how do i set the timing belt for 91 tercel?
how do i set the timing belt on my 1991 toyota tercel? i already changed out the old one but my car won't start. is the timing off?
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1991 Toyota Tercel Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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The Toyota Tercel got a complete makeover for 1991. Bigger and roomier than ever, the Tercel also got a sleek, aerodynamic new shape and a new body style. The three-door hatchback was discontinued in favor of a four-door sedan. The engine remained small, but was updated and got a little bit more power.
The 1991 Toyota Tercel came in four trim levels. The coupe was offered as a base or DX (deluxe) model, and the sedan was available as a DX or LE. All shared the same 1.5-liter, 82 horsepower four cylinder engine. Not surprisingly, the 1991 Toyota Tercel got excellent gas mileage, at about 30 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. The base models only came with a four-speed manual transmission, while the DX and LE models also had the choice of a three-speed automatic.
The 1991 Toyota Tercel has a legion of loyal fans who say that despite its uncomfortable seats, lack of frills, and tiny back seat it is a great car. The 1991 Tercel is extremely reliable and handles well in inclement weather. The one major complaint is that 1991 Tercel owners wish the car had more power.
Published Aug 9, 2022 by CarGurus Editorial Team
User reviews for 1991 Toyota Tercel
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by Roxanne T
Sep 25, 2014
I liked that its a stick sift , but its only a 4 speed I wish it was a 5 speed, once its fixed and all the little things that is wrong that drive me crazy about the car it fix I'll be ok with the car because for the most part it runs good and I'll save on gas when I fix all the little stuff. Thank god for places like this helps me remember all the things I learned about cars Sep 25, 2014
by FRANKLYN N
Sep 28, 2013
This car has good city and highway miles per gallon. You would love it. Based on how you drive it, you do not need to refuel for a week and a half.
This car is very reliable for those who want to save money on gas which is extremely high latelySep 28, 2013
by Daena S
Mar 07, 2011
I bought my '91 Tercel used in 1994 with only 25k miles on it. I've driven it since and it now has 105k miles on it. It's been the best car ever to own. The appearance of my car has never suffered and still looks modern today. Performance has been fine and never been an issue. No major repairs as of yet, but with this Tercel model, there is an issue with the valve stem seals and needing being replaced. I have yet to get this fixed. I've been told by a mechanic as long as I keep oil in the car and new spark-plugs, it will last a long time. So far he's been right. I plan on getting it fixed and keeping the car for another 100k miles.Mar 07, 2011
User rating:
by Roxanne T
Sep 25, 2014
I liked that its a stick sift , but its only a 4 speed I wish it was a 5 speed, once its fixed and all the little things that is wrong that drive me crazy about the car it fix I'll be ok with the car because for the most part it runs good and I'll save on gas when I fix all the little stuff. Thank god for places like this helps me remember all the things I learned about cars Sep 25, 2014
by FRANKLYN N
Sep 28, 2013
This car has good city and highway miles per gallon. You would love it. Based on how you drive it, you do not need to refuel for a week and a half.
This car is very reliable for those who want to save money on gas which is extremely high latelySep 28, 2013
by Daena S
Mar 07, 2011
I bought my '91 Tercel used in 1994 with only 25k miles on it. I've driven it since and it now has 105k miles on it. It's been the best car ever to own. The appearance of my car has never suffered and still looks modern today. Performance has been fine and never been an issue. No major repairs as of yet, but with this Tercel model, there is an issue with the valve stem seals and needing being replaced. I have yet to get this fixed. I've been told by a mechanic as long as I keep oil in the car and new spark-plugs, it will last a long time. So far he's been right. I plan on getting it fixed and keeping the car for another 100k miles.Mar 07, 2011
by Michael M
Jul 27, 2010
its got good performance,handling,and great gas mileage.its pretty fun to
drive,its fast,......but im not a huge fan of the body style or the paint.....but for the price i got it and the money i save on gas its a pretty decent car.Jul 27, 2010
by Anonymous
Jun 02, 2010
Nice and simple. Easy to work on, parts are easy to find. A great car for someone looking to save money by doing their own repairs. Mine has over 300,000km her and she runs great. These cars are reliable and excellent on gas. Jun 02, 2010
by Branden K
Feb 07, 2010
Performance-Everything good except acceleration, it works though.
Build Quality-It's pretty solid for the most part.
Appearance-It looks fine, not too much wrong with it at all.
Fun Factor-It's decently fun to drive, I like it though.
Cost of Ownership-It's pretty good, good MPG's, the engine doesn't need too much work.Feb 07, 2010
by Lenworth W
Jan 07, 2010
Leaked every fluid possible but still ran. This car had to be the most neglected car ive ever had but somehow it never left me on the side of the road. with a whooping 72hp and 4 speed manual (thats right i said 4 speed manual) it amazed me that a car could be this slow.Jan 07, 2010
by Kim R
Sep 30, 2009
It was my first car, and I've got lots of emotion invested into our 8 year partnership. I love how much get-up-and-go the little thing has, even for a four cylinder 1500 at 18 years old. It's still like new inside and out, aside from some fading shine from the clear coat on the roof. The dash does rattle something terrible in single digit temperatures, and it doesn't start very well in similar temperatures, but I can completely relate to its reluctance in these Colorado winters. It's an excellent little town car, but I also don't recommend it for the highway. It's tiny, with few interior comforts, although it does get fantastic fuel mileage in excess of 38 average mpg. Bottom line, terrific for heavy traffic and parking in limited spaces, but not so great for coast-to-coast travel.Sep 30, 2009
by Nick W
Sep 03, 2009
Where to start? The engine is junk, 1.5 liters and only a single camshaft? I'd get beat by SUV's in the 0-60 department......garbage. Wheels are garbage. 155-70-13's? They're only good for the snow because they're THAT damn thin. Suspension is pure trash.....the tercel is one of the few cars in the 90's that remained without rear-independent suspension, horrible. The brakes are terrible.....I wouldn't be caught dead driving another car with drum brakes (They lock up all the time).
And this is just the cliff-notes version. Did I mention this car is garbage?Sep 03, 2009
by Peter H
Jun 11, 2009
93 5efe, ross pistons, 200 cfm, cruise control, hid, infinity system, 341 final drtive custome trans, Jacobs ignition, Ron Davis radiator, earls oil cooler, optima battery, corolla brakes, avail NOS, avail S-trim, Yok's, Momo, custome guages, Paseo spoiler, power windows and locks, custome paint, cats lighting front and rear, custome dash.Jun 11, 2009
by Anonymous
Mar 23, 2009
This car has never let me down. Its quality is seen trough the entire car, its engine wont die and its exterior appearance is much better than most of the cars from 19991. Many people have asked what's the model year of my car, and nobody believes its 18-years old. Great Toyota product.Mar 23, 2009
by Anonymous
Feb 11, 2009
I love this car. Sheer power and performance in every gear. This car has a wopping 82 horse power and uses every bit of it. Great gas milage for a sports car. This is the greatest car I have ever encountered and will continue driving it until the day it dies on the road. Feb 11, 2009
by Aaron N
Aug 27, 2008
I dunno if it still counts as a '91 Tercel, cuz I kinda
re-engineered the entire car... either way, I
absolutely love my little car, and it's a blast to drive.
JDM 5E-FHE twin cam engine swap, Paseo brakes,
Paseo front sway bar, Porsche 944 rear sway bar,
Paseo interior with Celica GT-S dash, TRD variable
rate coilovers on KYB struts, carbon fiber hood,
Sparco 6-pt harnesses, pass. side mirror delete,
Paseo rear wing, Weapon-R short ram cold air
intake, Pacesetter header, 2 1/4" exhaust, Vibrant
high flow cat and Vibrant stainless muffler,
Transaxle from '99 Tercel with super tall 5th gear,
quick ratio manual steering rack from '90 Tercel,
fender flares, front lip, Momo Prototipo steering
wheel and a TRD Shift knob.
Aug 27, 2008
by Kirsten F
Jun 24, 2008
It was cheap and it gets me from a to bJun 24, 2008
by Anonymous
Jun 15, 2008
I have owned my 1991 Tercel for 5 years, and have put 30,000 miles on it. I have had a minimal amount of repairs done to it. With gas price situation so critical, great gas mileage and no car payments, as my mechanic told me, "You can't beat it, this is a great, simple, stick shift car". I will continue to keep it and maintain it as if it were a high priced vehicle. Jun 15, 2008
by Crystal A
May 19, 2008
I luved my Toyota.. I'd take it back in a minute for a work car!!May 19, 2008
by James M
Apr 28, 2008
Style was nice, similar to Honda Civic of same time period. Small car. Interior somewhat basic; had to upgrade to aftermarket stereo. Cheap to run. Drive was nice, though not very sporty. Not a peppy engine. At 130,000 miles, connecting rod blew hole in engine. This was an unusual case, as other people I know still have this same car and did not experience this. Apr 28, 2008
by Ian C
Mar 02, 2008
Owned from 1998 to 2003. Son owned from 2003 to 2006. Now owned by brother-in law. Since I bought it with 120,000 km on it, the family has added some 200,000 km to it with very few issues. Consistently excellent gas mileage, in the 40 miles per imperial gallon range - sometimes even better. Parts for this car were readily available and usually inexpensive. Engine was easy to work on. Oil changes were particularly easy - 10 minutes with hand tools in my driveway. Mar 02, 2008
by Reg V
Jan 09, 2008
Loved it at the time. Good on gas and could fit 5.Jan 09, 2008
by Anonymous
Sep 26, 2007
Please help! :) I asked a question earlierSep 26, 2007
by Anonymous
Aug 23, 2007
it run really good.Aug 23, 2007
by Anonymous
Jun 20, 2007
I love how small it is and its easy to drive.Jun 20, 2007
What users have asked
Does anyone know of any suspension upgrades?
I have a 1991 tercer 2dr coupe 4 speed. I'm looking for coilovers and sway bars that would fit. The only suspension upgrade I was able to find was an air ride suspension kit that cost 3k which, since being in my right mind, I cannot justify spending on a Tercel. I just want to improve the ride quality and reduce body roll.
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how to adjust idle
need to know how to adjust the idle if even possible
4231 views
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How much is my car worth?
I have a 1991 Toyota Tercel I'd like to get a quote on selling. It has a few things wrong i.e. needs paint work as it's peeled mostly on the bonnet, leaks oil (which I can't fix as no one can get spare parts as it's too old and they don't manufacture anymore), no light bulb inside car, back seatbelts needs a bit of gentle tug to come out, dent at the side but still running pretty well and has looked after me so well in all the 10 years I've owned it.
73 views
Top Comparisons
Have you driven a 1991 Toyota Tercel?Compare this car
1991 Toyota Tercel Pricing
Original MSRP
$6,763 to $9,753Price range
N/AAverage price on CG
N/AYoY price change
N/ATrims & specs
Audio System
AM/FM radio
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: vinyl
Audio System
AM/FM radio
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Audio System
AM/FM radio
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Audio System
AM/FM radio
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth