1989 Toyota Cressida from North America - Comments

3 blown head gaskets. This is the Supra engine. I am very disappointed in Toyota for not admitting the problem. I have a lot of miles on it, but I also have a 65 Mustang with a lot more and not one blown head gasket. Toyota should address this persistent problem and get their heads on straight because I for one am going to Honda. I don't think I am alone.

The 7m series engines were definately dissappionting.

The nissan 300zx of the same vintage (1987-1989)

was much more dependable. unfortunate I too thought toyota stuff was top notch. but since I too have had supra issues, i have lots of room for doubt!

We have had 2 head gaskets go, one at 70,000kilometrs & the other at 140,000 kilometres this is a one owner country driven car never been over 3000R.P.M. it is treated as a baby. Toyota dealers Quote,$A.1500 to $A 4000.to fix the problem, has anybody any idea what causes the head gasket problem, as the car is fastidiously maintained, apart from this we love it.

I agree that the 7MGE series engine has had lots of trouble with head gaskets. The problem is that Toyota set the torque for the head bolts to low (58 ft-lbs.) I've heard several people claim that torquing the head bolts to about 72 ft-lbs. fixes the problem. Be sure to get a high quality head gasket and to replace the head bolts (just in case).

I had a blown head gasket on my 89 Cressida at about 100K miles. I went ahead and had the valves done when I took the head off to get resurfaced. The valve adjuster disks are pretty expensive, about $9.00 each. I had to buy 16, and the rest I managed to swap around. I torqued the head to 70 ft lbs with new bolts. The head gasket set was about $200.00 total bill doing it myself was close to $800, but worth it. The car runs like new and much cooler too.

Mark in Austin Texas.

Well I've never had a problem with the head on my cressida it's a late 88 model mx83 with just under 250'000km on the clock and to my knowledge has never blown the head. Other owners I've talked to have never commented that there is a problem there either. Mine cressida also regularly goes over 4000rpm without a problem. I have been told though that running it with anything, but coolant will quickly damage the cooling system (and that means topping overflow with water) and also the plastic topped radiators split and crack losing water pretty quickly. anyway that's my 2 cents worth.

If you just plain don't want to deal with the 7MGE's serious gasket problem, if you have enough money find someone/or do it yourself and put a 1JZ-GTE. That is possibly the best and cheapest new engine to just plain avoid the 7M's flaw. Most MX-83 owners just give up on the 7M and go for 1JZ-GTE or 2JZ-GTE. The richer and more ambitious ones go for the 1UZ-FE.