Search found 104 matches

by Ace
Thu May 11, 2023 11:23 pm
Forum: Tercel 4WD Repair Questions
Topic: Asking for trouble (crankshaft pulley removal)
Replies: 39
Views: 20620

Re: Asking for trouble (crankshaft pulley removal)

I have always used a 1/2" breaker bar against the frame & utilized the starter to crank it loose. Today I started on replacing the cam and crank seals, and timing belt on my latest Tercel. I got stuck at removing the crank pulley bolt, even with my impact gun it didn't budge. I looked up x...
by Ace
Sat Apr 01, 2023 3:53 pm
Forum: General
Topic: We have lost one of our own.
Replies: 51
Views: 60358

Re: We have lost one of our own.

I'm a late responder on this topic but I want to pay my respects to Tom (ARCHINSTL), one of the keystone people of the forum. I remember him as a major contributor to the forum for many years who shared his wealth of knowledge and experience with all of us. Maybe I shouldn't have made this post on A...
by Ace
Sat Apr 01, 2023 2:41 pm
Forum: Tercel 4WD Repair Questions
Topic: Mouse nest in heater fan, and suggestions for prevention
Replies: 19
Views: 17095

Re: Mouse nest in heater fan, and suggestions for prevention

i had a mouse in mine a couple of weeks ago filled the fan full of leaves and dog hair, took the lazy route dropped the glove box down, and with a pair of side cutters cut the plastic square hole screen on the housing out, now I can put my hand in the fan and clean it out That's exactly what I did ...
by Ace
Thu Mar 30, 2023 1:53 pm
Forum: Toyota
Topic: 1985 Toyota van
Replies: 23
Views: 46714

Re: 1985 Toyota van

I just discovered this older thread and really enjoyed the stories. Here is my Toyota van story ... IMG_9982.JPG I had an extended visit to Australia in 2008-2009. I had the idea of buying a van to travel around and save on lodging expenses. Shopping on internet, many of the available secondhand va...
by Ace
Thu Mar 30, 2023 9:46 am
Forum: General
Topic: Muffler story and repair shop scams
Replies: 5
Views: 4176

Re: Muffler story and repair shop scams

Thanks for the responses. I modified the thread title to suit; I imagine there are lots of stories along this line.
by Ace
Fri Mar 24, 2023 6:43 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Muffler story and repair shop scams
Replies: 5
Views: 4176

Muffler story and repair shop scams

I bought my 1983 4x4 Tercel wagon when it was less than a year old, with under 15,000 miles. The original tires lasted for 44,000 miles but the original muffler corroded through before that; it was the first significant item needing replacement on the entire car. In 1986 (at 41,327 miles) I had the ...
by Ace
Fri Mar 24, 2023 6:27 pm
Forum: General
Topic: New Tercel review on YouTube
Replies: 6
Views: 4086

Re: New Tercel review on YouTube

This is a fun video. The owner did well to find a relatively low mileage '84 Tercel. It's rather unusual that someone would go to the trouble of spiffing up one of these older econo-wagons. In the video he mentions the generous cargo capacity of the car. I turned my Tercel 4x4 wagon into a 2-seat ca...
by Ace
Thu Mar 09, 2023 1:09 pm
Forum: Tercel 4WD Repair Questions
Topic: Window regulator
Replies: 4
Views: 3711

Re: Window regulator

I've had my 1983 Tercel since 1984. The driver's door regulator (the 'scissors' mechanism) is something that I have to lube every so often in later years because it gets stiff and some people just force them until they break. And for that reason, good secondhand replacements may be scarce. I ended u...
by Ace
Thu Mar 09, 2023 11:48 am
Forum: Tercel 4WD Repair Questions
Topic: Differential compatability questions
Replies: 9
Views: 4899

Re: Differential compatability questions

do you notice any symptoms while driving, LBC? I've noticed lots of rotational play in probably all of the t4's I've had and wondered about it, but once I replaced all the worn front end stuff I didn't notice any clunks or anything like that. So I think it might be normal, or at least acceptable. I...
by Ace
Tue Aug 22, 2017 11:19 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Wondering about different axle ratios on Tercels
Replies: 5
Views: 2674

Re: Wondering about different axle ratios on Tercels

Since my older 1983 Tercel has the taller 3.73 final drive ratio, I'm thinking it's not a good candidate to try taller tires. I've always gone with the standard size 155/80R-13 tires and I guess I'll stay with them.
by Ace
Tue Aug 22, 2017 11:08 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Engine noise
Replies: 12
Views: 3474

Re: Engine noise

I used to have a 'tick' in my Tercel motor which had me concerned until I decided it was the fuel pump. The fuel pump runs off the camshaft so it's a slower rate of 'tick' than other engine faults. Eventually I had to change the fuel pump when it developed a fuel leak and I haven't had the noise sin...
by Ace
Tue Aug 22, 2017 10:37 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Genesis of the Tercel 4wd found!
Replies: 8
Views: 2724

Re: Genesis of the Tercel 4wd found!

In 1980-81 I drove a newer AMC Eagle for a few hundred miles, borrowed out of the company motor pool. I tried it out in some sand dunes near North Platte and got it stuck but dug it out myself. Another time I drove it across Nebraska when I-80 had bunches of snow, got over-confident and spun out dri...
by Ace
Sat Jun 24, 2017 7:21 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Wondering about different axle ratios on Tercels
Replies: 5
Views: 2674

Wondering about different axle ratios on Tercels

I'm interested to hear comments about the different (factory) differential ratios on 4x4 Tercels and how it affected drive-ability and economy etc, especially from those people who have driven both versions. From the archives here: the '83-84 Tercel4wd with manual trans has 3.73:1 diff ratios front ...
by Ace
Thu Jun 22, 2017 10:09 am
Forum: Cars for sale
Topic: '85 Van AT on CL in SF, CA
Replies: 10
Views: 3672

Re: '85 Van AT on CL in SF, CA

That's a nice clean practical van. Does anyone here have personal experience with those? Wondering about how they drive etc. I wonder if "new tubes" means new radiator and water hoses. Or exhaust pipes? That's odd lingo. I was looking to buy a van during an extended visit in Australia eigh...
by Ace
Tue Jun 13, 2017 11:08 am
Forum: Tercel 4WD Repair Questions
Topic: valve cover nut torque
Replies: 3
Views: 1443

Re: valve cover nut torque

I tighten the valve cover nuts firmly by hand with a socket on a screwdriver-type handle. It's too easy to over-torque them with a wrench. The valve cover gaskets have to be replaced periodically because they eventually lose their elasticity for sealing. I don't like to put adhesive sealant on those...