Hey guys, im new and need some help - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

gunmetal · 02-15-2006, 11:25 PM

Hi, I am looking at a 1990 Tercel with 52K on it and it looks like it came off the show room floor but I havnt driven it yet and dont know anything about this model of car. What MPG should I get on average? and are there any chronic problems I should be aware of or things to look for? any help at all would be great. Thanks guys, Brent

drehtwnftbl · 02-16-2006, 08:47 AM

feel the frame and the rocker panel under the front doors for rust. above the rear wheel, feel around the wheel well for rust. those are the larger rust problems... you can also look inside the trunk and on each side there will be empty areas, but one will have the jack in it. feel for any water/moisture in there.

gunmetal · 02-16-2006, 03:41 PM

Thanks for the help man. Anyone else know of any mechanical(motor) things I should look for?

enerjohn · 02-16-2006, 04:03 PM

Look for any parts with yellow oil marker letters or numbers.
Junkyards almost always mark their parts like that.
Check under the car for markings also, epically on the trans.

***Tercel GTS*** · 02-16-2006, 04:11 PM

Take it for a drive and make a long sweeping right turn while on throttle. If it needs valve seals it'll be smoking at the end of the turn.

drehtwnftbl · 02-16-2006, 09:35 PM

ha, i didnt know that, that's interesting...

***Tercel GTS*** · 02-17-2006, 03:40 AM

I found out at an SCCA solo2 event.

drehtwnftbl · 02-17-2006, 08:27 AM

haha, rough...but yeah gunmetal, you're probably getting yourself into something nice, seeing as it only has 52K on it, and it looks decent. what you can do is get a carfax report if you can get the VIN number. some people try to hide things, such as accidents, but that's just impossible unless they dealt w/ it by cash.

Galvatron · 02-18-2006, 12:16 AM

Wow, that's interesting. I always get a bit of blue smoke at startup after it's been sitting overnight, I'm pretty sure it's the valve stem seals, but it doesnt burn enough oil for me to bother with (around a quart every 1500 miles). However, there is a somewhat wide turn I take that leads to an onramp, so I'm turning right and accelerating pretty hard to get up to speed, and always notice a bit of smoke behind me. Otherwise, it never smokes while running, no matter how hard I accelerate. Huh. Good to know I guess.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tercel GTS

Take it for a drive and make a long sweeping right turn while on throttle. If it needs valve seals it'll be smoking at the end of the turn.