ST184 Engine Problem - Idles Fine - No Power

[TazzieST184]

Ok guys, im new here but looking forward to being an active member. I've had an 84 and an 88 celica in the past and have just bought a 92 ST184 that has a pretty significant issue I need your help with:

Firstly i have bought it knowing it has health issues so thats cool. I've paid for it, but wont pick it up till next week.

Right, originally it had the 5S-FE engine.. at some stage it has had a 2L toyota engine put in.. im going to guess its a 3S-FE or one of its brothers.

It still has the 5S-FE ECU in place.. basically I'm told it had the long 2.2L replaced with a long 2.0L. I've read that ECU will run the 2L engine fine - but looking for verification on that.

It starts fine, and idles fine, but it has NO power whatsoever - ie apparently its bad enough that i wont be able to back it up the shallow driveway it is nose first in at the moment. If it was on the flat it would apparently have enough go to get along slowly, but thats it. I believe it will just stall under any sort of stress.

The current owner has never had it going properly and bought it from the people who did the transplant - so the info im getting is a bit secondhand.

The fuel filter has been replaced with a new one apparently.

i dont know if the problem existed prior to the transplant, or if it was a new one introduced at the time. Im going to assume the 2L engine is good and not suffering compression problems and things - i say that only because why would they have put it in in the 1st place? But once again, i dont know for sure?

Instinct tells me to look at the fuel system first and vacuum issues and things, but to be honest, its been a while and you guys might be able to give me a priority list to work through that might save me countless hours and wasted dollars chasing it down..

I'd really appreciat your input :)

Any experienced folks wishing to cast an eye over it in Launceston would also be greatly appreciated! :)

This car has cost me $500 to buy, so i'm hoping i'm not looking at a new engine to fix this and its going to be the biggest bargain of my life! lol

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!!! UPDATE!!! 10/11/2010

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Ok, ive spoken with the previous owner, apparently the car was going ok, but on a regular drive on the freeway ant normal speeds it experienced a sudden a profound loss of power and had it not been for the fact she had a flat run home she wouldn't have made and limped it in...

So with this in mind as well.. advise away :) Thanks guys.

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!!! SYMPTOMS UPDATE!!! 15/11/2010

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Ok everyone, i now have it! after a bit of drama its now mine and in the driveway...

I had to get it towed (had a flat battery) so i popped it during the tow and it started first pop - so this was the first time ive heard it run ok.

Now, there is no great engine noise at all, sounds smooth, thought it had a muffler hole but that turned out just to be the growl out of the gigantic pod filter in it lol

It idles fine.. smoothly.. no misses all good there. It has basic power to drive around on the flat or on slight inclines. Once revs get to about 3000rpm it then sounds completely starved of fuel or spark and stutters and would stall if i pushed it im sure. Ive only spent about 30 mins with it thus far but thats what i know, but i think thats enough for those learned toyota engine folk to have a bit of a stab at a rough diagnosis...

If it would help to record the sound of it or anything let me know and I can do that no probs.

Also, does anyone have a link to a workshop manual for a gen 5?

Thanks everyone.

Mark.

Edited November 14, 2010 by TazzieST184

[Guest]

IMO ditch the 3S block and put a 5S one in, but aside from fuel/vacuum leaks/spark plugs/dizzy/etc/etc have you checked the timing?

[trentmeyer23]

Just wait til u get it and diagnose it, check compression, spark, fuel, etc. It's too hard to tell since u don't have the car yet.

[TazzieST184]

Just wait til u get it and diagnose it, check compression, spark, fuel, etc. It's too hard to tell since u don't have the car yet.

im hoping to get my bum in the seat tonight - so hopefully i'll post tomorrow with what i know.... - thanks for your advice fellas.

- PLEASE READ UPDATED INFORMATION IN 1st POST - 15/11/10

Edited November 15, 2010 by TazzieST184

[TazzieST184]

Ok, updated info 25/11/2010

I have replaced some parts with new ones:

- Rotor Button

- Dizzy Cap

- All ignition leads

- Fuel pump

- Ignition Coil

Just before i bought it had also had a new alternator and a new fuel filter.

Current symptoms. Idles fine and smooth, revved to about 3K it then starts to sound 'bogged down' and the instant you back off the accellerator it resumes smooth idling...

Compression is fine (not perfect, but ok), no obvious suck sounds coming from anywhere other than they should be! Timing is spot on.

Need your advice guys :)

Mark.

Edited November 26, 2010 by TazzieST184

[2.2lt 97 camry]

sounds like you may have a blocked exhaust, remove the cat and clean it out and so on, been there before replaced everything and found out after the motor came out it was a blocked exhaust

[alloo]

To me it sound that more likely than not you have problem with fuel system,maybe the fuel tank dirty or the mixture lean out because of the broken sensor

You can also try to manipulate the broken green cap sensor with 100 Ohm(?) Thermistor from Jaycar,get the highest resistance value you can get from their catalogue,if not wrong cost less than a dollar.

Cut the legs to suit and put the head near the sensor housing so it will functioning like the original sensor except it may have lower start up revs instead 1500-2000 rpm it will be around 1000 rpm and will normalise once the engine warm up.

And make sure that you insulated the legs either making a sleeve out cable insulator or squeeze a bit of silastic.

Good luck