Piston Slap: There Once Was a Mark X in Myanmar...

Sajeev Mehta
by Sajeev Mehta

Tamar writes:

Hi Sajeev,

Hailing from Myanmar, I have a first-gen Toyota Mark X. Forbidden in the U.S., and of interest to many JDM enthusiasts, I happen to think it’s just a stretched Lexus IS 250 (but not quite a GS). It’s got the 2.5-liter 4GR-FSE engine, and I’ve had this cold start rattle for a few seconds every morning, and sometimes during the day as well. The issue’s well known and attributed to the cam gears in the VVTI system. Mine is a 2005 model with more than 100,000 miles on it, so I wouldn’t want to spend a substantial amount of money if it’s not necessary.

So, if there are makeshift fixes that’ll hold it up until I let it go in a year or so, I’d like to know. If it is a real issue that threatens engine failure, I’ll get it fixed. What would you do?

Another problem: I think the Mark X is well made and mostly a nice car, but I have gripes with its (surprise!) steering feel. So I swapped out the steering rack bushes with aluminum ones (pretty hardcore, huh?). The on-center feel improved a whole lot, and I now have this hands-on-asphalt feel in a Toyota midsize sedan. The problem is, once I start to turn the steering wheel (this being electric steering), it’s floaty and I still can’t feel how far I’ve turned the wheels! I never thought a car with so much feedback on center would have problems with feel while off-center. For better steering feedback for the EPS system, I’m thinking of pulling the fuse for the electric steering. I looked for the answer on the interwebs but couldn’t find any — would running the electric power steering system without power assist harm the innards of the system or not? I find a lot of people encouraging it as an enthusiast’s option, but no mention of possible harm to the steering system or not.

What say you?

Sajeev answers:

How cool is it to get a Piston Slap query from Myanmar? Very cool, as recent events encourage me to get another stamp on my passport.

To your first query, cold start rattles are annoyances at this point on the depreciation curve. The forum posts you mentioned mirror the “problem” I have with my ’95 Lincoln Mark VIII. Just last week I noted how Houston’s triple digit weather (i.e. hot oil) effectively silenced my rattling timing chain guides upon cold start. Sure, there are chain guide upgrades to Ford’s Modular V8, but considering these motors are good for well over 250,000 miles before losing significant amounts of power…why bother?

Run synthetic oil and let the motor rattle when cold. It’s not gonna change anything for a long, long time. If the motor’s new to the synthetic stuff, it might leak in a few spots (oil filter adapter gasket), but hopefully it’s no worse than when I made the switch on my Mark VIII. That’s a small price to pay for the extra protection.

Your second question? Go ahead and pull the fuse (or disconnect the wiring harness) to the assist motor. If common sense and GM recalls are any indication, these systems are designed to operate even when the motors fail to provide assist. But your tiller will definitely hate you tugging against that poor leather wrapping with every labored yank on the wheel.

Unlike my power steering-free Ford Sierra, the Mark X is a heavy vehicle with an engine above the turning wheels. Since the tires are significantly larger (and the tiller smaller) than old-school rides with no power assist, just a single maneuver into a tight parking spot shall make you regret this decision.

I wouldn’t even do the aluminum bushings — I hate unnecessary NVH — but since you did, I reckon you’ve done all you can to improve the Mark’s vague electric steering. Perhaps one day there will be a superior motor upgrade for all systems!

[Image: Vasyl S]

Send your queries to sajeev@thetruthaboutcars.com. Spare no details and ask for a speedy resolution if you’re in a hurry…but be realistic, and use your make/model specific forums instead of TTAC for more timely advice.

Sajeev Mehta
Sajeev Mehta

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  • Rpn453 Rpn453 on Sep 01, 2017

    Synthetic oil is overrated. Unless it's used to meet necessary specifications for extreme situations that "conventional" oils cannot, it's basically just a marketing tool.

  • Claytori Claytori on Sep 01, 2017

    Is it possible to install a shutoff switch for the e-power steering motor? Then you could switch it on for low speed maneouvres. But seriously, if you have to go to such great lengths to modify a car to meet your wants/needs, then why not just get one that does.

  • AZFelix Hilux technical, preferably with a swivel mount.
  • ToolGuy This is the kind of thing you get when you give people faster internet.
  • ToolGuy North America is already the greatest country on the planet, and I have learned to be careful about what I wish for in terms of making changes. I mean, if Greenland wants to buy JDM vehicles, isn't that for the Danes to decide?
  • ToolGuy Once again my home did not catch on fire and my fire extinguisher(s) stayed in the closet, unused. I guess I threw my money away on fire extinguishers.(And by fire extinguishers I mean nuclear missiles.)
  • Carson D The UAW has succeeded in organizing a US VW plant before. There's a reason they don't teach history in the schools any longer. People wouldn't make the same mistakes.
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