.....acetone used in a Tercel 4WD?

[Lateer]

O.k.
The sparks are normal. We can rule out the head gasket or oil entering the intakes by some method.

The foamy oil is either additive poor oil or fuel in the oil.
Change it and see what happens.

You should have some air coming out of the PCV lines, and from what you've said with air coming out of the valve cover line and suction on the carb line makes me think that your PCV valve is buggered.

I think personally you take the car to a mechanic and get him to reset the mixture and carb using a gas analyser. And make sure he doesn't set it to 2k idle...

[takza]

My guess is that you hooked something up wrong.

Need to get organized and methodical about it...use the FSM to be sure your gas lines are connected right..use compressed air to blow them out again.

You are getting gas...but it might not be getting back to the tank.

Might try running with the gas cap loose by 1/2 turn?

Make sure you have no gas leaks all the way back to the tank.


Two main symptoms....uses too much gas .... has a lack of power.

Fuel and/or carb problems......ignition or cam timing????

Make sure ALL plugs are firing?


If it runs it isn't the head...study the FSM...see how things work.

Read it like a novel...with PICTURES......

[tercel4wdrules]

Where is the float bowl sight glass?

If you remove the air cleaner assembly you'll be able to see it better. It's on the front side of the carb.

Here's how it looks like:



I guess now you know how it feels not being able to go more than 80 mph downhill. I know, it sucks, welcome to the 83-84 Tercel 4WD club!

[Typrus]

(Smiles) Thanks dude. That might be helpful a long time down the road.

[Chris]

Reading about your problem a few things come to mind....

Take a compression reading on all four cylinders with the engine warm. Do this twice. Make sure the throttle and choke are open when you do the test. If any readings are low squirt about a tablespoon of oil in the cylinder and take another reading. This is what you call a wet and dry compression test. Record all readings and post them.

As mentioned before, check the fuel level in the carb thru the sight glass.

You mentioned that when you had the timing light hooked up that "the mark stays aligned the same through revving, with a little wobble both ways". That would tell me that the centrifugal (mechanical) advance is not working. The specs for the mechanical advance are:
Engine RPM (Advance in degrees); 1100 (Advance begins); 1600 (6.0); 2834 (10.; 5200 (23); 6000 (22.2).
These are from the 86 FSM with a 19030-15060 distributor. Most Tercels have specs that are very close to that.
Remove and plug the vacuum lines to the distributor. Have your timing light and a tach hooked up and take readings of the advance at the different RPMs. Again, record these and post them. Lacking ignition advance would account for poor power and fuel mileage.

After you run these test we should be able to help you move on to the next step.

Hope this helps
Chris

[Typrus]

Its sitting in the parking lot of Import Specialists. $40.28 for a diagnosis. We'll see what I can and can not fix myself when they get back to me Monday.

Does the flot bowl have enough mass to bend in a sudden stop, like the crash I had?