Car Won't Start

[-ImagiNe]

OK. I just bought a 1991 toyota celica from someone last week. its a 5 speed fwd manual transmission. Two days after i got it the brake lines have a leak in it. Speedometer isnt working and tonight alternator is burning up.

I'm driving down the road and something smells like burning rubber. I'm thinking maybe it will go away in a min. Well it's not so I pull over leave the car running small the brakes they smell normal not what I was smelling. Poped the hood and the power cable connected to the alternator is smoking and melting the rubber around it. I figured I'll drive home real quick was 2 miles from home. I get home and the car shuts off as I'm pulling in pulled the e-brake to stop my car since car shut off. Well it will start but won't stay running. If you press the gas rpms go up very very slow and sounds like a lawn moore when you are cutting grass. There is a wire right next to one of the pully's thath looks a lil shredded and the positive cable going to the alternator is all burnt on it. Is the ground bad or something causing it to over heat like this or what?

I use to have a 3000gt loved it but someone shattered my windows after the car threw a rod. Found out it did that because the water pump locked up but i didnt know never saw smoke out the tail pipe till it started.

I don't have any smoke so I don't think it is the water pump but dont want to keep trying to crank it to start it and have it do the same thing to it as my 3000gt. Anyone have any idea? All i need is transportaion for work with this car. I get paid wed about $700 so if that will be enough to fix whatever is wrong with it i wont mind but dont know if its worth it.

[BigSearch]

All I can say is that I'm sorry this happened and wonder if the seller knew it would.

I personally don't know the model.

Hope you can get someone with integrity and an honest work ethic to look at it.

Though it seems like several things, unless I mis-read the post, maybe it'll turn out to be something small.

I certainly wouldn't tell anyone you have any amount of money to spend. Not a good idea because a small job could turn into just about or over the amount you just happen to have on hand.

Good luck to you on that.

[Puffie40]

I don't know what could be wrong (Electronics is not really my strong spot) but burning wires indicates a short somewhere (Or the alternator overcharging), and trying to find it will be really frustrating.

I would pull the alternator and have it tested as a start. Inspect ALL the wires from the alternator back - any breaks in the insulation is bad and must be replaced/patched (Shrink tubing is a good wire repair material).

I don't know about the early '90's models, but if the Speedo is still cable driven (Which I suspect), your problem could simply be that the cable is broken. Brake leaks should be easy to find and replace.

Getting even a Chilton manual will help you fix the small stuff, and I recommend getting one.

[BigSearch]

I agree to obtaining a manual.

I know that the 1971 Celicas used to come with at least one manual, and I'm thinking I remember a second one too. In any event, all manuals at that time were a treasure of information that actually applied to doing tune ups and not just something for show.

Along with the manual(s) came a whole package of goodies from Toyota that made you proud to own the first import Celica sports type car.