A few '94 Geo questions

[AndrewM]

Well, it's a GEO, but it's basically a Corolla. My girlfriend just bought one last week, and I have a few questions on it.

Background-
The car cost $300, it's a peice alright. No getting around that. None of the doors worked at the time of purchase, and had some body damage. Seriously, it was a complete peice.

Since then I have replaced every door handle/assembly except the driver (yet to find one) and done some other miscellanious repairs to make it look like it was worth the money. The timing belt just broke on it today, about 75 miles after purchase. So, guess what I'm doing next week?

Questions-

1. It doesn't look like it will be that difficult, no special tools or hidden tricks right? The fact the vehicle uses the Toyota cooling sytem makes me wonder if I really need to change out the water pump, I've never heard of a Toyota water pump going bad.
2. The speedo does not work, I have yet to test if it is the cable, the box on the tranny or the cluster. But I discovered that at 45mph the RPM is right around 2250, and at 65mph the RPM is around 3500. Is the vehicle really geared that high or is the transmission not shifting properly?
3. IIRC the motor is a 4A-FE, a minor variation of the illustrious 4A-GE/4A-GZE. Besides the fact that the head is a little "detuned for economy" is there any real difference there?
5. It's got this yellow idiot light that is on right now, I cant figure out what it is supposed to be. Looks like a box with 3 little boxes on it, to the left of the "seat belt" idtiot light. Any clues here?

Thanks in advance

-Andrew

[89molavi]

If I were you I will get a repair manual off the net, either ebay or somewhere else. You are going to need it. For now change the water pump too, who said Toyota water pumps don't go bad?

[AndrewM]

I'm not saying they don't, I've just never personally seen one go bad before. This car isn't exactly something she has money to spend on. She was kicked out of her house and has no more than $900 she can spend right now. I am assuming this job will probably cost me about $180 to get all the parts. That's assuming I replace the tensioners, water pump and both belts. I am going to purchase a Haynes most likely just for reference.

-Andrew

[COYOTE556]

I was able to get the factory GM prizm service manual (two book set) on ebay for 33 dollars. Might be a thought.

[AndrewM]

Alright, well, my only question really left is...What RPM at 65mph anyone? I dont think the transmission is going into overdrive. Thanks

-Andrew

[Ukrainian102]

If it's a 4A-FE engine it's a 3-spd tranny, and there is no overdrive (fourth gear).

I personally have not been in a car with the 3-spd at 65 mph, but my 4-spd does not rev that high at that speed.

But 3500 at 65.... that sounds like a lot!

[aaron7]

I had the 4afe with a 3 speed in my Geo. Blew the tranny going over 100... don't do that.

One difference between the 4afe and teh 4age is there are 5 valves/cylinder on the 4age. Not to mention the 4age has about 60hp more

[1990geo5speed]

and the vavules are are further apart on a 4age then a 4afe but 60 hp that depends on the year i reckon from what ive seen posted there isnot that much diffrence unles its like a silvertop or 20v or something but smallport 4age isnt that much diffrence.

[aaron7]

Oh sorry, I was comparing it to my nice 20v silvertop in my sr5

[lifeisviewtiful]

Originally Posted by aaron7

I had the 4afe with a 3 speed in my Geo. Blew the tranny going over 100... don't do that.

how did you do that???? i go about 90 to over 100 about everyday on my way to work. a solid 102 when i am on the bridge. how did you "blow" it? did the tranny overheat? i got a tranny cooler on mine so i guess thats probably why mine doesn't blow? or is it something else?

[aaron7]

I'm not sure what happened, but the entire engine compartment had auto tranny fluid everywhere, and it stopped going. The tranny just clicks now in any gear (and makes a fun grinding noise when going back into park lol)

[lifeisviewtiful]

hmmm seems wierd. i dunno, my best educated guess would be that the tranny over heated. i do alot of hard driving so i got a tranny cooler. and my transmission it about 30-40 degrees cooler on average.