just found the forum thought I'd say hi!
My wife and I own a beloved '86 tercel 4WD wagon named "the turtle" because it's green and about as fast as one. We bought it for $2800 five years ago and it's body condition is still rust free and solid. it's trusty and cheap to run even if we have to run 92 octane in it to keep it from pinging.
I installed a set of those lovely plaid SR5 seats from a friend's wagon after it died(he drives another 4WD wagon) last summer so we're riding in style now!
Anyway, greetings all!
I installed a set of those lovely plaid SR5 seats from a friend's wagon after it died(he drives another 4WD wagon) last summer so we're riding in style now!
Anyway, greetings all!
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- Top Notch Member
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2015 10:25 am
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- Highest Ranking Member
- Posts: 1626
- Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2004 9:14 am
- Location: Victoria BC, Canada
Welcome to the site! Good to have you here.864wd wrote: My wife and I own a beloved '86 tercel 4WD wagon named "the turtle" because it's green and about as fast as one. We bought it for $2800 five years ago and it's body condition is still rust free and solid. it's trusty and cheap to run even if we have to run 92 octane in it to keep it from pinging.
I installed a set of those lovely plaid SR5 seats from a friend's wagon after it died(he drives another 4WD wagon) last summer so we're riding in style now!
Anyway, greetings all!
Current:
91 LJ78 Landcruiser EX5
95 A32 Maxima SE
Former:
87 AW11 MR2 Smallport 4AGZE
93 Taurus SHO ATX
86 AL25 SR5 6spd 4wd
90 AE92 GTS
82 KP61 SR5
85 MX73
87 AE86 GTS 4AGZE
85 AE86 GTS
83 AL21
91 LJ78 Landcruiser EX5
95 A32 Maxima SE
Former:
87 AW11 MR2 Smallport 4AGZE
93 Taurus SHO ATX
86 AL25 SR5 6spd 4wd
90 AE92 GTS
82 KP61 SR5
85 MX73
87 AE86 GTS 4AGZE
85 AE86 GTS
83 AL21
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- Advanced Member
- Posts: 92
- Joined: Wed Nov 10, 2004 1:38 pm
- My tercel:: 86 Toyota Tercel 4WD StaWag
- Location: Getchell, Wa
Welcome. I have an "86" 4WD wagon as well and love it. I have 247,000 miles (395,000 km) on it now. Have you tried the "Seafoam" treatment to quiet down the pinging. I just did mine last night and it seems to work wonders. I had some uneven compression before Seafoam and after Seafoam all cylinders are at 180 PSI. From what I read in the repair forum, the Seafoam (a pint bottle of stuff from Schucks) breaks up the carbon build-up in the engine. I does make a smoky cloud when you do it so beware. There are a lot of knowledgable people in the forum. I'll bet you can get some hints on quieting the pinging and turning the turtle into a rabbit. I commute 90 miles round trip to Seattle daily and easily keep up with 65-70 MPH traffic, and get 27-30 MPG.
Gotta love these cars!!
Gotta love these cars!!
"86" Tercel 4wd Daily vehicle
"87" Tercel 4wd Son's car
"87" Tercel 4wd Auto- Spare car
"83" Tercel 4wd Extra spare car
3- "83" Tercel 4wd parts cars
1- "85" Tercel 4wd parts car
"87" Tercel 4wd Son's car
"87" Tercel 4wd Auto- Spare car
"83" Tercel 4wd Extra spare car
3- "83" Tercel 4wd parts cars
1- "85" Tercel 4wd parts car
Thanks for the replies, I don't think Seafoam is available here in BC, but we have run similar combustion cleaners through and it did help a lot. At one point we were having to use 94 octane, it was pinging so bad. A mechanic used a lighted scope to look down into the bores and it was very evident that there was significant coking going on, so he ran a bottle of cleaner through. Unfortunately it killed the cat convertor in short order so that needed to be replaced(we need to run one here in Vancouver in order to pass the emissions test).
The turtle does run much better after a long highway journey.
Presently the car has 210,000 kms on it, other than a noisy lifter, which has been that way since we've owned it, it's a healthy beast! But it sure gets a workout on the steep mountain inclines here in BC.
cheers
Ron
The turtle does run much better after a long highway journey.
Presently the car has 210,000 kms on it, other than a noisy lifter, which has been that way since we've owned it, it's a healthy beast! But it sure gets a workout on the steep mountain inclines here in BC.
cheers
Ron
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- Highest Ranking Member
- Posts: 1626
- Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2004 9:14 am
- Location: Victoria BC, Canada
We should setup a Lower mainland/Vancouver Island meet one of these days! I think there are about four of us from the area attending this forum now. This board is growing fast. It would be good to meet some other Tercel 4wd enthusiasts. I used to go over to the mainland all the time with my Corolla GTS for Toyota sports car meets.
Current:
91 LJ78 Landcruiser EX5
95 A32 Maxima SE
Former:
87 AW11 MR2 Smallport 4AGZE
93 Taurus SHO ATX
86 AL25 SR5 6spd 4wd
90 AE92 GTS
82 KP61 SR5
85 MX73
87 AE86 GTS 4AGZE
85 AE86 GTS
83 AL21
91 LJ78 Landcruiser EX5
95 A32 Maxima SE
Former:
87 AW11 MR2 Smallport 4AGZE
93 Taurus SHO ATX
86 AL25 SR5 6spd 4wd
90 AE92 GTS
82 KP61 SR5
85 MX73
87 AE86 GTS 4AGZE
85 AE86 GTS
83 AL21
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- Highest Ranking Member
- Posts: 1626
- Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2004 9:14 am
- Location: Victoria BC, Canada