1991 Tercel Questions from a clueless owner

Hi,

Got a few questions about 91 Tercels and I'm not too bright when it comes to cars. So before I take it in for repair, (mechanically illiterate) I want to sound a little intelligent when I get ripped off at the auto repair place:

1. When starting up the car in the morning (or when it sits for awhile) the car whines when backing out and turning for the first few minutes and then it's okay - only it's getting a little louder with each passing week. (Sounds like it's coming from the passenger front side).

2. I used to put 2 quarts of oil in the car every month, but now it's more like every two weeks. I do see smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe (white, gray, but not black) - what's the difference with colors?

3. While putting in oil, I look to see if I can see where the oil is leaking. I have noticed on the underhood of the car on the passenger side a bit of a grease smear - but not 30 quarts of oil kind smear. My parking stall doesn't show too much oil either - where does it go?

4. Had a radio/cd player put in by somone who knew more than me about cars (which clearly doesn't say much) - but only the cd works. I miss the radio and get stuck in traffic all the time. They tell me there wasn't another wire to hook up to???

5. If any of you could give me a few heads up before going to the repairman that would be great. (I know I should get a tune-up and an oil change - but what else?)

Thanks for any and all responses. Aloha

Hi,

Got a few questions about 91 Tercels and I'm not too bright when it comes to cars. So before I take it in for repair, (mechanically illiterate) I want to sound a little intelligent when I get ripped off at the auto repair place:

1. When starting up the car in the morning (or when it sits for awhile) the car whines when backing out and turning for the first few minutes and then it's okay - only it's getting a little louder with each passing week. (Sounds like it's coming from the passenger front side).

2. I used to put 2 quarts of oil in the car every month, but now it's more like every two weeks. I do see smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe (white, gray, but not black) - what's the difference with colors?

3. While putting in oil, I look to see if I can see where the oil is leaking. I have noticed on the underhood of the car on the passenger side a bit of a grease smear - but not 30 quarts of oil kind smear. My parking stall doesn't show too much oil either - where does it go?

4. Had a radio/cd player put in by somone who knew more than me about cars (which clearly doesn't say much) - but only the cd works. I miss the radio and get stuck in traffic all the time. They tell me there wasn't another wire to hook up to???

5. If any of you could give me a few heads up before going to the repairman that would be great. (I know I should get a tune-up and an oil change - but what else?)

Thanks for any and all responses. Aloha

How many miles and what type of transmission do you have? The oil use is common on that 1.5 liter engine if you have high miles on it. I just had to do a partial rebuild on my 92, cost about $800.00 with a refurbished head and new oil and water pump, new timing belt and tensioners, new rings and rod bearings and a gasket kit. About $100.00 was for beer alone. The valve guide seals are known to go out on this engine causing some oil use. The oil rings on mine were collapsed. The good thing about my engine is that nothing was wore beyond repair(block,crank and cam were almost like new) We never even removed the crankshaft. I had to do this late June with 193K on it and now I only have about a quarter of a quart oil useage in 3K miles instad of 1 quart every 300 miles.
The oil you see on the passenger side might be blowing out of your dipstick tube.
No idea about the radio.

Hi,

Got a few questions about 91 Tercels and I'm not too bright when it comes to cars. So before I take it in for repair, (mechanically illiterate) I want to sound a little intelligent when I get ripped off at the auto repair place:

1. When starting up the car in the morning (or when it sits for awhile) the car whines when backing out and turning for the first few minutes and then it's okay - only it's getting a little louder with each passing week. (Sounds like it's coming from the passenger front side).

2. I used to put 2 quarts of oil in the car every month, but now it's more like every two weeks. I do see smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe (white, gray, but not black) - what's the difference with colors?

3. While putting in oil, I look to see if I can see where the oil is leaking. I have noticed on the underhood of the car on the passenger side a bit of a grease smear - but not 30 quarts of oil kind smear. My parking stall doesn't show too much oil either - where does it go?

4. Had a radio/cd player put in by somone who knew more than me about cars (which clearly doesn't say much) - but only the cd works. I miss the radio and get stuck in traffic all the time. They tell me there wasn't another wire to hook up to???

5. If any of you could give me a few heads up before going to the repairman that would be great. (I know I should get a tune-up and an oil change - but what else?)

Thanks for any and all responses. Aloha


When you start it up and it's cold, the whining is most likely the power steering pump or power steering belt squealing. Not too big a deal. Check your power steering fluid level. And give your belts a wiggle to see if they're way loose or worn. Belts are on passenger side of engine. The oil consumption is valve stem seals and over the years will get increasingly worse. I put a quart in every 3 days now. Blue smoke is oil burning. White smoke is either coolant, water, moisture. Black smoke is burning excessive fuel. The radio should have been an easy install and the radio should work, does the radio turn on at all, might need an antenna adapter.

Don't worry too much about the valve stem seals, because you won't like the price of getting them repaired. All in all, if you take good care of it, it won't do you wrong. Change oil, filters, belts periodically, check fluids. The valve stem seals with get worse over time, but it usually is very gradual...Good Luck.