1989 Toyota Tercel

1989 Toyota Tercel questions and answers

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Q: 1989 Tercel, high idle at stop?
My 1989 Toyota Tercel hatchback 5 speed starts fine, then after a few minutes it starts to idle really high, I'd tell you the RPMs but it doesn't have the meter (good call Toyota) It drives just fine except at stops where the engine starts going nuts and would most likely overheat if I sit in too much traffic. I know it can be a million things wrong but does anyone have a suggestions as to what it most likely is? Also any fixes I can try before bringing it in? And about how much will it cost?

A: Take a look under the hood for a lose vacuum hose around the intake manifold (under the air cleaner). You might see if the throttle is getting stuck just a little open and if it is replace it or put on a little stronger spring. With the car off, have somebody pump the gas petal a couple times to find the end of the cable, I'm not sure if an 89 has a carburetor or fuel injection but the cable will go to either one and you'll see where you can rev it up from under the hood and just open it a little and let go letting it snap back to the closed position and let off lightly to see if it's sticking. See if you can just "stomp" (open/close real fast) the gas peddle when it does it while your driving to see if it stops and if it does fix the spring.

Q: Which car and which engine should i use??
I am looking to buy a car with limited budget. So I wanted to buy an old Toyota and then change the engine. I dont know much about the actual details of an engine swap and therefore need help!! My options are either the Toyota EE90 or the 1989 Corolla II/Tercel. Both are fairly cheap so that I can have some money left over to upgrade the engine. I wanted to know which car would be better and more economical if I wanted to put in a good engine? Can I put in newer engine into these old cars? What are the things I would need to replace if I did put in a better engine? If I the car I bought had a carburetor engine and I put in an EFI engine, such as the 4AGE, will there be problems? Sorry for all these questions, but I hope someone out there can help me!! I am not in the US! I did consider buying a newer car. But won't it be more interesting if could get an old car to run really well?! Say I did buy the old car, what are are my chances given the above conditions.

A: There's a differing of our thinking here, so here's a different view you may not have considered... As far as i am concerned, Old Toyota = RWD so pretty much anything pre-1984, with the exeption of the revered AE86, and the larger sedans like the Cressida. (I'm not even going to mention the Supra, because of the limit of budget... what IS your limit by the way?) Being older, your money will get you more car, or a better condition car, than if you look at something newer. True, you'd need to shop around a bit more, but i consider it to be truly worth it. The range of engines to swap in is much greater and more varied with the front enghine rear drive platform... Working with a KE50-70 corolla or even a corona of the same age, the options are almost endless for engine transplants. The more common of which, and a tried and true path, is the 4A engine, but I'm of the belief that one could, if they were so inclined, fit a 3SGTE out of a celica GT4, minus the front diff and drive. I'm familiar with a few corollas who have slotted in R series engines and T series engines out of the mustang body celicas too... Also, for something more left of field, a 3Y from a hiace for a happy 2 litres that's used to high load from carrying around hundreds of kilos of people in the 7 seats... I've seen these engines run under the most ludicris of conditions for well over 400 thousand kms. One of my friends used one in his paddock basher, and it just won't die. Going a 4Y will also net you an additional .2 litres to play with. More for the torque than the power really, but we all know torque is where it's at... Looking outside the toyota stable offers some good cheap options too... has anyone ever looked at a CA18DE or DET??? They are practically thrown away these days to make way for SR20's, so finding one with associated running gear would be a sinch, and would deliver around 200hp with a bit of tweaking in the tune and exhaust department... How much fun would it be to throw around a 200hp KE50 two door? For something much crazier... I've heard of someone squeezing a 2JZ into a KE20... running the stock engine, they wheelstand on the drag track with a set of slicks... Truly the possibilities are endless with these older cars... And without wanting to start an agrument on the plusses and minuses of FWD vs RWD, putting the tail out is much more fun than plowing wide through a corner... One last point for you to consider... changing an engine in a RWD is so much simpler... we changed the engine out of my KE20 in two days while taking lots of breaks and drinking lots of beer... We did my brothers Accord in two weeks, with grazed knuckles, lots of swearing and hours of wondering how the F&*#@ they got the engine in there in the first place... And that was swapping a blown engine for another standard one... not with the added difficulty of having an engine that isn't designed to fit... Whatever you choose, good luck, and I hope you enjoy the ride.

Q: is a used 1989 toyota tercel in good running condition for $600 a good deal?
i am 18 years old and looking for a cheap reliable car that can get me to work and soon to college. my friends mom is selling me this car for $600and says it has never broke down on her. it has about 140k milege but it just looks embarrising to drive when everyone else has nice modern cars. it is a brown color with a desert brown interior

A: Ignore the embarrassment factor and consider any car well worth $600 that runs and isn't worn completely out. In fact take pride in the ugliness, embrace the cheapness. Drive it with honor. Your friends with the $450 car payments are the ones that should be embarrassed.