Tercel Fails Aircare

[canucksafari]

Took the wife's old Tercel through Aircare today and it failed. Did all the tricks: 2L of methyl hydrate, jacked up the pressure in the tires, pulled out the air filter, fresh oil, and changed the plugs. I kind of figured it was iffy when I saw the plug on #2 cyl really oil fouled. The boots on the CV are also on their way out. Not worth the money to repair it. For $1600 we got 3 years and nearly 85,000 kms out of it. No compalints there. It was only supposed to be a temp vehicle until we purchased another.

Anyways, I took out another 3 months of insurance and am now looking for a replacement vehicle for her. Will be keeping my eyes open for a local Cruiser, but I have a feeling that if it is a Cruiser it'll be an 80 from the US. It needs to be an auto and she doesn't want anything RHD. If not a Cruiser, I am keeping my eye out for a decent Mercedes or Toyota wagon.

 

[kim]

Here you go, John;

80 Citreon Cx Diesel Wagon

Seriously, have you checked out the diesel wagons on craigslist?

 

[Helomech]

You forgot to bring the idle RPM waaaay up and advance the timing. Feel free to adjust while doing the test. If they ask what you're doing, just say "NOTHING!"

 

[canucksafari]

Here you go, John;

80 Citreon Cx Diesel Wagon

Seriously, have you checked out the diesel wagons on craigslist?

Ha! Ya I saw that one. And I did check out the diesel wagons. Seems there were a few more of them a while ago. Frankly, I am sick of gas engines and aircare and diesel is high on my list. I'll be keeping my eye out for them.

You forgot to bring the idle RPM waaaay up and advance the timing. Feel free to adjust while doing the test. If they ask what you're doing, just say "NOTHING!"

I had thought about that, but I already had 2L of MH to about 10L of gas. I figured it was hot enough already.

Seriously, what oil it doesn't burn it leaks. Add to that the need for new CVs and new struts and I know it is time to put the little car out of its misery soon. It just forces me to get one of the Safaris sold.

 

[BC40]

What reading did it fail on and was it idle or driving test?
May still be possible to get it through but sounds like your ready for a change.

 

[canucksafari]

Shhhhh! My wife loves the little car but I am tired of it. The tranny leaks, the front and rear crank seals leak, and the valve cover leaks. Of course it will never rust, but it is eating up the pavement in my driveway. It actually failed on the HC which was no surprise with the oil fouling I saw in cylinder No. 2.

Two years ago, it also failed but with high CO2 and HC. I replaced the O2 sensor, distributor cap, wires, etc and it still failed ( in addition to doing all the other tricks). After many hours messing with it, I found a small vacuum tube off the thermostat (way down on the bottom) was unplugged. Took it back and it passed no problem. But then it wasn't pissing oil all over the place and internally (except the valve guide seals).

I am hoping I might find her a decent Cruiser to replace it with.