1996 Tercel - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

MTXR · 05-20-2005, 07:22 PM

Hello,

I just recieved a 1996 toyota tercel for free. The cars engine was dead, but my dad dropped in an engine into it. I am assuming its the same type of engine. He got it from a junkyard for cheap from another 96 tercel. The engine is running fine in it, and only has "hesitation" on cold days till it warms up. I am guessing its the 93hp engine. It kind of knocks/pings on cold days at start up also. Normal? I put in a bunch of injector cleaner and fuel system treatments and it doesn't really help much on the cold start ups. When warm engine is totally normal.

I am going to assume its a 3 speed automatic because it feels like its a 3 speed when driving on the highway. Is there any way to tell for sure?

One unique thing i encountered is that when i am driving lets say ~65MPH on the highway and then i let me foot off the gas, i will lose speed tremendously fast. i would get down to 55MPH in about a sec/two. Is this normal? Everything else on the car is fine. I have no problems with it at all.

I seem to lose speed fast even at 50mph. Is this because of the transmission? A downfall to the 3 speed(if it is even a 3 speed i dunno)

Can anyone help me troubleshoot this? Any suggestions on maintenace tuning?

After looking over the car it seems its the most basic model that was offered. No cruise, no abs, no intermintennt wipers, etc....

One thing it does have is power steering and ac. So that is the plus.

Does anyone know how to get the antenna to go back in? It seems to be stuck in the fully extended position.

Please help.

Paseo15psi · 05-20-2005, 07:55 PM

Fast decel isn't bad unless the engine stalls or stumbles while off throttle. Unless you torque converter is wasted. Where are you from? Bloomington IL or Indiana? I would just do a 5efe swap from a 92-95 Paseo if emissions isn't an issue. Use silicon grease on the antenna and make sure it's not bent before pushing on it. And stay away from injector cleaner. Cause damage in the long run. Just do a tune up and run a full tank of high octane on the highway.

MTXR · 05-20-2005, 08:19 PM

I'm from Bloomington, MN. Torque Converter? I don't declerate fast when i am crusing around town at ~45mph its only when i get high in speed. The engine doesn't do anything funny when i let go of the throttle. Ok, i'll ditch the injector cleaners from now on fill with high octane here and there. I most likely won't do another engine swap. Because this one seems to be running fine, and i have no money. I'll try the silicon grease, but the antenna won't even move at all.

tercelsuperfast · 05-21-2005, 01:05 AM

if the engine is knocking when cold, it's probably a worn component that has slop in it and when it warms up, the tolerance decreases and takes up the slack by the heat causing it to expand...try using synthetic oil or an engine treatment(engine restorer in little silver can)

Paseo15psi · 05-21-2005, 10:02 AM

Royal Purple owns all!

Donald · 05-22-2005, 08:07 PM

[QUOTE=Paseo15psi]stay away from injector cleaner. Cause damage in the long run. [QUOTE]

Tell me more about the injector cleaner. What harm does it do? I Used to use it about once or twice a year.

Paseo15psi · 05-22-2005, 10:16 PM

Most sit on the shelf too long and no longer have the properties to do anything but add moisture. Also, just getting a good grade of gas has more detergents and higher octane then any bottle of crap can add. Some even cause fuel to degrade. Bad news all around.

Donald · 05-23-2005, 11:03 AM

Wow. I have never heard that before. You would think in a sealed bottle that stuff wouldn't degrade.
Thanks for the info. I'll be doing some serious research before I use anymore injector cleaner.

phyl26 · 05-26-2005, 04:52 AM

I gotta 91 Tercel DX and lately when I first start it up, it idles really off, kinda spittin/ sputterin, but doesn't die. Then when its warm, its fine. Maybe a tuneup? Also gotta squeeling noise on take off from being parked. Only time it does it. Drive belt? Or something worse?

Paseo15psi · 05-26-2005, 07:59 AM

Sounds like a belt as far as the squeeling. The sputter sounds like tune up. Make sure you change the cap, rotor, wires, and plugs all at once. The E series motor is picky when it comes to ignition circuits.

uptownwest · 06-08-2005, 12:33 PM

HI: After reading your post about how your Tercel decelerates so fast I have the same thing happen to me ( with our 96 Corolla ) when I bought new tires. It had the original Goodyear Invicta tires on it and it free rolled fine, but they always picked up small stones in the threads, it drove me crazy hearing the click , click most of the time. So I bought a new set of Pierelli P400's for it and it realy made a big differance in handling and tracktion & stopping. The down side was when I was on the highway and let off the gas it would drop in speed just like yours is. Apearently it has lots of resistance to roll. It also caused a drop in gas mileage of about 2 gals per mile, but I think it is well worth it. If you see a cop or need to slow down it helps a lot on the highway & saves your brakes from wearing out as with using the brakes to slow down as much. Hope this helps. Dan.

MTXR · 06-10-2005, 11:51 PM

Ok, so i ditched the injector and gas cleaners.

This has been like my 3rd tank refill with out it, and now i notice that my tercel is jerky at speeds of like 40-45, 50-55, 60-65. No problems from 0-40 at all.

If i keep the speed any where between there the car will be jerky, kinda like stumbling?

Not sure what to call it. I thought it was a transmission problem, but i don't think so. When i accelerate the problem seems to minimize/go away. Only when i try to cruise at a steady speed in those speed zones. Anything above 65 at a constant speed i seem to not get the jerky feeling, or its really not noticeable. Its been getting worse every day with the heat wave that we are getting.

So i went out and got that silver engine restorer for the tercel, and put it in the car, and drove around for a few miles testing out the car crusing in those speeds zones above. It seems as though the jerky/stumbling of the car is gone in the 40-45 range, and the 50-55 range its getting better, also the 60-65 range is getting better. It seems to be fixing it up. But i have only driven like 5 miles so far with it in the tercel.

So what do you people think? My engine is screwed up? Slop some where in there or something? The restorer seems to be helping.

uptownwest · 06-14-2005, 12:12 PM

It sounds to me that your o2 sensor(s) are doing what they are designed to do. That is making adjustments to your mixtures (air & fuel) as you drive. If you take it to a car wash now & then, it could be that the wire may have come off or has a poor connection. I don't know what year Tercel you drive but if its like mine (1997) I have 2, 02 sensors. One on the exhaust manafold & the other on the cat. My 96 Corolla has the same set up. It also feels as if the trans is shifting somewhat but it is in fact the 02 sensors doing there job & keeping your exhaust air clean & within range. Good luck, Dan. PS, I would stop putting in all those additives. All you need to do is put in a small bottle of Chevron Techtron Fuel injector Cleaner every 3,000 miles or so. Thats it. Dan.

MTXR · 06-16-2005, 01:17 AM

I think the O2 sensor was the culprit. I had the one in the front replaced. Cost me like 150 bucks

But the jerkiness of the car is basically gone, or i can't notice it. I can stay at a constant speed much better now, and it seems as though i have more power, and more gas mileage.

But my Check engine light is still on. So i went to autozone and had the codes scanned and they tell me i have a Knock Sensor electric circuit problem...

Is it important to fix this sensor problem? The sensor itself is 120, but since its says electrical circuit maybe just the wires are messed up.

I dunno what to do. The car seems to run fine now, after 02 sensor was replaced.
BTW its a 96 Tercel with 5efe engine.

I am worried about this knock sensor code thing. P0325 is the code.

uptownwest · 06-16-2005, 12:40 PM

I would try this first. With the engine shut off and the key removed, open the fuse box cover under the hood and remove the OB2-7.5amp. fuse. Leave the fuse out for 5 minutes, then put it back in. You may have caused this light to come on if you did not disconnect the battery ground . If this does'nt work try this, Leave the fuse out & disconnect both the positive and negitive from the battery ( disconnect the GROUND wire FIRST then the POSITIVE & re-connect them in the reverce order you removed them, Positive 1st- Negitive Last. Good luck, Dan. PS- also check your gas cap & make sure it is on right and the sealing gaskets are in good shape. Dan.