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jpkeels · Post by **jpkeels** » Sun May 22, 2005 10:53 pm

Hope this qualifies. I just joined this forum out of interest. I recently purchased an 85 Toyota Tercel Wagon and I do like it a lot. I have experience with another car that is similar. The one I have though is just a front wheel drive model with 5 speed manual transmission. Actually, the guy that sold it to me said that he once knew Clack and Click, Tom and Ray Magliozzi of the car talk program on NPR.

Humm, I had this guy fix an axle shaft on the driver side that was gone and some other minor things. Also, the AC compressor was changed out. The engine seems to run pretty good. It certainly idles better than the White automatic 4WD model that had been on loan to me for a while. It seems the carb in these cars is problematic although mine seems to idle fairly well though it misses just a little at idle but nothign too bad. It burns some oil it seems but I just check i every couple of days and top it off. Also the engine has a knocking sound (hope its not a piston rod, wrist pin, rod bearing, etc) which is about the only thing that is bothersome. This guy did some work ont he engine apparently to replace some burnt valves and apparently the valves were adjusted while the head was off. I don't really know if they checked the compression on each cylinder or checked the piston rings for blow by etc.

Nonetheless, I am pretty impressed with the car I bought. Drives nicely and about the only weakness is lack of power. I am patience enough that usually its not a big thing. The 5 speed definitely helps vs the automatic model I had drove for almost a year though. I also got 32MPG mileage on a trip to Anderson, SC from Asheville, NC where I live which I thought was impressive.

The other automatic model that had been on loan was only getting 20Mpg, sometimes evenless (aside from the idle problem it had).

Well, I know this is a long post. But it is my first.

I have been reading the forum here for a while and impressed with the information and knowledge of people posting. Very interesting to say the least.

Typrus · Post by **Typrus** » Sun May 22, 2005 11:27 pm

HOORAY FOR CAR TALK!
Anyway, check compression. You might have to rebore and go up a size or 2. Take a long, stout screwdriver and press the metal part to the block and the handle to your ear while it is running (WATCH FOR THE BELTS AND OTHER MOVING PARTS!!!) and listen to various parts. Valve cover. Cyl head. Block. If you can get it on a level lift (DON'T RUN ON AN INCLINED LIFT! THE SUMP MIGHT STARVE!) then also listen to the lower block including the oil pan forward. This is a good method to locate abnormal clicks, clacks, whirrs, and moans.
Think of it this way. If the engine is ready to go (which I'm not saying it is) then you can always drop in a 4A-GE or just a 4A-C.

Good Luck!

clbolt · Post by **clbolt** » Mon May 23, 2005 12:00 am

Congrats on the purchase. My daily driver is an 86 2WD wagon (I've had 6 Tercel wagons, 4 4WDs and 2 2WD), as well as an 82 sedan. The 5 speed does make an amazing difference in the economy. The only automatic Tercel I ever had naxed out at 28mpg on long highway trips, but I've been able to easily hit 35mpg on the others.

As for the oil consumption, how many miles does your Tercel have on it? Mine has 264+k on it, and I've been running 20w50 plus at least a can of STP to keep the smoking at idle under control. It's also leaking oil from the head gasket, and the rear main seal just started leaking as well. I considered overhauling the current engine, but ended up buying a Delco-rebuilt 4AC instead. Once I get the engine swapped in my son's Probe, I'll get around to mine.

These old wagons are amazingly reliable, though. I brought this one out of retirement on December 1, and have managed to rack up 22k miles on it since then. Title problems with my Volvo 240 necessitated bringing it back, but the price of gas made me decide to fix it up and keep it in full-time service.

Anyway, it's good to see another 2WD driver on the board.

takza · Post by **takza** » Mon May 23, 2005 5:29 am

Typrus wrote: Take a long, stout screwdriver and press the metal part to the block and the handle to your ear while it is running (WATCH FOR THE BELTS AND OTHER MOVING PARTS!!!) and listen to various parts.

NOT a good thing to use something solid like that....I've done it but don't anymore. Could end up with a hole in your head in place of an ear.

Better is a section of vac tubing or similar. You get a little better location on the noise...cause the block tends to transmit the sound and it's picked up easier when using a solid object...but...you don't know from where.

I have an old plastic stethoscope maybe used by nurses for training or something...works pretty well.

Typrus · Post by **Typrus** » Mon May 23, 2005 4:52 pm

Why would you have a hole versus ear... You don't hold it to your head while you move...?

jpkeels · Post by **jpkeels** » Mon May 23, 2005 5:27 pm

Hello again. Well this one has about 197,000 miles on it. As I said yesterday, the head has been off recently and the head gasket was replaced, valve cover gasket and some valves were replaced.

As forthe stethescope idea, I willhave to try that sometime. I have also had the same thought about the replacing the engineif the 3A dies which it may not anytime soon. If it does I wanna put a standard 4A with a weber conversion carb on it. I think that would be ideal. It would give just a little more power thanthe 3A and probably run better with the weber carb on it. It would also keep things simple versus putting the more complex 4AGE 16 valve motor in it though 100+ hp does sound nice in a wagon that needs all the extra HP it can get. Still, I think the 4A would be nice with the weber carb conversion.

Humm, it may last for years using oil and knocking a little though. Who knows.

LOL

Time will tell. Last night I went to the store and the engine cut off on me as I was leaving the parking lot.. gave it gas and itdied. cranked some more and it did nothing. I let it sit for about 2 min andthen it fired up. It alsmot did this once last week. I am thinking that the fuel filter is probably clogged up and needs replacing (simple,cheap fix). Maybe also the line from the gas tank, maybe the fuel pump. Hummm, it ran quite a bit hotter driving back uphere to Asheville from Anderson, SC last night. Thats understandable asit is all up hill including several miles of interstate up a 6-7% grade that pulled me down to 3rd gear at 50MPH.

Great little car though.