Tuning up an '88 Tercel

[burnt03]

Hey there, newbie to the forum...

We're travelling down to the coast to visit my gf's friend, and she has an '88 Toyota Tercel that is having some problems...

- rough and hesitant acceleration (takes quite a while to get up to speed)
- idles very rough

Not clear on whether it's fuel injected or carbeurated (can someone help me on this)

Was just planning on checking each plug for spark, changing the plugs (and wires if necessary), changing out fuel filter, running some of that fuel system cleaner through the system, oil change

Can anyone suggest anything I might've missed?

Thanks

[wedge]

Do have have any idea what kind of engine is in it? If you don't know how to tell, you could take a pic of the engine bay and post it here. Is it manual or automatic? I can tell you now that it IS carbeurated, no Tercel from those years was fuel injected.
In any case, I'd suggest an oil change and a major tune-up, and see what happens then...

[burnt03]

I have no idea which engine it is and the car is 4 hours away so I can't get any idea of what it is til I get down there (she wasn't even sure if it was FI or carbed, but now that that's cleared up )

So, what's the diff between the 2 engines?

Thanks again

[wedge]

As far as I know, the two engines that might be in the car are the 3E, and the 3A-C. And in fact, they are quite similar. Both 1.5L, both carbeurated. The 3E is a 12 valve SOHC, and I think the 3A-C is also a SOHC, but it may be a pushrod engine. I'm not to sure on that one. In any case, the 3A had better low down grunt, which is why it was most common in the Tercel 4x4.

[chris90T]

It is my understanding that these cars 88-90 all contain the 3E carbureted engine.
Your problem is probably a busted vcv or hac valve or both. Also, it could be a faulty BVSV.
These are emissions components that affect the cars warm running ability as well as cold start.