engine

[94cutsupreme]

I'm trying to figure out what kind of engine can fit in a 94-96 (i don't know the exact year because the car isn't mine...) tercel. The current engine is blown, it just clicks when you try to start it. Any ideas, let me know. Thanks!

[jdmccright]

there's lots of cheaper reasons an engine won't turn over. Have you checked the starter? They can stop at a dead spot and not get good brush contact. Tap them with a hammer to nudge it and hopefully make contact. Is the battery good and charged? Obvious...no juice, no go.

If you can rotate the engine crankshaft with a breaker bar and the valvetrain rotates along with it (pull off the valve cover to see it) then the worst hasn't happened, but should be checked to see if the camshafts are synced to TDC with the crank as well as the distributor.

That being said, a major redesign was done for the 1995 model. The engine was the same 1.5L, but you may have to scavenge the old block to successfully mate it to the car's ECM and sensors. I'm not sure when OBD-II capability was designed into the Tercel, but I read that 1995 was the first model year to have it. You'll have to check the door jamb sticker to find out the model year. IMO, your better off sticking with an engine and ECM from the same generation (4th gen: 1991-1994, or 5th gen: 1995 to 1999). Good luck!

[94cutsupreme]

Engine is definitely blown. All the oil leaked out and car became stranded on highway and had to get towed home...
It's a 97 with v4 1.5l....Do we have to get an engine from another Tercel or is there another car with a similiar engine? I've been looking and I can't find any other cars with a 1.5...

[jdmccright]

Your engine is the 5E-FE, which was only used in the Tercel and Paseo during those model years, and the overseas Starlet. Hope this helps!