Delp

10 minutes ago, The-Acre said:

Ooh yes, same wheels as mine! Did you ever see Clarkson driving a Soarer? He loved it!

That was a UZZ32 he certainly had good things to say about it. 😁

15 hours ago, Neil E said:

Rich Walker Lexusman in Gloucester, you already know and Hillsons, (Worthing Van Centre) in Littlehampton, I've used for more than 20 years. The older I get, the cleaner my hands stay. 🤣

John in Littlehampton has greater facility with full garage workshops and a small team. Rich still has spares, can do most jobs and trace/fix faults with a wealth of experience. He would use others nearby for work best done on ramps, etc. There may still be others and people closer to you who can do routine stuff if you already know what the problem is.

What are your aims and how would you intend to use the Soarer?

Boring and keeping it stock😁

28 minutes ago, Neil E said:

Always happy to help and advise. The good thing is the amount of searchable info available.

If you hit a major problem there are still some people on hand with the knowledge and skill but you may need to take the car to Worthing or Gloucester for any major surgery. 

Major Soarer surgery. Who's in Worthing and Gloucester

4 hours ago, Neil E said:

I had no trouble obtaining parts through Toyota within a couple of days for most things and had a good source through a South Coast breaker/importer but that business has moved on. They would still be an excellent resource for repair and maintenance but not for spares. 

Neil & PCM would you guys be willing to advise if I had any issues, as I think taking it to a local garage would be an issue not wanting to touch it. That's my main worry.. 

45 minutes ago, Neil E said:

The V8 Soarer UZZ (30, 31, 32 Active) is really a coupe version of the LS400. 

The 3.0 NA  and 2.5 TT or VVTi single T in the same chassis has some common ground with the Supra too. In the US they were LHD SC300/400 models with some conventional dashboards and a lesser tech level. 

1991 - 1997 so the car is at least 23 years old. There's a small following in the UK, a lot in the US on clublexus, a wealth of knowledge in Aus on Soarer Central (Planet Soarer) and Lextreme is also a place that 1UZ owners visit, particularly if they want to go faster.

Some people still seem to be able to get parts but I am aware that it's becoming harder. I'm sure if you acquired a Soarer and set up a build thread on here there would be a good deal of interest and help. 

I was planning doing that if I find the right car. Thanks for the advice Neil. 😊

14 hours ago, Neil E said:

The power steering pump is known to fail and leak onto the alternator which in turn fails. I doubt you will find a good V8 that hasn't already been attended to.

I would guess £5-6k for a decent UZZ31 and then (if it was me) I would be allowing £4k (doing some work myself) to deal with any wear and tear that hasn't already been addressed. The fuel ECU is quite a small item that lives behind the trim in the near side rear passenger panel. Back in the day I bought 2 used spares for about £60 each and carried one in each car just in case. There is also a temporary fuel ECU bypass that can be done with a jumper wire. I would need to check the facts as I'm a bit hazy on it but I think the ECU switches between a 9V and 12V mode. When it fails it defaults to 9V and you lose power but can get home in slow mode. 

The air struts should only change when you adjust the ride height in the car. They sit at normal level except for when some extra ground clearance is required. The pump kicks in as required and raises the car gradually. I can't remember how quickly but would guess it takes about 20 secs to raise it. Running them any lower than the normal setting risks damaging the units. If you want to go 'low' then go for aftermarket units designed for the task.

If the car is in an excellent state suspension wise and it's on standard wheels and tyres, it will be the smoothest ride you ever took. On a par with any LS I've driven, in fact, as much as I like them, better and quieter than the 3 LS600s I've driven. BUT remember that most Soarers are very tired old buses now. It costs a lot of money to keep them in good order. 

 

Looks like Its more of a ongoing restoration project that requires deep pockets.. Are parts readily available if so what other cars share the same parts? 

5 hours ago, PCM said:

My car back in the day...

 

Nice

16 hours ago, Neil E said:

I had 2 Soarers but I think you already know about them. One was a UZZ31 V8 Limited on air, a rare version without the navi screen which is the best one to have in my view.

Awesome car, very comfortable, composed and fast but it isn't cheap to keep in very good condition. Most decent examples will have had regular maintenance and all of the usual faults attended to by now but few will have been kept in 'tip top' condition. Because they didn't receive the attention the lesser Supra did, they fell prey to those who couldn't afford to either restore them or maintain them for very long and so only the fortunate few survive.

I would try to find a nice one and then budget perhaps £4k to get it just right. I've been tempted to take on one more Soarer as a project but it would have to be a V8TT or something equally 'wild' when really more effort should be made to restore and preserve them.

Check the AC, power steering pump, alternator and door hinges, door cards, all suspension arms. bushes, air suspension if it still has it.

Fuel pump ecu is a common failure, coil packs too but don't let my knowledge deter you as these things are easily fixed if you can find the parts. I sold mine with way over 200k miles on it and it was still in good order with no loss of power or poise. De-cat it to release a little extra power. 

The key to the full V8 Soarer grand tourer experience is to glide in one at high speed with all of the suspension in a perfect state. It's a coupe LS400 afterall.

 

you mentioned  fuel pump ECU is that a costly part sounds it? 

Are bushes readily available or would it be a case of new arms. Check for leaks on power steering pump, check actually cold, what best way to check alternator. Air bags how quick should they go up or down. 

You mention 4k is that to get it a high standard excluding buying the car. 

1 hour ago, The-Acre said:

Excuse me, I have a Toyota!🤭

What a Toyota you got as this if for the current or ex Soarer owners😄 Celsior nice. 

On 11/11/2020 at 7:45 PM, Delp said:

I must say bit shocked theres no current Soarer owners on here. 

Is it because it's a Toyota 😄

I thought this might spark a reply! 

Nice colour that Tom H and a late VVTI. 

Would you  guys mind sharing any issues you had with it if you had any. What too look out for on a V8. Common things you encountered mechanically or body wise

Any pics of yours PCM. 

I must say bit shocked theres no current Soarer owners on here. 

Is it because it's a Toyota 😄

No worries. 

5 hours ago, rich1068 said:

Unfortunately not. Hence my comments in your thread.

Ok mate.. Shame did you like the car though? 

Rich was this ever resolved? 

Just posted a new thread, maybe Soarers owners come out of the woodwork 😁

As I'm looking into getting a Soarer. Just wondering if there any current owners on the forum. Do reply😁

3 minutes ago, rich1068 said:

I was using the airbag ECU as an example. The ECU and loom were Soarer specific and in fact specific to that particular model. Amayama did list one but it was £1000+

I was just adding to Steve's comment above about maintenance and spending. I don't want to discourage you, I'd love to see a Soarer on here. And if the prospect of running an older import doesn't put you off then go for it 

I understand were you're coming from. With less Soarers on the road, parts would be difficult if something goes wrong. The 1UZ-FE non vvti I think is non interference as well which is good. Nice shape.. Fingers crossed I get a good one.. Will keep posted.. 

1 hour ago, rich1068 said:

That though they may share many parts with other more widely available Toyota and Lexus, some model specific parts are simply not available. Cam belt, water pump and bodywork may be an easy fix but I was very close to getting a Soarer earlier this year and due to a faulty airbag ECU the car couldn't pass an MOT and was therefore only worth the scrap value.

All that said, if you do get one I'd love to see it. Cam belt and water pump cost would be around the £400 mark I assume.

How did you know faulty ECU. Air bags are the same as ls400. Which other models share same brake or suspension components. I think the supra does.. 

6 hours ago, rich1068 said:

And as I have discovered, due to the models age and import rarity there are parts that are simply unavailable and turn a beautiful looking coupe into a piece of scrap.

What do you mean.. Sorry? 

Hi thinking of getting a UZZ31 Gt-ltd. 112k, dark mica blue. I would say all round is good condition.

What would be a fair price to pay factoring in the below things need doing. 

Cambelt and water pump.

Bodywork about 300-400.

Any advice on prices be appreciated. 

On 10/8/2020 at 6:34 PM, ColinBarber said:

The pre-facelift GS series II suffer from master cylinder issues, primarily the vacuum pump and you end up with a VSC warning and buzzer going off the whole time. The face-lift models (which you have) don't seem to suffer this so I wouldn't be too concerned about getting a used unit from a scrapyard - obviously you could be very unlucky and have a problem with the replacement but I think you should be ok. Having said that it doesn't really sound like a master cylinder issue, rather that something is triggering the ABS to operate and the master cylinder is operating correctly.

 

This is my hunch also. How can this be diagnosed then. Any advice be welcome. It also pulling to the left when braking that's when abs kicks in sometime. Is it worth measuring the resistance of the abs sensors.. 

14 hours ago, steve2006 said:

It’s been a while since I last looked but at the time no one repaired the brake actuator units from the GS300. 

The fact that they don’t use a conventional vacuum servo system and numbers on the road probably means that repair is not possible due to spares issues or not viable due to low volumes.

I know a couple of owners who scrapped the car due to this problem.

Before assuming it is the actuator have you had the fault codes read as it may just be either crud or rust build up on the ABS sensor/ reluctor ring or a broken ring ( very common and replacements are available).

Hi Steve

Ran tech stream for codes. Nothing showing up. Abs wheel sensors are showing readings. I've cleaned the rear abs sensors which did have magnetic filings on them, I've not dobe the fronts. Is it worth cleaning the front sensors even though no fault causes are showing. Also do you know the part no for unit as I'm asking specialist companies to see if it can be repaired. 

Has anyone ever had the master cylinder repaired on there GS. As the ABS kicking in low speeds. I know could get one from scrapyard, but don't want to get one that's one Its way out. Trying to out weigh getting current one repaired or scrapyard. 

Did they do a zero point calibration via computer? 

6 hours ago, Upex said:

Have you tried reseting these via turning steering wheel lock to lock to lock to lock, should reset sensors and lights go away.

No I havent not sure how to do it. Any help be good. 

Really want to know how to reset SAS or zero point calibration via techstream.