Overheated. Won't start. Fearing the worst. Please help...

[dlb]

the carburetor is backfiring a bit when I let off the gas. Usually killing the car

this can be caused by running too lean or having your timing advanced too far. stock timing on tercs is 5* BTDC but 10* BTDC is best because it runs cooler and is more responsive. be sure to disconnect and plug the vacuum advance when you check your timing, and then reconnect it afterward! as for running lean, you have a stock carb, right? i don't know if you can adjust the air/fuel mixture on them. someone else will have to pipe up here. if it's only doing it on deceleration, it might be a vacuum leak or incorrectly connected hose that leans out the mixture when you slow down. check your hoses for cracks and breaks.

[yotanewb]

Here are the pics. Hopefully they work. And keep in mind these were taken before I did a final sanding and cleaning...

[Petros]

Is it possible I did it wrong and it messed up the seal? I have pictures I'll try to post.

Based on the pictures you look just fine, the grooves are large long enough to affect the sealing of the gasket, and even if they were it would not allow coolant into the oil supply. The head and block look good as well. That is not the problem here.

Are you getting the milkshake like look in your motor oil (what coolant in the oil looks like)? Once you drive it some and get it good and hot it will drive any remaining moisture out. Not likely the block or head is cracked, but there is a small chance that it could be a crack allowing coolant into the oil.

AS for the backfiring, there are no carb mixture adjustments, so it has to be either a componet not working, or a vacuum leak. First thing I would do is verify your fuel cut off solenoids are working (easy test, see the FSM). IF they do not cut off fuel supply when you down shift it will allow fuel into the intake and possibly to cause back fire.

You should also verify all of the vacuum lines are connected properly where they are supposed to be using the vacuum diagram. And verify they are all in good condition.

[yotanewb]

AS for the backfiring, there are no carb mixture adjustments, so it has to be either a componet not working, or a vacuum leak. First thing I would do is verify your fuel cut off solenoids are working (easy test, see the FSM). IF they do not cut off fuel supply when you down shift it will allow fuel into the intake and possibly to cause back fire

Both fuel cut off solenoids seem to be working fine. So I'm thinking it might be a vac leak. As I mentioned before, the TVSV is broke and my quick fix may not be working all that great. Is there any way to take out the TVSV and run the necessary emissions components another way? And which components are actually necessary/beneficial to keep in?

I'm also beginning to think it might be getting too much fuel. One of the first times I tried starting it after installing the carb it started up and idled fine. But when I got out to look at it I noticed quite a bit of fuel leaking from the main fuel line. I had forgotten that I only tightened by hand. I turned off the car and rinsed everything off with a towel covering the carb. When I tightened the fuel line with a wrench and started it back up it started having the backfiring problem. Is there any way to adjust the fuel flow or is that only controlled by the fuel cut solenoids?

Petros- I know you said that there aren't and mixture adjustments, but the diagram on the FSM shows a mixture adjustment screw on the bottom, on the side nearest the EGR and EGR modulator? In the diagram it's covered by a plug, but there's no plug on mine. I haven't touched it yet (just found it on the picture), but I'm hoping I can decrease fuel input by adjusting it?

I apologize for the long, rambling posts but I have a lot of questions and I want to consider all of my options. Thanks again in advance!`

[dlb]

takza posted a method on fixing the TVSV:

http://www.tercel4wd.com/forums/viewtop ... 04&p=40727

[Petros]

That is the idle mixture adjustment screw, it is supposed to be set at the factory and than plugged. Looks like some wise guy thought he needed to change the idle mixture and removed the plug before you owned it. It will not harm anything to screw that in, the old way is to do it is by "ear"-it is easy. With the car warm and idling you screw it in until it starts to stumble, than screw it out counting each turn. When it starts to stumble again from being too rich you stop. Than you screw it back in exactly half the number of turns. It should run well there, but you can fine tune it in or out half a turn if necessary.

the car can also run with out the TVSV, you just have to by-pass it. You want the distributor vac advance to work all of the time, the TVSV will allow either advance or retard. If you study the vac diagram and the function of the TVSV you can just by pass the vac advance feature (connecting it to the source of vac directly) and than plug the others. I have been meaning to do that with mine but have not bothered yet.