toyota supra ma61

[andyma61]

i was hoping someone could help,my cooling fan is on all the time on my supra and i don't think this is normal?.Any advice would be most welcome
Andy.

[ifc63]

Hi Andy, There are a couple of long term MA61 owners on here who may know the answer. If they don't appear soon I'll give them a nudge.
From experience on other cars it could be the cooling fan switch at fault if it has one. Locate this and disconnect the wire and see if the fan stops. *Health and Safety - Don't get too close to a moving fan if you're working in that area*
On some more modern stuff (this may or may not apply to an MA61) if the coolant temperature sender fails it can bring the fan on as a default as obviously it doesn't know if the engine is hot or cold. What is your temp gauge showing?
Hope this helps, Ian.

[supramike]

Hi Andy,
The Supra has many sensors that are run from the management system you need to track the water thermo sensor, you will find it on top of the water thromstat housing just follow the rad top hose back to the housing
There are two snap plugs its the righthand one, to start you need to remove the plug and clean with a solvent switch cleaner becareful not to damage the snap lugs that hold it down tight you can check to see if the sensor is working be you will need an Ohmmeter your mates might be able to help if you've not got one it's easy to do, for the info on the resistance readings I could Jab on but if you go on line you can down load the page date sheet from the MK11 TRSM it has all the info on reading just look in the EFI Syetem the page F1-69
The next thing to check is the relay its in the main fuse board it will be maked on it side cooling fan relay not much you can do with this just check by turn your ignition on and off to hear the click if so it's a good chance its ok, they don't normally go down
also check the connctions on the resistor it a small white thing you will see it on the back side of the rad just clean the connections
I hope is helps you let me know if you get it sorted
Best Mike G.

[Uncle Bob]

Jun 27, 2013 9:13:05 GMT andyma61 said:

i was hoping someone could help,my cooling fan is on all the time on my supra and i don't think this is normal?.Any advice would be most welcome
Andy.

Hi Andy, you say cooling fan, as in the fan on the front of the engine, or heater fan inside the car ?

[harvey]

A few years now since I had an MA61 but from memory mine had a viscous coupling engine cooling fan, can you clarify which fan? any pics

[andyma61]

Thanks for your speedy responses guys,sorry if i wasn't clear with my question.
To Bob,yes i did mean the fan in front of the engine.
To Harvey,i am not 100% sure what sort of cooling fan it is,it runs mechanically off the fan belt in front of the water pump pulley.
To Mike,thanks for your info,i was beginning to wonder if the fan should be running all the time.When i purchased the supra about 5 years ago it was running like this and did have a few overheating issues.I began a slow restoration which meant it was only run to move it about.When the body work was finished last summer the engine had developed a problem,one of the valves was completely stuck so i stripped it down and had the head sorted.I have only just finished putting everything back together.The engine sounds great but i think the thermostat is stuck because the engine is getting hot but the rad is staying cold.I am picking one up tomorrow so hopefully when i am changing that i will look into the thermo sensor and the relay.Not sure i can remember seeing a white resistor on the back of the rad.
I will let you all know how i get on.

[supramike]

Hi Andy,
Now your response has reminded me, I've have had my Supra now for 24 years and have mastered many things about the car I remember going back some 20 years I had the same overheating problem !! be advised I would have the rad flow tested has the original Toyota rad has very small close together vains I found that the vains had a large amount of furring, Andy its most important to make sure you have a good full flow rate on your cooling system if not your wonderful 5M-GE engine will always overheat, I may be able to help if your Supra is Manual !!let me know !
Mike G.

P.S The white resistor is mounted to the right top of the cooling fan bracket in front of the aircon rad you will see it as you lift up the bonnet just look down between the the nose cone panel and the inner top rad mounting panel.

[andyma61]

Good morning Mike,i have looked for the relay but can't see anything marked as you suggested.Yes my supra is a manual,i have changed the rad from a donor car i know was running fine but i think i will still get it tested,i don't want to cause any damage at this stage.I have just had a week off work and spent most of it in the garage so i'm not in my girlfriends good books at the moment but i will try and get out there sunday and investigate further.
Have you gathered together spares for the ma61 over the years because you seem to get referred to as soon someone has a parts enquiry?
I owned my first supra about 13 years ago a white manual which was purchased from a tec members son,Mr Jenkins who himself owned a lovely example which i saw on ebay recently as he had passed away and his son was selling it.I have owned a further 4 over the years and used to be a tec member.I sold a silver example on ebay several years ago and the guy came from Greece and drove it home.I have managed to keep a red manual donor car on my drive which has been a godsend for reference on the engine rebuild,i can follow a manual but i.m not naturally mechanically gifted and tend to forget how i.ve done things ,i also tend to forget where i've put things. During my 5 year restoration i have been storing parts in the loft ,2 sheds,a garage and the spare supra.I seem to have about 3 of everything so i'm constantly checking for the best part.I will be struggling when it comes to some of the body mouldings so i may well be on the look for any spares.
I seem to waffling on now,unfortunately i have 4 children and a partner and none of them share my passion or understand it.
Andy.

[supramike]

Hi Andy,
Thanks for the reply !! yes over the years I've managed to amass quite a lot of parts in fact I have a 20 foot container full has well as 4 engines so I should be able to keep my Supra going for quite sometime, I'm sorry your Gang don't share your intrest my wife was a little like that was until I restored mine if you like you can contact me by EMail if you do I will send you some photos of the old gal it would be nice to get your comments on her

can you give me idea were in the Uk you live as I may just have a part or two you may have an intrest in

My Email in [e-mail]

Be intouch Mike G.

[Uncle Bob]

Hi Andy, from past experience of stripping down a 5M-GE, I found the block filled with rusty sludge,this stops the water flow around the back of the engine block, it can be cleaned out with a jet wash but needs the head off to do it.
You maybe lucky and find its just the thermostat, also replace the radiator cap with a genuine Toyota item, my old cap was letting water pressure out too early.
As to the mechanical fan on the front of the engine, it should freewheel when the engine is cold , and be almost fully locked when engine is hot. You can check this by spinning the fan with your finger cold (ENGINE OFF ), and after getting the engine fully hot, AGAIN TURN OFF FIRST and see if the fan spins, if it spins freely it's buggered.
Bob.

[andyma61]

Oh dear.I'm starting to get a little worried now after Bob's comments as i have just changed the thermostat and run the engine up to temp and the rad stayed cold and the heater was blowing out cold air.If the engine block is the problem i think i have a real problem.
As to the cooling fan i think i have been confusing everybody and myself because when i was looking for the white resistor on the cooling fan bracket Mike mentioned i realised i hadn't replaced the small fan that connects to it.I'm now unsure what fan everybody thought i was talking about.What is the purpose of this small fan,the fan i was referring to is the fan driven by the fan belt which does spin freely when the engine was hot,i have a couple of spares but i am reluctant to run the engine now.

[Uncle Bob]

Jun 29, 2013 19:20:52 GMT andyma61 said:

Oh dear.I'm starting to get a little worried now after Bob's comments as i have just changed the thermostat and run the engine up to temp and the rad stayed cold and the heater was blowing out cold air.If the engine block is the problem i think i have a real problem.
As to the cooling fan i think i have been confusing everybody and myself because when i was looking for the white resistor on the cooling fan bracket Mike mentioned i realised i hadn't replaced the small fan that connects to it.I'm now unsure what fan everybody thought i was talking about.What is the purpose of this small fan,the fan i was referring to is the fan driven by the fan belt which does spin freely when the engine was hot,i have a couple of spares but i am reluctant to run the engine now.

Andy it's never my intention to worry members, forums just discuss all possible problems
Maybe you have an air lock...when refilling a cooling system you always set the heater control knob to red, this allows the coolant to get round the whole of the cooling system.
When I filled my system up from the full strip down I undone the cooling pipe at the back of the head ( between the cams ), and fill the block from there.
You need to run the engine to ensure the air locks are out, maybe get to working temp one day, let it cool over night and re-top up.
When warming up the engine, you will know when the therostat has opened , as the housing will get hot at short notice, then intern the top hose should also get hot
Keep us posted

[andyma61]

Dear Bob,i am fairly new to these forum discussions,i really do appreciate all the help everyone is offering and I am over that initial feeling.Mike has kindly given me his email address and with both of you on board i am looking forward to getting things sorted,it's a shame i have to wait till the weekend before i am able to get into the garage again.
kind regards,Andy.