Grandpa's Old GTS Coupe

[TKK_Celica]

Hello!

I am excited to have found this forum, it appears to be a wealth of info. I'm the new owner of a 1985 GTS Coupe (A/T). My Grandpa bought this car brand new back in the day, and it has been in my family ever since. My uncle acquired it in 2005, had a shop respray the black paint, and basically let it sit in his garage for 15 years (he last drove it regularly in 2010 when his truck was in being worked on.)

Here are a couple of pictures of how it sits now. I haven't done anything to it except a wash and wax. If anybody has any ideas of where I should start on a 15 year old garage queen I'd love to hear them! I'm thinking the obvious fluids and tires to start. I've been daily driving a 1991 N/A MR2 for damn near a decade now, so the FR layout will be a new journey for me, mechanically.

I am experiencing some starting issues off the bat, but I'll check the forums before asking any specific questions.

Thanks!

[twotone_ra64]

Hello and welcome!! What a wonderful example of a GTS coupe you've got there! Very nice of your family to hold onto the car, and your uncle to have babied her and given her fresh paint!

Where to start on a garage queen... leave it alone!! She's too beautiful dude. Or, if you're keen, a 5-speed manual swap to get some more scoot down to the ground. Parts have become harder to come by since I did mine, but it's not impossible. All fluids and tires are a smart start, though.

Let us know what you find about the starting issue.

[TKK_Celica]

Thanks for the welcome! I don't have any plans to modify it. I like the classic styling and OEM goodness. The engine bay could definitely use a good cleaning though. If I get the urge to hack something up for a project I'll take it out on my MR2. My plans for the Celica will be to clean it up, spruce up the interior (the driver seat is ugggly), and maintain it.

I haven't found an answer yet on the starting issue. It only happens on a cold start after it has sat for a few days. It'll crank and crank and crank until I stop trying. After that first crank session, it'll click once for every time I try and start it. I just keep trying and eventually it'll start and bog, I give it a little gas and it comes to life. For the rest of the day, even the next morning, it'll start every time and runs super smooth. But if I let it sit for a week or so it'll be hard to start again the first time. (I've actually had the car since October, I just haven't driven it much because I'm not trying to put a bunch of wear onto it) I usually get frustrated and run the shifter through the gears and try starting it in neutral too, but I'm not convinced that actually helps.

[twotone_ra64]

I haven't found an answer yet on the starting issue. It only happens on a cold start after it has sat for a few days. It'll crank and crank and crank until I stop trying. After that first crank session, it'll click once for every time I try and start it. I just keep trying and eventually it'll start and bog, I give it a little gas and it comes to life. For the rest of the day, even the next morning, it'll start every time and runs super smooth. But if I let it sit for a week or so it'll be hard to start again the first time. (I've actually had the car since October, I just haven't driven it much because I'm not trying to put a bunch of wear onto it) I usually get frustrated and run the shifter through the gears and try starting it in neutral too, but I'm not convinced that actually helps.

Sounds like that could be the cold start injector not firing when you crank. Take a look at it, maybe there's gummed up fuel that needs to be cleaned out from it having sat so long.





If not that, then the start injector time swtich could be causing the circuit to stay open and never fire the injector.

[TKK_Celica]

Wow thanks for the info! I will check it out this weekend!

[yella81celica]

Is that a WA plate?

[TKK_Celica]

Is that a WA plate?

Sure is! Howdy neighbor. I'm out closer to Frederickson.

[yella81celica]

Ok.

There a few of us here in the area. Just haven't done much as a group for awhile. If all goes well I am putting on a all Toyota car show this year at Griot's Garage. I had to cancel it last year as did majority of car shows.

[TKK_Celica]

Ok.

There a few of us here in the area. Just haven't done much as a group for awhile. If all goes well I am putting on a all Toyota car show this year at Griot's Garage. I had to cancel it last year as did majority of car shows.

Ah cool, I'm familiar with that show. I usually go and walk around. I daily drive a super base model MR2 that isn't show worthy but this Celica is so clean and original it might be fun to bring it out. I'm sure I'll see you around!

[85GTS]

Nice car!!

Hard starting after sitting is likely the fuel pressure regulator, or the residual pressure valve in the fuel pump, or since the car has sat for awhile maybe even a leaking injector. Its also possible the cold start injector is not functioning, but id consider that a secondary factor.