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I looked around my spare parts hoard and couldn't find my original butchered vacuum advance housing that I took apart. I assume I threw it out when I replaced it with a working spare from another distributor (I think I remember buying a distributor off ebay since there was something wrong with mine ...

Man, that was so long ago, I forgot all about it. I think I maybe used a needle-nose vise grip. At least that's what I'd use now. I'd probably use some kind of very fine-tipped flat head screwdriver to help pry it up. I'm not sure what happened eventually with that distributor vacuum advance. I do r...

We've had it here for years, but I don't remember exactly when it started. The govt. info says it has slightly less heat energy, but that is partially made up for by its easier combustion. I never made any adjustments to the carb. To try and compensate for it by changing the air-fuel mix (which is f...

The regular gas here in Canada is 87 octane with 10% ethanol. My tercels run fine with it. I assume it's the same in the US. In hotter places, there may be more of a problem with the fuel vaporizing easier in the lines from the ethanol, but we've been through a few heat waves here over the years (30...

I'd also check the vacuum lines shown in red to make sure they are connected and that they aren't deteriorated: vacuum.jpg That is vacuum coming from the manifold (basically from when the engine is at idle) that is activated when the engine is warm. So any leaks there would cause a rough idle when t...

Here's the instructions from the service manual for checking the egr vacuum modulator: egr.jpg The reason I suspected the egr system is that (off the top of my head and I could be wrong) it is the only vacuum system that is activated only when the engine is warm (unless you have a feedback carb like...

I'd suspect a ruptured erg vacuum modulator diaphragm. The EGR system is only activated when the engine is warm. On my wagon this happened several years ago. It would idle fine when it was cold, but after the engine warmed up, it would often stall at red lights and idle low. I'd often have to keep m...

I've never understood how some provinces have vehicle inspections that fail you for having non-structural rust.

He also has a (sold) ad for a butchered Cressida with the same stereo in it so I assume that's the car it came from. I still have the stock unit from my '81 Tercel (not installed). It's just a mono AM radio unit.

How do you know it's running way too rich? I noticed from one of the above pictures of the engine bay that there aren't the vacuum switches that come with the feedback carb system (like my '84 has). That system has an oxygen sensor and a primitive computer that open and close an air bleed valve to k...

Have you looked down the carb to see if the throttle plate is being held open somewhat? Spray the whole assembly of linkages to make sure nothing is seized-up?

I don't know how high the idle would go if the idle speed adjustment screw was turned all the way in, but it sounds like something is holding the throttle open. I'd suspect a mechanical issue with the throttle plate/linkages instead of a vacuum leak with the rpm that high. Sort of like the fast idle...

By the way, I'm not sure what an AUC engine is. When I searched online I mostly got the engine code for a 1.0l VW engine. I doubt they'd install anything too exotic in the Tercel wagons. The idea of a Ford trans seems weird too. The automatics in the Tercel wagons had an A55 (2wd) or A55F (4WD) tran...

Fuel pumps for our Tercels can sometimes be bought on Rockauto for as little as $10, but I think the cheapest one on there right now is about $22 US. Most are in the $40 range. It takes about half an hour to replace one. They do sometimes suddenly fail without warning. My '81 Tercel was driving fine...

That's a 1980 hatchback too, which is my favorite of the Tercels. The 1980 had slightly different light trim and the Tercel logo on the side compared to the 81-82. It looks like the rear strut towers rusted out completely (which was a recall issue for the 1st gens). I'm trying to figure out where th...