[Supras] "New" '89 update - thanks and questions

[Suprarossa at aol.com]

Guys,
 
Here's an update on the stock '89 (92K miles on chassis/8K on new engine) I  
picked up last month locally for $3k...
 
Took it to my favorite shop, and they let me use a lift to replace the  
rusted out stock exhaust system with the one from the '92 i took out a couple of  
years ago for the Blitz. Nicked the elbow gasket when it was being stubborn  
separating, so had to order a new turbo gasket set. no big deal.
 
All four calipers were frozen, and thanks for all of the advice as to where  
to find decent replacements. They are in now with new rotors.
 
Backup lights didn't work, and bulbs checked out OK. Saw the loose  
electrical connection when it was up on the lift, so dropped the tranny just  enough to 
reach up there and reattach the connectors. What a bitch that was.  Guess 
whoever did the engine work forgot that part of the reassembly....
 
Then it was time for the state inspection, which came out much better than  I 
had thought. The only major issue was a leaking high pressure PS  line, and 
I've followed the recent thread to help in getting that fixed. Jeff W.  hooked 
me up for over $100 less than list on a new one, and it's on the way -  along 
with a new master window switch (the common broken tab). Minor issue with  one 
of the license plate lights - it's the housing, not the bulb, so I'll do  
some circuit tracing on that this weekend. I think I have a spare.
 
While waiting for the PS line, it has temp plates, so I've been hitting the  
road locally. It really needs an alignment, but other than that it drives  
great.
 
A couple of questions, since I've never owned this year of Mk  III.... are 
the cruise control switches on the steering wheel supposed to  light up? hard to 
see them at night if not. Also, the TEMS system seems to be  much more 
sensitive than in my '92, which takes centrifuge-like cornering to get  them to kick 
in. This car goes to 3 lights on a sweeping on/offramp. Which is  nice, 
but... Were there sensitivity differences between the '89 and '92 models?  Finally, 
the stock radio turns on (power antenna works!), but no muzak! Any  
suggestions as to where to start to trouble shoot this issue? I don't think this  year 
had an external amp like my '92, and I refuse to believe all of the  speakers 
aren't working at once, so I figure something in the output connectors  at the 
rear of the radio itself. I like listening to the engine, but gotta have  my 
Kid Rock (and want to see if the CD player works)!
 
She goes to the detail shop today to get the black pearl back. I'll post up  
pics to my web page after she gets the spa treatment.
 
Greg Altig
Keymar, MD

'92 & '89 (x2) Mk III Turbo/Targa/5  speed
"The 5 liter eaters"
_http://www.geocities.com/suprarossa_ (http://www.geocities.com/suprarossa) 
_http://www.mdsupras.com_ (http://www.mdsupras.com/)