Exhaust Manifold

[Chillin Chik]

I have a '92 Tercel with a wicked exhaust leak under the hood. The local body shop guy told me that it's a cracked exhaust manifold - cracked underneath where I can't see it - and that he could get me a used one for $150. That's a little steep since Toyota only wants $240 new. I'm on a budget! Another local guy is parting out his '91 and would sell me one cheaper, and I just wondered if anyone knew if the parts were interchangeable between the two years. Toyota won't tell me (I assume since they want me to buy the new one).

Any help would be great.

Thanks!

[jeffs94]

Originally Posted by Chillin Chik

I have a '92 Tercel with a wicked exhaust leak under the hood. The local body shop guy told me that it's a cracked exhaust manifold - cracked underneath where I can't see it - and that he could get me a used one for $150. That's a little steep since Toyota only wants $240 new. I'm on a budget! Another local guy is parting out his '91 and would sell me one cheaper, and I just wondered if anyone knew if the parts were interchangeable between the two years. Toyota won't tell me (I assume since they want me to buy the new one).

Any help would be great.

Thanks!

There is a gasket between the exhaust manifold and the downpipe and if the nuts come loose, the connection will leak. The easiest way to check this for leakage is to start the engine and while its cold and without touching the manifold, run your hand around the joint and feel for exhaust gases....it'll be pretty obvious. There should also be a downpipe mount that connects the downpipe to the engine block, if this mount comes loose the vibration will weaken the weld at the downpipe flange that mounts to the exhaust manifold...this creates exhaust leaks too. Do yourself a favor and find somebody who wont rip you off and try to get you to buy something you dont or may not need. A cracked 3E-E exhaust manifold is pretty rare..... good luck.

[Tercel GTS]

Yes they are interchangable.

[Sweet94T]

Originally Posted by jeffs94

There is a gasket between the exhaust manifold and the downpipe and if the nuts come loose, the connection will leak. The easiest way to check this for leakage is to start the engine and while its cold and without touching the manifold, run your hand around the joint and feel for exhaust gases....it'll be pretty obvious. There should also be a downpipe mount that connects the downpipe to the engine block, if this mount comes loose the vibration will weaken the weld at the downpipe flange that mounts to the exhaust manifold...this creates exhaust leaks too. Do yourself a favor and find somebody who wont rip you off and try to get you to buy something you dont or may not need. A cracked 3E-E exhaust manifold is pretty rare..... good luck.

I had this problem with mine a few months after i bought it new in 93. The nut fell off the exhaust pipe where it attaches to the mainfold. burned up the doughnut gasket and sounded like it didnt have an exhaust at all. Payin for a little cardboard gasket is alot better then sellin out to that crook for big bucks.

[thoughthard]

Originally Posted by Chillin Chik

...a used one for $150...

OUCH. Used manifold at a junkyard I goto is $16. Pry cheaper at another one I also stop at.

[thefish]

It seems like i've got a problem like this as well. There is an exhaust leak in the engine bay of my 93 tercel, looking like it's coming from the manifold somewhere. The car also makes angry vibrating sounds at certain RPMs..(i couldn't tell you which exactly, don't have a tach ) . This makes sense, could the manifold be vibrating around on the downpipe because of loose bolts? and if so is it something that i could reach down and tighten up myself?

thanks, and...hello!

[shogun6684]

Originally Posted by thefish

It seems like i've got a problem like this as well. There is an exhaust leak in the engine bay of my 93 tercel, looking like it's coming from the manifold somewhere. The car also makes angry vibrating sounds at certain RPMs..(i couldn't tell you which exactly, don't have a tach ) . This makes sense, could the manifold be vibrating around on the downpipe because of loose bolts? and if so is it something that i could reach down and tighten up myself?

thanks, and...hello!

Yeah it's two bolts that connect the pipe to the manifold, they can loosen up after a while. You could reach them from on top but to get the best space I went under my car and just used like two or more extensions for the ratchet to tighten those bolts. 14 mm deep socket I think. The manifold bolts, you just gotta take off the lil heat shield thingy and you'll see those easy. They can vibrate apart.

[thefish]

thanks for your reply shogun,
it looks like i have one bolt still there, but its rattled pretty loose, and the other is gone. i guess i'll have to buy a 14mm deep socket cause i know now that i don't have one..lol. When you tightened yours did you replace the gasket there?

[UTA]

If it looks like it needs to be replaced, I would. A good rule of thumb is if you take something off, try to have all new parts on when you put it back together

[Donald]

Just today I was talking to a Toyota/Lexus specialist and he told me that the exhaust manifolds on the '90's Tercels, Paseos and Corollas have a tendency to crack, underneath where it cannot be seen. He recomends that instead of replacing it with an OEM manifold, install a good headder system since th difference in price is worth the gain in performance and the headders don't usually crack.
He said that a good cheap fix is to weld them, but they sometimes crack somewhere else.

[UTA]

"Greensboro..cool, Im in Raleigh right now" Bear in mind that an aftermarket header for a 90 Tercel will be much harder to come by as opposed to a Corolla. A custom one..a GOOD custom one will be close to $500...a 4 - 1 set up..and a buck or two less for a 4-2-1 custom header in which case you get dangerously close to the cost of a swap for a better engine into your Tercel. Hell for an extra $500 you could have a 5E-FHE swapped into your Tercel! Unless the mileage is really low, an engine swap should be a top priority.

[Donald]

I dunno....... The 3E engine was still used in later Tercels so there might be a possibility. Anyway, I have a 5E-FE from a '92 Paseo in mine,(check out photo at link below) so I'll be looking for a Paseo header soon.

http://www.toyotanation.com/photos/s...00/ppuser/4009

[UTA]

91 - 94 had the 3E-E, 87 down was carb 3E etc. At the end of the day man...its just a ...3E-E. I use to beat 3E-E's in second gear with just a 5E-FHE stock! If its on the last leg...more the reason to chuck it and get a jdm swap. You wont be sorry and it will change your life. I've had 4 and still own currently 2...I'd NEVER go back to the 3E-E...but EH...thats just me. I want more power, reliability and performance...some people may not!

[Donald]

More power! aaarrr aaarrrrr! :o)

[UTA]

Arrrr matey...I knew you be likin more power! Only a mangey skalewage wouldnt want more power aaarrrRRRR! But on the strength, if your looking to link up with some near local..lol Tercels get at me.