Soarer Useful General Information. (Twin Turbo models Only.) Updated 01/07/2001 Compiled by : Toan Nguyen Soarer_GT@hotmail.com Melbourne, VIC. Australia ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ian Wilshire Trackday Setting Switch. Taken from www.LexusClub.co.uk forums. Description : This gives you the 'trackday' settings for Steering (all) and suspension (TEMS equipped only). This translates to more feedback from the steering wheel (you can feel the road and know where the car is at all times). For the people who like to drive on the limit. This also sets the suspension to "hard" stiffens it up really good. better handling and less body roll. Only on TEMS equiped models. This setting also switches the ECU to "crazy mode" revs the auto to redline and gear changes are slick. no power loss. With this setting in place I was able to race an RX7 SP and win. Nice ECU upgrade for free. 1/. Open Bonnet. 2/. Locate 'Diagnosis' port. 3/. Cut a piece of wire about 4cm (1½") strip 5mm (1/4") off each end. 4/. put one end in the Ts the other in the E1 (shorting' them out.) 5/. Start car, V8's blink on the dash, TT's have a little square dot to the right of the Time display. If you want the engine settings, leave the short in place, disconnect both terminals of battery, leave overnight, reconnect in the morning, Job done. Better throttle response, earlier 'bi-turbo' operation, more power on V8s ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Steves Cruise Control Limiter Remover www.microtech.com.au/soarer/cruise_control.htm How to disable the cruise control speed limiter (you cant set cruise control after 108km/h). - Locate the cruise control ECU box. - Short pins across Jumper J300. (It's on the edge of the board next to the big IC). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Startrade FAQ http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/startrade/FAQ/FAQanswers2.html#Q46 How to by-pass a faulty fuel pump control circuit (ECU) in order to get home. In Short : - Connect FP and +B in the diagnostics connection. The fuel pump can be forced to operate in the high voltage setting by placing a jumper in the engine diagnostics connector between FP and +B terminals (for location of terminals see the label inside the diagnostics connector cover). A straightened up paper clip can be used as a jumper but must be inserted very deep in the terminals. This function is useful for checking that the fuel pump is not faulty (it can be heard running with the ignition on) and also to make the car mobile in case the fuel pump ECU is faulty. We strongly advise against driving the car for prolonged periods with the jumper inserted as the current draw of the pump in its high setting is about 7.3A and the pump may not have been designed to handle the load permanently and may overheat and seize, creating more (expensive) problems. At idle and under light loads the engine may be running rich due to increased fuel pressure. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recommended Fuel (Jap Spec) 100 ocatance or closest equivalent. - I still have that funky jap sticker that says %#@100! - The knock sensor will retard timing if you cant find 100 octane so dont worry if there is just 98 or 95 octane. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Engine Oil Capacity 4.7 Litres - Recommended 5-30 Fully Synthetic Oil. I have used Mobil Synth (15w-50) multigrade which is very good. When I switched to Shell Helix Plus Eco +10 (10w-30) There was a significant amount more torque but less top end power(or seemed like it) but the fact that it wasnt fully syntheic makes me want to switch to Mobil Synth again. - Mobil 1 Synth cost about AUS$26 from K-Mart or any shopping centre. For some reason Autobarn sells it for AUS$30 - Shell Helix Plus Eco +10 costs AUS$30 from K-Mart. Couldnt find it at Autobarn. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oil filter - Type Z418. Any Oil filter that is Type Z418 will do. It is the same oil filter as the Toyota Camry quadcam V6 (1996-2001) - Cost about AUS$11 from Autobarn ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air Filter - If you are still using the standard Air filter... WTF are you thinking? - Anyways... get a nice K&N cone air filter and replace the stock airbox. you will need a 8"long (20cm), 3"wide peice of tube extension with a 30deg bend for the K&N if you like it neat. It will still fit without it, but a bit cramped. You also need 2 metal round screw tie things. Forgot the name, you know what I'm talking about. As a heat sheild, bolt some sheet metal between the cone filter and the fan. - K&N filter AUS$80 Shop around, prices vary. I dont think there is a difference between one brand or the other. You can get AUS$25 cone air filters from Marlos (Dandenong) that look exacly the same - Tube Extension. AUS$10? I just found one lying around. Check out houses being built. Go liberate some plumbing. - Sheet metal. AUS$15? I found one lying around as well. - Anyways... If you want the stock airbox and stock air filter.... The Toyota part number is "Element, Air 17801-46060" These cost $52 each. Does the aftermarket package look better now? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spark Plugs - Stock plugs are NGK BKR6EP-11 This means NGK BKR6EP with a plug gap of 1.1mm Ask your local turbo place to see what is better for your engine. See if you need colder plugs. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stock Engine at 12PSI boost will make up to 175kw at the wheels. - 6 second flat for 0-100km/h (Auto). - high 13 sec for 1/4 Mile (Auto). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Optimal Wheel Alignment Settings taken from www.lexusclub.co.uk These are for the stock 225/55 wheels. - Note that this is for Soarer GTL TwinTurbo with TEMS on stock rims - Front toe-in each side. MIN. -0.3mm OPTIMUM 0.1mm MAX 0.6mm - Rear toe-in each side. MIN. 0.9mm OPTIMUM 1.3mm MAX 1.7mm - Front Camber each side. Neg. 0 deg. 10 min. ± 10 min - Rear Camber each side. Neg. 1 deg. 00 min. ±10 min. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If your car is smoking on full throttle.... - Check for leaks on your intercooler piping. - Check to see if engine oil has entered the intercooler tract. It's a relatively common cause for smoke to puff out the back on full throttle. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Does your soarer have a squeaking rear? Mine did. But now it's fixed. It's common on older soarers (8 years old) for the rear supsension to start squeaking, and its usually quite easy to fix. The queaking is actually caused when you fit aftermarket rims and deck the ride. It puts more pressure on the Upper control arm bushings which are rubber and cant take the stress, so they wear out prematurely. To check if this is the cause of the problem. Follow these steps : - Undo rear wheels. - spray some grease (WD-40, Silicon grease) on the upper control arm. The control arm looks like the letter "A" and is placed in the middle of the suspension tower. The offending parts are right up and halfway behind the inner guard (the black/grey covering closest to the body) A pic can be found at : http://soarergt.8m.net/PIC_GALLERY/CAR/Control_Arm_pic.jpg - Spray the thing with craploads of lubricant - Put the wheels back on and push up/down on the rear. If it's not squeaking or squeaking less, then you prolly need new bushes. I bought polyurethane blue bushes from whiteline (www.whiteline.com.au) and had them fitted to my car. Here is a pic of the bushes. http://soarergt.8m.net/PIC_GALLERY/CAR/Upper_Control_Arm_Inner_Bush_parts_small.jpg They cost AU$105 and you can get them fitted at any good suspension shop. Now my car has no more squeaking rear suspension. *Remember to get an alignment after you fit them as it adjusts the geometry. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------