Ford Cortina Mk3 with a Tercel Engine 3A Vacuum Leak

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DiNka
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My tercel:: I owna Cortina with a Tercel Engine 3A

Ford Cortina Mk3 with a Tercel Engine 3A Vacuum Leak

Post by DiNka »

Hey there :)

Well I own a Classic Cortina Mk3 That I bought for Restoration but shez running a Toyota 3A engine. Well the engine starts and all that but idles VERY poorly And has poor acceleration only way i can make the 3A idle decently with out rattling is around at least 1000RPM Once i Took off the Carb and cleaned the whole thing it seemed to be in good condition but it didn't solve any of the issue I was thinking if The Vacuum lines were not connected properly or not at all because i see lots of ports with out any Lines connected.. Anyways here is a pic to show you what I mean about the Vacuum's Please let me know if I should take any more pics.
Image
In this pic I've disconnected the Fuel in line to the Carb*

My blog on the restoration-http://resorationfromhell.blogspot.com/ ( More Pics of the Carb can be found here)
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Re: Ford Cortina Mk3 with a Tercel Engine 3A Vacuum Leak

Post by john »

Welcome! There are smarter people than me on this site but I can direct you to the "factory service manuel" on this site. It is located right above the "donate" button at the top of the page. Took me a day to find it the first time.

Go to the section that says "emissions". Click on it and then click on the part that says "component Layout". There is a pretty good diagram of the vacuum lines.

Your vehicle sounds very unique! Fixing the vacuum will sure make it idle smoother. The 3ac is a nice engine.

sincerely, john
DiNka
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Re: Ford Cortina Mk3 with a Tercel Engine 3A Vacuum Leak

Post by DiNka »

Hey John! Thanks for that and is this the link to it -
http://tercel4wd.com/fsm/1985T4WD.pdf

I couldn't find the one you told but i found this on a thread :)
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Re: Ford Cortina Mk3 with a Tercel Engine 3A Vacuum Leak

Post by john »

I tried your link and my screen froze. Look at the top of this page for our link. It is very small print, right on top of the Donate button.
DiNka
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My tercel:: I owna Cortina with a Tercel Engine 3A

Re: Ford Cortina Mk3 with a Tercel Engine 3A Vacuum Leak

Post by DiNka »

I can't see anything like that on top mate :/
http://i.imgur.com/0DPJs.jpg

Ps john this is where I found the link -
https://tercel4wd.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=8323
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Re: Ford Cortina Mk3 with a Tercel Engine 3A Vacuum Leak

Post by Petros »

Welcome to the list DiNka!

That engine is a mess, there is no way you will get it to idle/run correctly in that condition. Where are you located btw, down under?

Anyway, you will either have to track down all the missing parts of the fuel management/emissions controls systems, or work out a way to by-pass them. You might also consider installing a Weber carb to eliminate need for the vacuum system, kind of costly way to go and it too takes some messing around. Some of the vac systems on the carb/engine are important for good drivability with the factory carb, that is why many will switch to the Weber if they are going to "de-vac" the engine. You can make the stock carb work without all the vac equipment, but you will have to study the systems and see what you need to leave connected and what not.

First thing you must do is cap off all of the vacuum line ports with either caps made from a short section of vac line with a screw in it, or go buy several packages of "test caps" from an auto parts store. In the FSM in the emissions control chapter there are good explanations of what each system does and from there you can figure out how to by-pass them. You can completely remove and cap off the EGR system, and if you have the engine with the High Altitude Compensator (HAC), that too can just be removed the line capped off. All of the lines that went to the vacuum advance on the distributor can also be capped off, later once you sort it out you might connected up the advance line only, but the others can go and it will still run fine without any of them working.

I can also see that the throttle dash pot push rod is disconnected, this slows the last bit of travel of the throttle plate so it does not slam shut (spiking the emissions when it does), it should run okay without it but you will have to have the idle speed a bit high (like 800-900 rpm). The choke opener is disconnected as well, this device opens the choke when you stomp on the throttle, so the choke does not kill the engine, when the engine is cold. Once the engine is warm and choke is open it will not affect engine operation. There are two electric solenoids, one that cut the fuel supply off when you down shift to prevent excess fuel from getting drawing into the engine, the other shuts off the fuel supply when you turn off the engine to prevent it from dieseling. with the computer and the appropriate thermal and vacuum switches neither of these systems will operate. The same is true with the low speed mixture control, this a device that sits on the right fender that bleeds air under the carb during low speed operation to control the mixture, again with the right sensors and the ECU this will not operate properly. Not sure of the implications of not having this in operations, I guess it might run a bit rich, which should not harm drivablity.

There is a vacuum valve on the intake manifold in front of the carb that is busted, this is the source of the vacuum for all the vac operated devices. You will need to replace this with a plug if you want to stop the vacuum leaks, or with the correct fitting if you want to restore any of the vac system.

You should be able to make it all work reasonably well, but you will have to do some homework and some experimenting. Good luck.

When I was in high school in 1974 a friend of mine bought his first car that was a Cortina (1964 I think), in Torrance California. It was fun to drive, but that poor engine was beat, I helped him with it as much as I knew about cars than, but he eventually sold it since we determined the engine needed a complete overhaul (compression was real low in one cylinder, and not good in the others).
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Re: Ford Cortina Mk3 with a Tercel Engine 3A Vacuum Leak

Post by john »

Hi DiNka,

I'm not always so good with technology. the tercel page you have looks different than mine. The page I go to has a Dark Navy blue banner at the top. I do not know how to link you to that page, but I bet one of our 4wd brothers up in the great white frozen north can explain how to get there once their fingers thaw!
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Re: Ford Cortina Mk3 with a Tercel Engine 3A Vacuum Leak

Post by ARCHINSTL »

DiNka -
Welcome to the Club!
A note - our FSM is for North American cars, whether USA CA or USA Federal, or Canadian users.
If you are in OZ or NZ, your emissions layout/comnponents may be different - dunno. Perhaps Mattel can verify this - he is the active OZ member, although currently in Italy.
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DiNka
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My tercel:: I owna Cortina with a Tercel Engine 3A

Re: Ford Cortina Mk3 with a Tercel Engine 3A Vacuum Leak

Post by DiNka »

Petros wrote:Welcome to the list DiNka!

That engine is a mess, there is no way you will get it to idle/run correctly in that condition. Where are you located btw, down under?

Anyway, you will either have to track down all the missing parts of the fuel management/emissions controls systems, or work out a way to by-pass them. You might also consider installing a Weber carb to eliminate need for the vacuum system, kind of costly way to go and it too takes some messing around. Some of the vac systems on the carb/engine are important for good drivability with the factory carb, that is why many will switch to the Weber if they are going to "de-vac" the engine. You can make the stock carb work without all the vac equipment, but you will have to study the systems and see what you need to leave connected and what not.

First thing you must do is cap off all of the vacuum line ports with either caps made from a short section of vac line with a screw in it, or go buy several packages of "test caps" from an auto parts store. In the FSM in the emissions control chapter there are good explanations of what each system does and from there you can figure out how to by-pass them. You can completely remove and cap off the EGR system, and if you have the engine with the High Altitude Compensator (HAC), that too can just be removed the line capped off. All of the lines that went to the vacuum advance on the distributor can also be capped off, later once you sort it out you might connected up the advance line only, but the others can go and it will still run fine without any of them working.

I can also see that the throttle dash pot push rod is disconnected, this slows the last bit of travel of the throttle plate so it does not slam shut (spiking the emissions when it does), it should run okay without it but you will have to have the idle speed a bit high (like 800-900 rpm). The choke opener is disconnected as well, this device opens the choke when you stomp on the throttle, so the choke does not kill the engine, when the engine is cold. Once the engine is warm and choke is open it will not affect engine operation. There are two electric solenoids, one that cut the fuel supply off when you down shift to prevent excess fuel from getting drawing into the engine, the other shuts off the fuel supply when you turn off the engine to prevent it from dieseling. with the computer and the appropriate thermal and vacuum switches neither of these systems will operate. The same is true with the low speed mixture control, this a device that sits on the right fender that bleeds air under the carb during low speed operation to control the mixture, again with the right sensors and the ECU this will not operate properly. Not sure of the implications of not having this in operations, I guess it might run a bit rich, which should not harm drivablity.

There is a vacuum valve on the intake manifold in front of the carb that is busted, this is the source of the vacuum for all the vac operated devices. You will need to replace this with a plug if you want to stop the vacuum leaks, or with the correct fitting if you want to restore any of the vac system.

You should be able to make it all work reasonably well, but you will have to do some homework and some experimenting. Good luck.

When I was in high school in 1974 a friend of mine bought his first car that was a Cortina (1964 I think), in Torrance California. It was fun to drive, but that poor engine was beat, I helped him with it as much as I knew about cars than, but he eventually sold it since we determined the engine needed a complete overhaul (compression was real low in one cylinder, and not good in the others).
Thanks a lot for that info mate I will look into the pdf I downloaded, I DIY most of the things as I'm learning Automobile engineering in the near future and way I took more clear pics and I marked the lines that seem to be odd that needs capping and would love to know what they do :)

Ps I'm From Sri Lanka and as you said I will have to work hard and find by passes coz this has no ECU what so ever and I drove it 100Km straight in one go and I only pumped 12Liters of Gas.

Image

Image

I've seen some huge pipes going some where near the Carb in some pics and Vids I saw Mine has nothing and some time i see Spit of engine oil coming out of it.
Image

These Needs capping right and what are they
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Image

Image

Image

Image

The Wire Is broken I guess and What does this solenoid do ? Keep the idle right ?
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Image

Am i right ?
Image

What the hell is this :idea:
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What is this ? This has NO cap as well-
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Whats this and yeah no cap
Image

EDIT-
Some pics of the carb after I removed for cleaning some time back
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Image
Image
If you look at this pic it has a white and a Black wire but the white is grounded ? and the Black needs a Positive I suppose
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Cheers.
Last edited by DiNka on Sun Jan 13, 2013 1:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
TURTCEL
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Re: Ford Cortina Mk3 with a Tercel Engine 3A Vacuum Leak

Post by TURTCEL »

Gee Wiz, what a freakin nightmare. I thought I had vacuum leak problems. Be patient and walk away from the job if it starts to get frustrating. I have found that jobs like the one you are dealing with can actually cause people to start drinking...laughs. Best luck to you man.

Peace
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Re: Ford Cortina Mk3 with a Tercel Engine 3A Vacuum Leak

Post by DiNka »

TURTCEL wrote:Gee Wiz, what a freakin nightmare. I thought I had vacuum leak problems. Be patient and walk away from the job if it starts to get frustrating. I have found that jobs like the one you are dealing with can actually cause people to start drinking...laughs. Best luck to you man.

Peace
HAHA xD Not gonna give up that easy mate :twisted:
DiNka
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My tercel:: I owna Cortina with a Tercel Engine 3A

Re: Ford Cortina Mk3 with a Tercel Engine 3A Vacuum Leak

Post by DiNka »

I couldn't wait till the replies so went ahead and made my own Vacuue caps :D Wollaaaaaaa Engine smoother I could feel it now time to go a lil ride soon after I get the Tyres :D

Image
Image
Image
Image

Not sure Till I run her though Hope I didn't close a unwantted vacuum :D
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Re: Ford Cortina Mk3 with a Tercel Engine 3A Vacuum Leak

Post by TURTCEL »

I forgot to finish my statement when I said if the job gots frustrating it's best to just walk away...and take a break so you can come back to it after all has settled down. Things sometimes go right together if you just take a break and come back to it.

I don't give up either, I am stubborn when it comes to cars...they will not win.

Good luck on that job.

Peace
1985 Tercel 4wd SR5 Wagon, WEBER Carb, Brown (TURTCEL)
1988 Corolla DLX All-Trac Wagon, 4 speed AT, Silver (Wife's new car)
1993 Ford Escort Wagon LX, 5 Speed, Smurf Blue (Smurfette)...selling
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Re: Ford Cortina Mk3 with a Tercel Engine 3A Vacuum Leak

Post by dlb »

welcome, dinka.

i want to help but don't even know where to begin. i think the best place to start is for you to read the emission section in the FSM that was mentioned earlier in the thread. it will explain some basic stuff like which devices should be hooked up to what, ie the vacuum advance unit on the dizzy should have the lower port hooked up to ported vacuum and the upper one hooked up to manifold vacuum. if you're not sure what that means, just look at the diagrams in the emission section and it will show where everything goes. you just have to figure out what emission stuff your car has, which you can do by looking at it and then comparing to the devices listed in the emission section of the FSM.

in the future, can you post smaller pics? some are so large that it's hard to see things in context. that will make it easier to help you out.

12 L of fuel for 100 km of driving isn't very good mileage but with so many vacuum leaks and disconnected things, it's at least a testament to how these cars will continue running no matter what.
Last edited by dlb on Sun Jan 13, 2013 10:17 am, edited 1 time in total.
DiNka
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Re: Ford Cortina Mk3 with a Tercel Engine 3A Vacuum Leak

Post by DiNka »

TURTCEL wrote:I forgot to finish my statement when I said if the job gots frustrating it's best to just walk away...and take a break so you can come back to it after all has settled down. Things sometimes go right together if you just take a break and come back to it.

I don't give up either, I am stubborn when it comes to cars...they will not win.

Good luck on that job.

Peace
True that I always do that I'm working on the engine at time and when I'm fedup I'm onto the tinkering etc
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