New supra, computer problem, turbo problem?

mamory · 05-20-2009, 04:34 AM

I just acquired a 1988 automatic supra turbo. I am fairly new to supra's and very new to and auto turbo. The car is immaculate with 130,000 miles on it. The car runs great, idles great and drives down the road flawlessly. Now the problem...first of all the speedometer does not work and i can hear a gear grind sound behind the speedometer. If there is a quick fix for this?i do not know. Secondly when i accelerate I am getting no power and major hesitation. I can slowly press the pedal down or mash it WOT and the same thing happens. It lags and will not really go above 4000 rpms. I can see the turbo gage working when i accelerate it is going up to about 7 ps and usually stays there as long as i hold the pedal down. The car stutters and feels like it is confused. Shifting differently everytime i press down th pedal. I also noticed while on a neiborhood cruise tongiht the O/D light on the dash started to blink/flash a few times...is this a code?does this have to do with my spedometer?could this maybe all be tied into the acceleration problem?? any advice or help would be greatly appreciated. thanks

btwilson86 · 05-20-2009, 08:00 PM

Flashing O/D light means an electrical problem in the Auto Tranny. Could be the cause of your odd shifting (maybe even your acceleration depending on if it's slipping or something). Gear grinding sound might just be the speedo cable barely touching the meter. Speedometer cable's on these cars just plug into the back of the gauge cluster.

dunewarz · 05-20-2009, 10:02 PM

Most likely it's a timing problem. Check you cam position sensor. Check you timing with a timing light. Make sure you also check you tps as it can cause hesitations and bogging at low rpms if not in the correct position.

kwnate · 05-21-2009, 03:53 AM

Replace the speedo cable.

mamory · 05-21-2009, 04:54 AM

So...tonight i took apart my gauge cluster. I found that the square nuylon/plastic part of the cable which goes into the back of the speedometer was stripped to a sharp point like a tooth pick. I will be looking into getting a replacement cable and replacing. then should i disconnect the battery to reset computer?
thanks again

05-20-2009, 04:34 AM	#1
mamory Stock Join Date: May 2009 Location: michigan Posts: 4	New supra, computer problem, turbo problem? I just acquired a 1988 automatic supra turbo. I am fairly new to supra's and very new to and auto turbo. The car is immaculate with 130,000 miles on it. The car runs great, idles great and drives down the road flawlessly. Now the problem...first of all the speedometer does not work and i can hear a gear grind sound behind the speedometer. If there is a quick fix for this?i do not know. Secondly when i accelerate I am getting no power and major hesitation. I can slowly press the pedal down or mash it WOT and the same thing happens. It lags and will not really go above 4000 rpms. I can see the turbo gage working when i accelerate it is going up to about 7 ps and usually stays there as long as i hold the pedal down. The car stutters and feels like it is confused. Shifting differently everytime i press down th pedal. I also noticed while on a neiborhood cruise tongiht the O/D light on the dash started to blink/flash a few times...is this a code?does this have to do with my spedometer?could this maybe all be tied into the acceleration problem?? any advice or help would be greatly appreciated. thanks

05-20-2009, 08:00 PM	#2
btwilson86 Super Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Billings, Montana Posts: 1,034	Flashing O/D light means an electrical problem in the Auto Tranny. Could be the cause of your odd shifting (maybe even your acceleration depending on if it's slipping or something). Gear grinding sound might just be the speedo cable barely touching the meter. Speedometer cable's on these cars just plug into the back of the gauge cluster. __________________ 1989 7MGTE R154 Targa Top White Package w/Blue Interior Driftmotion 57trim CT26, Upgraded Intercooler, 2.25" Hard Pipes, 3" Turbo Back Exhaust with Test Pipe, HKS VPC w/GM 3 bar MAP sensor, APEXi S-AFC, Walbro 255lph fuel pump, ProSport EVO Series Boost / Fuel Pressure / AFR gauges, Lotek a Pillar Gauge Pod, HKS Type 0 Turbo Timer, Eibach Lowering Springs, Tokico Illumina II TEMS struts, custom powder coated Motegi Racing TrakLite wheels

05-21-2009, 03:53 AM	#4
kwnate SP58GT Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: USA Posts: 633	Replace the speedo cable. __________________ Nate

05-21-2009, 04:54 AM	#5
mamory Stock Join Date: May 2009 Location: michigan Posts: 4	thanks for hel[! So...tonight i took apart my gauge cluster. I found that the square nuylon/plastic part of the cable which goes into the back of the speedometer was stripped to a sharp point like a tooth pick. I will be looking into getting a replacement cable and replacing. then should i disconnect the battery to reset computer? thanks again

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
newbie....problem w/ 91 supra turbo	skadaloz	MKIII Supra	4	04-18-2008 08:39 PM
Sequential Turbo Question	suprapoweredsoarer	MKIV Supra	1	06-06-2006 12:13 AM
turbo problem	gemstone	Non-Generation Specific Questions	2	10-25-2005 09:03 AM
overheating problem on 1990 supra turbo	suprasux	MKIII Supra	16	06-13-2005 10:39 PM

05-20-2009, 10:02 PM	#3
dunewarz 3" Exhaust Join Date: May 2009 Location: WhiteBear Posts: 54	Most likely it's a timing problem. Check you cam position sensor. Check you timing with a timing light. Make sure you also check you tps as it can cause hesitations and bogging at low rpms if not in the correct position.