simple (and cheap!), hopefully it's something to do with the cat/lambda probe, as I don't really need them anyway! :P

[daktari]

You can do away with the cat no problemo. But you`ll need the lambda sensor. It helps determine how the engine manages the fuel mixture etc, without it the car will run like a bag of s**t!!! Have a looky here. NGK HOME

[broona]

Speedo works now, £50 from Tcbparts only to find that the useless w*****s who fitted the clutch before I got the car had lost the little pin that sits inside the sensor, hence no speed reading! :censor:

Haven't got round to checking the fault codes, that should be a job for tomorrow. :)

Have also seen a couple of ST185's on here with clear/crystal indicators/repeaters, where can I get some of these from, as the orange's a bit pants!

Updated pic too -

:P

[Evilsean]

there isn't a re-circ one as standard on a ST185 tho, just make sure the one you choose is a twin piston type to reduce the extra air from escaping

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you sure on that ... mines a st185 1990 gt4 and its got a recirculating one on it...just wondering if ive got an old bean tin where me dump valve should be

[GT-Four NZ]

you sure on that ... mines a st185 1990 gt4 and its got a recirculating one on it...just wondering if ive got an old bean tin where me dump valve should be   

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Mine has no BOV on it. Hard to see where Toyota would've put it its such a short intake tract! Where is your situated?

[GTForbes]

Evilsean, i dont remember seeing a re-circ on your car at the celica meet

[broona]

Engine management light hasn't come back on since getting the speedo working, which is nice! :D

Getting there. :group-cuddles:

[broona]

Got a re-circ BOV (fairly quiet, which is nice!)and boost gauge fitted today, manual

boost controller and decat on the way next. :D

Anyone got one of these off eBay? Looks good for £105, quite a bit cheaper than most I've seen, any ideas on the quality? :)

[daktari]

Got a re-circ BOV (fairly quiet, which is nice!)and boost gauge fitted today, manual

boost controller and decat on the way next.  :D

Anyone got one of these off Ebay? Looks good for £105, quite a bit cheaper than most I've seen, any ideas on the quality?  :)

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Yup. The downpipe on it`s own is a doddle to fit. But you`ll need to get a couple of bungs for the bottom two sensor holes.