Supra (A70)

1986-1993 / Coupe / Japan

All Supra (A70) problems All workshop issues

Common Body

Targa Roof Seal Deterioration

Symptoms

Water leaks into the cabin when it rains or when washing the car. Staining on the headliner, musty smell, and damp carpets. In severe cases, water collects in the footwells and causes corrosion of the floor pan and electrical connectors.

Cause

The rubber seals around the targa roof panel perish with age and UV exposure. The seal channels can also accumulate debris that prevents proper sealing. On cars that have sat for extended periods, the targa bolts can seize, making removal difficult and damaging the seal channel.

Fix

Replace the targa seals.

Genuine Toyota seals are still available (check with a Toyota dealer, they're surprisingly reasonable).

Clean and lubricate the seal channels.

If the targa bolts are seized, use penetrating oil over several days before attempting removal, forcing them will strip the threads in the body.

New seal kits: $200-400 installed.

Cost mentioned in fix

$200-400

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Other known issues

Minor Body

Targa Bolt Seizure

The bolts that secure the targa roof panel to the body seize in place. Attempting to force them strips the threads or breaks the bolt heads.

Minor Body

Pop-Up Headlight Motor Failure

One or both headlights fail to raise or lower, raise slowly, or raise unevenly. Clicking or grinding noise from the headlight motor area.

Common Engine, 7M-GTE (Turbo)

Head Gasket Failure

The head gasket blows, allowing coolant into the combustion chambers and/or oil passages. White smoke from the exhaust, coolant loss without visible external leak, overheating under boost, milky oil on the filler cap, and bubbles in the coolant overflow tank. In severe cases, hydrolock (coolant filling a cylinder and bending a connecting rod on startup).

Critical Engine, 7M-GTE (Turbo)

Low Oil Pressure at Idle

Oil pressure drops below 10 psi at hot idle. The factory oil pressure warning light may flicker or illuminate at idle, particularly in traffic on hot days. The engine may develop bearing noise (deep knocking from the bottom end).

Common Engine, 7M-GTE (Turbo)

CT-26 Turbo Failure

Loss of boost pressure, excessive oil smoke (blue/grey) on startup or deceleration, whistling or grinding noises from the turbo, and oil in the intercooler piping.

Critical Engine, 7M-GTE (Turbo)

Cooling System Inadequacy Under Boost

Coolant temperature climbs rapidly under sustained boost, particularly in traffic or on hot days. The temperature gauge sits higher than normal and doesn't recover quickly.

View all 17 Supra (A70) problems