Anyway to tell if a car is an automatic?

Revikan · 04-30-2007, 03:12 AM

Sounds like a dumb question but not really. I recently acquired an 86 Non Turbo Supra. Which is in pieces. I dont know why its in pieces either. The previous owner got it they way it is now. It has all the parts in the car. The engine is still ni the bay but mostly everything else is apart. Theres a shifter and transmission bolted up. Theres also pedals for manual bolted up but the clutch pedal is on the floor. The center console is an automatic because the car wont go in 1st 3rd or 5th because the console is in the way. I'm guessing they did a 5 speed swap and didnt finish it. So my question is, is there any lights for like P, R, D, D2, D1 anywhere to see if it was originally an automatic car. Also would the vin point out what transmission is? I did a carfax preview and it doesnt say if its A/T or M/T thanks. I ask because I have many parts, the guy had a parts car so tehres like two of everything. Thanks

tone loc · 04-30-2007, 03:46 AM

im not sure but if you call toyota and give them the id # i think they would be able to tell u

supramacist · 04-30-2007, 04:39 AM

Good Luck with that build.

mrnickleye · 04-30-2007, 06:29 AM

Is it an 86.5 MKIII ?

Power/economy button on the console. Indicator light in the dash as to which of those you are in.

Revikan · 04-30-2007, 01:18 PM

sorry its a 1986.5 Mark 3

j3pz · 04-30-2007, 02:00 PM

hmmm if its in neutral, which im assuming as other wise it would be hard to move, try moving the shifter side to side. also you can look on the ecu for m/t or a/t. its under the dash behing the glove box. good luck with the build

supramacist · 04-30-2007, 04:10 PM

It's always tuff when you buy an auto half way complete or already broken down. If you are not friends with your local Toyota dealership parts man or the local chain parts house fellas. You will be on a first name basis by the time you are done.

Get ready to hear this alot: Toyota Only.

If you don't have a tsrm I would highly advise you to get one. You're going to need one.

Are you an IRL mechanic? OR just a gear head that loves to drive?

Revikan · 04-30-2007, 08:42 PM

I have people who can help me. The engine has been sitting since 2002 so im gonna drop a new engine in it. I took off the main dash part to get the car in all gears. It will go in 1,2,3 fine 4th and 5th are hard to get into. My friend said its probably the shift fork. The clutch pedal will stay up with the brake and gas pedal but when you press it, it stays down. There's 2 ECU's in the car, neither of them hooked up A/T and M/T. The guy had 2 supras so theres like two of everything. I can't find the manual main console so the shifter will go in all gears so I'm leaning toward it was an automatic. I can't find the stock automatic shifter though.

supramacist · 04-30-2007, 10:58 PM

Makes me wonder what state the tranny is in.

j3pz · 05-01-2007, 02:02 AM

have you figured the tranny yet? will the shifter go side to side? i dont think an a/t shifte will do that. i also believe an a/t will have some fluid lines coming off of it. oh and an m/t will have a slave cylinder or a place to put one. just look on the left side of the tranny, right behind the bellhouse.

04-30-2007, 03:12 AM	#1
Revikan Stock Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 16	Anyway to tell if a car is an automatic? Sounds like a dumb question but not really. I recently acquired an 86 Non Turbo Supra. Which is in pieces. I dont know why its in pieces either. The previous owner got it they way it is now. It has all the parts in the car. The engine is still ni the bay but mostly everything else is apart. Theres a shifter and transmission bolted up. Theres also pedals for manual bolted up but the clutch pedal is on the floor. The center console is an automatic because the car wont go in 1st 3rd or 5th because the console is in the way. I'm guessing they did a 5 speed swap and didnt finish it. So my question is, is there any lights for like P, R, D, D2, D1 anywhere to see if it was originally an automatic car. Also would the vin point out what transmission is? I did a carfax preview and it doesnt say if its A/T or M/T thanks. I ask because I have many parts, the guy had a parts car so tehres like two of everything. Thanks

04-30-2007, 06:29 AM	#4
mrnickleye 1000whp postwhore Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Mojave Desert, Calif. Posts: 1,705	Is it an 86.5 MKIII ? Power/economy button on the console. Indicator light in the dash as to which of those you are in. __________________ Had a Red 1989 N/A. Automatic. Sports Pkg. w/wing. TEMS, and some nice MODS. Sold to a friend 10/08/08.

04-30-2007, 02:00 PM	#6
j3pz 500whp yet? Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mechanicsville, MD, US of A, 20659 Posts: 1,060	hmmm if its in neutral, which im assuming as other wise it would be hard to move, try moving the shifter side to side. also you can look on the ecu for m/t or a/t. its under the dash behing the glove box. good luck with the build __________________ 88 N/A w/ 5spd - stock - not running, bhg 87 turbo/targa w/ 5spd- fidanza light weight flywheel, new oem slave cylinder, apexi air filter, no ac and no heat

05-01-2007, 02:02 AM	#10
j3pz 500whp yet? Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mechanicsville, MD, US of A, 20659 Posts: 1,060	have you figured the tranny yet? will the shifter go side to side? i dont think an a/t shifte will do that. i also believe an a/t will have some fluid lines coming off of it. oh and an m/t will have a slave cylinder or a place to put one. just look on the left side of the tranny, right behind the bellhouse. __________________ 88 N/A w/ 5spd - stock - not running, bhg 87 turbo/targa w/ 5spd- fidanza light weight flywheel, new oem slave cylinder, apexi air filter, no ac and no heat

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04-30-2007, 03:46 AM	#2
tone loc 20psi boost Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 706	im not sure but if you call toyota and give them the id # i think they would be able to tell u

04-30-2007, 04:39 AM	#3
supramacist 1000whp postwhore Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Escape from the Prison Planet Posts: 1,356	Good Luck with that build.

04-30-2007, 01:18 PM	#5
Revikan Stock Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 16	sorry its a 1986.5 Mark 3

04-30-2007, 04:10 PM	#7
supramacist 1000whp postwhore Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Escape from the Prison Planet Posts: 1,356	It's always tuff when you buy an auto half way complete or already broken down. If you are not friends with your local Toyota dealership parts man or the local chain parts house fellas. You will be on a first name basis by the time you are done. Get ready to hear this alot: Toyota Only. If you don't have a tsrm I would highly advise you to get one. You're going to need one. Are you an IRL mechanic? OR just a gear head that loves to drive?

04-30-2007, 08:42 PM	#8
Revikan Stock Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 16	I have people who can help me. The engine has been sitting since 2002 so im gonna drop a new engine in it. I took off the main dash part to get the car in all gears. It will go in 1,2,3 fine 4th and 5th are hard to get into. My friend said its probably the shift fork. The clutch pedal will stay up with the brake and gas pedal but when you press it, it stays down. There's 2 ECU's in the car, neither of them hooked up A/T and M/T. The guy had 2 supras so theres like two of everything. I can't find the manual main console so the shifter will go in all gears so I'm leaning toward it was an automatic. I can't find the stock automatic shifter though.

04-30-2007, 10:58 PM	#9
supramacist 1000whp postwhore Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Escape from the Prison Planet Posts: 1,356	Makes me wonder what state the tranny is in.