MR-Tuesday

"nerd_racing" (nerd189) 06/09/2015 at 13:50 • Filed to: MR-Tuesday AW11 MR2 Festiva RoadTrip

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I’ve been neglecting my posting of MR-Tuesday, mainly because my MR2 was broken and I was trying to find the time to fix it/psyching myself up to do a head gasket if needed. Turns out the leak was the water outlet gasket ($1.44, slightly trimmed to fit seal). It was such good news I decided to take the MR2 to a car meet from my previous automotive life.

The even was called Ohiostiva spring fling. I’ve owned a couple Ford Festivas and 5 Ford Aspires (Gen II Festiva basically). The meeting was at Summit Racing in Ohio. The trip all in all was about 450 miles round trip. The MR2 handled the trip down like a champ, even though I watched the temperature gauge like a hawk, it never went past halfway. Fuel receipts for the whole trip were a whopping $30. I love that food costs were more than fuel, food costs were higher due to bringing food to share, as is customary.

I even found another “rare MR2 convertible” to park next to. It was the turbo one too. The MR2 was well received by my Festiva friends, we searched for bargains in the Summit store and then convoyed to a local park to have a picnic. We lined the cars up, as is customary for car meets.

All in all the trip was a great experience. I was going to drive the 1 series, but a part of me really missed the excitement of taking a longer day trip in a car that has some wear on it. The excitement of whether or not you are going to make it there and back without problems, what possible road side repairs would be needed, or just how many thumbs up you get from people who recognize the car from their past. Granted I did not make the trip without enough tools to do a clutch change (I’ve had to do one in a parking lot before on a front wheel drive car), but I ended up not needing to use any of them. The MR2 is now safely parked back home in front of my apartment, locked in a staring contest with it’s eyes closed.

For now the car does not overheat. I had to adjust the throttle position sensor some because the engine seemed to be searching for idle, especially when hot. It still does it to an extent, but it is much more drive-able. I purchased and installed a full tuneup kit (NGK plugs, wires, cap, and rotor) but it still has the same issue. I am thinking the engine coolant temperature sensor for the ecu might need to be changed. That is next on my list, along with an oil change and the stainless exhaust.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > nerd_racing 06/09/2015 at 14:10

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Oh sweet, you found another one to park next to!

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > nerd_racing 06/09/2015 at 14:12

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One of the tell-tale signs of the coolant temperature sensor going bad is that it lugs a bit under 4k, at which point it feels like a switch being flipped, or at least that’s what mine did when it was going bad. It seemed to get worse as opposed to being constant.

Brickman > nerd_racing 06/09/2015 at 14:16

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Any of those Festivas have an engine swap?

nerd_racing > Brickman 06/09/2015 at 14:23

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I believe all of them but one were swapped. 3 had the 1.8L DOHC BP engine, two were B6 single cam 8 valve swapped 1.6L, and one was stock 1.3L. One of the BP ones isn’t pictured. The red one was turbo’d too.

nerd_racing > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 06/09/2015 at 14:23

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That seems right to me, as far as how it’s behaving. Parts store one good enough or should I go dealer?

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > nerd_racing 06/09/2015 at 14:25

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No idea. I don’t think it’s something too specific, but I got mine from rockauto for like $12 when I was ordering some other stuff.

nerd_racing > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 06/09/2015 at 14:27

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perfect. I’ll see if they have it in stock at McAuto, if not I’ll order it, along with a few other things from rock auto.

TylerJ > nerd_racing 06/09/2015 at 15:06

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How difficult are MR2s to work on? I’m thinking about picking up a cheap RWD car to wrench on or have fun with a la MR2/ 240SX/ 300ZX.

nerd_racing > TylerJ 06/09/2015 at 15:27

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Not much different than working on FWD cars. So far everything except the coolant bleed process was about the same.

RustedSprinter > nerd_racing 06/09/2015 at 17:07

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I would love a Festiva dude. BTW your MR2’s color is perfect!

nerd_racing > RustedSprinter 06/10/2015 at 07:12

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I loved the ones I had too. They were econoboxes, but they were as customizable as a lego set. Down the road i’d like to build another festiva or aspire. Tube frame rwd duratech v6.

nerd_racing > RustedSprinter 06/10/2015 at 07:13

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Thanks, that’s most of the reason why I bought this particular one. The color is my favorite factory color on the AW11’s.

nerd_racing > nerd_racing 06/10/2015 at 07:14

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I can’t believe nobody caught what I did here. I had it backed in originally but then I figured I’d turn it around to line up the “hoods.” It would have been better to leave the frunk open and then freak out like someone stole my engine when asked.