Tercel doesn't like the -40 C weather...

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scotisha
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Location: Victoria, BC

Tercel doesn't like the -40 C weather...

Post by scotisha »

Hey all,

I am having some problems starting the Tercel. I was out for Friday beers last week and had way to many so I left the Tercel at the pub. Unfortunately, it went down to -45 C that night and I hadn't plugged the oil-pan heater in (it was supposed to get cold on the Sunday night). So I went back the next day, jumped it, and it wouldn't start. So I plugged in the oil-pan heater, took the battery home to warm up, and left it for a few hours. I put another battery (warm and charged) and it still wouldn't start. So after a week of -30ish and trying to start it everyday, it still won't start :(. The starter is working fine and the engine turns over a few times once and a while.

So it is supposed to warm up to -15 C on Sunday and I am wondering if there are any other areas looking at? I am wondering if a fuel line has frozen too. It looks like there is some coolant leaking out (a few drops of pink fluid) too but is has always done that.

Thanks for the help!

Scotty
Driver: '86 4wd Tercel Wagon
Fun: '98 BMW M3 sedan

Now I have the best of both worlds!
jimpomm
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Location: ithaca,ny

Post by jimpomm »

If your fuel line is frozen you have to tow the car to a warm garage. Have you tried a shot of starting fluid in the carb? If it runs for a couple seconds and then dies,sounds like no fuel.
Typrus
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Location: Colorado

Post by Typrus »

Curious as to why you have pink coolant in a Tercel?
RIP 10-07- 1984 Toyota Tercel SR5 4wd Wagen 6 speed

RIP 04-05- 1986 Toyota Tercel SR5 4wd Wagen 6 speed

1st Terc- 1987 Tercel SR5 4wd Wagon 6-speed, Sadly cubed

1985 Tercel Standard 4wd Wagon w/ 3-speed auto, Living a happy life in Boulder last I knew
Mac
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Post by Mac »

he probably switched to long life coolant, i did.
Tercel 4WD "POWER WAGOON" with 4A-C
aka: "no powa steering tercel, oh oh oh!"
mods: ignition at 10 DBTDC and 90 octane gas.
Typrus
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Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 4:43 pm
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Post by Typrus »

The long-life I use is green...
RIP 10-07- 1984 Toyota Tercel SR5 4wd Wagen 6 speed

RIP 04-05- 1986 Toyota Tercel SR5 4wd Wagen 6 speed

1st Terc- 1987 Tercel SR5 4wd Wagon 6-speed, Sadly cubed

1985 Tercel Standard 4wd Wagon w/ 3-speed auto, Living a happy life in Boulder last I knew
scotisha
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Joined: Thu Jun 22, 2006 9:07 pm
Location: Victoria, BC

Post by scotisha »

Yep it is pink. It was that colour when I got it so I am assuming that it is the right fluid.

So I tried to start the tercel and no go. I am think that it is a frozen fuel line. I put some fuel line antifreeze in, but does that work when the line is already frozen?

I think that I am going to tow it home and then warm it up with a heater and a blanket.
Driver: '86 4wd Tercel Wagon
Fun: '98 BMW M3 sedan

Now I have the best of both worlds!
takza
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Location: Tibetan plateau

Post by takza »

I think that usually they recommend putting the vehicle in a warm garage...cause it might be a fuel line under the car? Try the starting fluid idea...if it goes...it's no fuel?
Give a boy a gun-give a biatch a cell phone-and pretty soon you almost got yourself a police state.

Orwell said: War is peace! Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength...

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scotisha
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Location: Victoria, BC

Post by scotisha »

Success! The tercel is at home!

Last night I put in some real fuel line antifreeze (I think I put too much in though) and today it warmed up to -10 C. I had it jumped and was trying it with a little gas for about 15 min with a few half-cranks every little while when I thought, "f**k it" and hammered the gas pedal. I had it floored for about 15 seconds when it finally gave a full crank. I kept on givin' er the gas and it eventually fired up! It looked like someone had started a diesel truck with all the black snow near the exhaust. I had to use the gas pedal to keep it from stalling for a while but eventually it had a really rough idle going.

I started driving it home after 30 or so minutes of good idling. After stalling out a few times I made it home. On the drive the engine would die out and a whole bunch of smoke would come out the tail pipe and then the engine would fire up again.

I have it running outside right now at a nice idle. I am going to take it for a spin to see how it runs. Hopefully it doesn't get that cold here again!
Driver: '86 4wd Tercel Wagon
Fun: '98 BMW M3 sedan

Now I have the best of both worlds!
scotisha
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Joined: Thu Jun 22, 2006 9:07 pm
Location: Victoria, BC

Post by scotisha »

So the test drive went well. It drives the same as before but I it doesn't idle anymore. Normally if it's cold when I first start it up it has a high-idle and when I tap the gas it goes into a lower idle. Now it stalls out in the low idle. How to I advance my idle (i think that is what it is called)?

Thanks!
Driver: '86 4wd Tercel Wagon
Fun: '98 BMW M3 sedan

Now I have the best of both worlds!
takza
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Post by takza »

I'd take a look at how the choke is acting...sypmtoms of it not opening up?
Give a boy a gun-give a biatch a cell phone-and pretty soon you almost got yourself a police state.

Orwell said: War is peace! Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength...

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scotisha
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Joined: Thu Jun 22, 2006 9:07 pm
Location: Victoria, BC

Post by scotisha »

It is working fine now! I guess that it just needed to warm up to get the juices flowing.

Thanks for all the help guys!
Driver: '86 4wd Tercel Wagon
Fun: '98 BMW M3 sedan

Now I have the best of both worlds!
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