MR2 Update: Tango de la Muerte

Assuming no other problems, I have to replace some CV boots and re-bolt everything in.

However, the coolant is brown and upon pulling out a sample and letting it settle, is afflicted with rust the likes of which I’ve never seen before (and what would appear to be some sort of cleaning agent from long ago). It’s hard to say, but flushing it until its clean is the modus operandi for now. I thought It might have been oil, but the particulates settle out and sink.

Second on the list, and discovered when testing this weekend, is that the car is burning a precipitous amount of oil. It went from full to near “E” in about an hour or so (with an audible change in engine tone when things got low). It’s not coming out of the exhaust, but rather, from the back side of the valve cover. I’ll replace it.
Apparently, this is somewhat common.

I pulled a sample of the oil too and let it settle. It stayed universally oil throughout the test period.

I’m just grateful that the oil and coolant aren’t throwing some post engine start up after party without me.

The last problem, and I think is kinda minor, is that the axles roll even when in “neutral”. It’s not moving much force and I can stop it with my hand. It remains to be seen if this is some residual force from the transmission or if it’s a problem.