This is an import from my original Google Blogger space “Past Issues”. It’s been edited a smidge:
This is my Supra. Celica Supra properly, but it’s “The Supra” to me. I bought this car from a CL ad about four years ago. When I picked it up, it was suffering from those dreadful “TruWhite” headlights that glowed an annoying blue, a supertrapp without baffles and capacitors for the subwoofer that was placed in the luggage compartment hanging from the battery.
Nothing horrible, just petty annoyances that trips to the appropriate places took care of.
The Supra replaced my w126 S-class, a 300 SDL that was developing a terminal case of “European Car Entropy.” It was on its third injection line for #1 Cylinder, The transmission was forgetting to shift, the cables for the sunroof had just let go and it was time for me to let it go.
I’d a few grand in the bank and I wanted to keep most of it, so paying a mechanic was out of the question. There was very little space in the garage of the duplex that we rented in land park and honestly, I wanted something different. So to Craigslist.
I really didn’t know what exactly I was looking for, I just knew I’d see it soon enough. And sure enough, there it was. I called, we drove, I bought it.
And four years later it’s time to move on for a couple of reasons.
I miss having a four-door. While coupes are quite a bit of fun and some are dead sexy (like mine), they aren’t quite practical enough. When a third person is along, I hope that they’re under 5’7″ and flexible- there isn’t a lot of legroom back there.
With this version of Celica Supra, there’s also the smog check issue. Every two years, cars here in California have to be tested for emissions. Mine barely passed this year. Bad valve guides from the factory are a known issue with this engine, the 5-MGTE. The “Check Engine” light has been a constant companion since I’ve owned the car and if it doesn’t go out you don’t pass, and where it was once extinguishing, now it’s not.
It’s also blowing right at the limit on HC on the low speed portion of the test, which means a teardown of the top end at least is likely. However, with the work schedule and limited finances, the car will have to go. Still no money for a mechanic.
As a Teenager and a young Gearhead, tearing into a vehicle to determine what was making it go “erk” instead of “Vroom” was normal and expected. A trip was a bit of an adventure, especially if you consider the cars I was fond of owning: Fiats, Triumphs, Alfas… I got really good at roadside diagnosis and repair.
That was nearly 30 years ago. Still fairly decent at the diagnosis, but less patient with the wrench turning part. Cars, basic, get-you-there commuter appliances are actually quite brilliant and fun to drive. And they don’t break. And California is making it harder for older cars to stay in the fleet.
And dammit, I don’t have the garage space to keep the beastie happy, my tool kit has spread to the four winds, I love air conditioning and great stereo systems and things that start and run.
The Department Of Past Issues 