Okay, here’s my blog post about my experience messing around with a 1993 Tercel:
So, I got my hands on this old 1993 Toyota Tercel. Thing was ancient, but I was kinda excited to see if I could get it running smoothly. It had been sitting in a friend’s yard for, like, forever, just collecting dust and rust.
The Beginning
First thing I did was pop the hood. I’m no mechanic, I want you know, I just like figuring stuff out. Man, the engine was a mess. Wires all over the place, grime everywhere. I started by checking the battery, it was obviously dead. So, I grabbed a new one from the auto parts store and swapped it in.
The Basic Checks
- I checked the oil dipstick, that was pretty simple, it need some oil, It was pretty low, but at least it wasn’t milky, so that was a good sign, I guess.
- Next, I looked at the coolant reservoir. Empty. I filled it, I filled it up with some 50/50 mix I had lying around.
- Then I checked the spark plugs, they were pretty fouled, but not the worst.
The Challenges
I tried to start it. It cranked, but wouldn’t fire up. Bummer. So, I figured it might be a fuel problem, maybe the fuel pump? After I replace it, I try to start it again.
I checked the fuses, It’s really hard to get it, it’s under the steering wheel, and I found a blown one for the fuel pump. I replaced that, still nothing.
More Checks and Small Victories
Then start to search how to get the distributor out, It’s kinda hard to get to, it’s located at the back of the engine bay.
I pulled the fuel line going to the engine and cranked it again, just to see if any gas was even getting that far. Nothing. That was it.
So, I replaced the fuel pump. It was under the back seat, surprisingly easy to get to. I put everything back together, turned the key, and… vroom! It started! Smoked a bit at first, but it ran.
The Final Result
It’s still a work in progress, I have to do the timing belt, flush all the fluids, and it probably needs new tires. But, hey, it runs! That’s a win in my book. It’s kinda cool to bring something back from the dead, you know?
