Newb Question... looking at my first tercel 4Wd tomorrow...

[Andy4802]

hey gang... been lurking on the forum for a bit and thought i would join... looking at an 87 Tercel wagon 4wd SR5 tomorrow. it will be my first Tercel.. actually my first toyota (i'm a Jeep guy). The guy wants 450$ for it... needs a new rad or rad tank repaired and apparently it runs, shifts, stops, and steers great. Rust at the bottom of the doors and around the rear wheel wells but otherwise "solid". The idea is to buy it as a winter vehicle (daily driver) for commuting duties, and it may do some ice racing on the lake this winter too (we'll see).
i know for 450$ i cant really go wrong since its functional, but what problem areas do i need to look for? what parts do i need to check from a safety perspective as well?
thanks all!

[splatterdog]

As long as it drives ok,doesn't belch any smoke, and rust is not structural things aren't bad. Check for frame rust around the front lower control arms.

The FIRST thing I do is change tranny fluid to synthetic(manual trans). This is the weak link and the hardest part to find. All my "new" cars get new fluids front to back. My tercs get nothing but synthetic fluids.

Driver door window regulators can be a problem too. Also check sway bar bushings at the front control arms. They are almost always bad or getting there. Ignition coils fail around 20 years old/200K.

In subzero conditions ignition key cylinders can get sticky. The wife fried her starter by driving home from work in "crank".

If the blower doesn't have all speeds the resistor usually is shot.

I'm sure someone will think of something else.

[scotisha]

Hey ,

I found this useful when I bought my tercel:
http://www.tercel4wd.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=517

And then this was helpful in getting it running well:
http://www.tercel4wd.com/forums/viewtop ... f=7&t=2398

Get some good tires too .

Have fun!

S

[Petros]

Most issues are fairly easy to repair, in my experience these are the big ones to watch for: Burned exhaust valves, do a compression check at best, or at least pull each spark plug wire off in-turn while at fast idle and see speed drops the same for each. This is not too costly to fix your self, but it is a big job, and very costly if you have to pay a repair shop.

The other is the clutch, although it is a routine repair, because of the 4wd and the transaxle design it is a major job to replace the clutch. About $150-200 to do your self, as much as $600 to pay a shop. If the clutch is good it should last as much as 100k miles.

The other is the condition of the trans. If it all good, it may last as long as 300K+ miles. IF you can find one in a self service wrecking yard for $100 you are lucky, otherwise "normal" sourses for used trans want as much as the car is worth. And it is as big a job as changing the clutch (the clutch should be replaced while the trans in out anyway, unless it is near new).

Some people have also had issues with the rack and pinon steering, though it appears this is less common. It is a costly and difficult replacement. So if it steers good, and there are no leaks from the seals, you are likely good.

Also be aware of both the front and rear wheel bearings. I have had both go bad on the different Tercels I have owned. They are not that costly, but a shop has to press them off and on for you; meaning you need to take the axle out of the car and take it a machine shop to change it out. Or pay the big bucks to have someone else do the whole job. If bad you can usually hear it when you drive it on smooth road, makes roaring noise coming from one corner of the car when rolling.

Good luck