Do I Dump Or Keep This Rolla?

[Kimby]

We are new migrants from the USA, had to basically give away our 2 vehicles there, and thought we had found a great deal on a 1991 SECA liftback with under 195000 kms, good maintenance records, from a nice family (was the girls' car, bought from an older lady who maintained it like nuts).

 

We've had it for less than a month, took a big drive up to Copacabana beach from Normanhurst, all great, then it overheats on a trip to the CBD. We put a new thermostat and radiator in it (the radiator was obviously cracked under the cap). All to no avail. Seemed like coolant getting into the engine (sudden yucky white smoke, and I reviewed the topics here carefully). Sure enough, mechanic confirms, we need a new head gasket. Also need testing to make sure it holds pressure and is not cracked. Have no confirmation about that at this point.

 

Mechanic is quoting about $1500 for the fix (assuming all the rest tests fine). We realize this is probably right for retail repair costs (head gasket kit around $400-$600 according to posts here). However, we only paid $650 for the vehicle. Have another $550 in for the radiator and thermostat.

 

We only want the vehicle for trips with the dog (can't use trains, busses, or taxis with a dog in this country), going to the beach, going camping. We are grown ups and know how not to drive a car into the dirt. The vehicle itself is in sweet shape otherwise for being 20 years old....interior, exterior, A/C. Plus these 'rollas have a better reputation than most of the used cheap cars around Sydney.

 

I would appreciate other members' thoughts--save up the $$ and do it, sell for parts, donate, find a shade tree mechanic (I hope they are called that in AU) who can do it for less, pretend we're not a minister and scientist and learn how to do it ourselves??? Thanks for any help.

 

AE92 Engine, 1.6 L 3spd Automatic. Timing belt done at 100K. I hope those are the relevant details.

 

Kim & James

and their sad dog Baci

[ke70dave]

hey mate

 

welcome to the forum.

 

this kind of thing can really only be answered if we know how much work you are able to do yourself.

 

if you are unable to do any work yourself, then its definately a throw away item.

 

however if you are competant in pulling things appart by following a manual then you may be able to get away with it for cheap.

 

from my point of view here are your options:

 

1) cash in rego, sell it or sell to wreckers.

 

2)pull off head in your back yard, take it down to a machinist for checking if it is good then you will just need a gasket kit (they are only about 150$, i bought one not long ago). if the head is stuffed, you will need to find a 2nd hand one or get yours fixed (potentially $500). then put it all back together.

 

3) find a complete engine that someone has pulled out of a car for an engine swap. if its the 4afe they should be cheap as to buy on the forums. or maybe get a quote from a wreckers for a complete engine, the prices may surprise. you only need the head/block combo but most wreckers will prolly want you to buy the lot. then you just need to spend a weekend swapping it into your car.

 

ultimately you cannot make a decision on weather it is financially viable untill you know the condition of the head. it may be a case that a $150 gasket kit fixes is. though if you overheated it, you may have bent it..

 

also you are a minister? what religion/church are you involved in? (if you don't mind me asking)

[seabiscuit]

It's a pain when you end up having to pay a mechanic more than the cost of the car to get it on the road again.

 

We have a simple term for a shady tree mechanic here. Cash job ;)

 

Check out the RollaClub Map (top middle of screen on navigation bar of website) and see if anyone nearby can

help out and offer them a bit of cash for it. I'm sure there would be atleast 1 member in the area that could give

you a hand and teach you how to change a head gasket on a 4A. Do you know if it's a 4AGE or 4AFC? If it's a 4AGE

it will have "Toyota Twin Cam 1600" on the top of the engine next to the spark plug leads. People would be a little

more common to changing 4AGE head gaskets on here, nevertheless a 4AFC would be similar if not easier.

[Kimby]

also you are a minister? what religion/church are you involved in? (if you don't mind me asking)

 

I'm a minister of the Universal Life Church from back in the States, which is basically a non-denominational way for people to be able to act as clergy who feel the call but do not ascribe to a particular dogma. I am also involved with Religious Science, which is NOT Scientology, more like the Church of Oprah (if you or the missus has ever seen her spirituality shows) which encourages a connection with God but, again, without the need for dogma, rules, or eternal damnation (hell is another matter, as I think it exists right here on Earth). I have learned that a church has to be officially recognized here in Australia (neither of these churches are on the magic list from Canberra), which means I cannot perform weddings until I get a civil celebrants license.

 

I guess I better get after that so I can afford the parts or a new ride!

 

These pointers are all great, by the way, and the hubby and I will be pondering much tonight. I haven't had to do much engine work over the years, other than to tweak the points on the four banger in my boat (also sold back in the States) when they would vibrate out of kilter. The cost of living here, however, is kicking us in the arse so we may have to add some new skills.

[seabiscuit]

The cost of living here, however, is kicking us in the arse so we may have to add some new skills.

It's never too late to start! Might even find yourself a new passion *hint hint*

[philbey]

Welcome to the country!

 

I notice you've adopted the colloquial way of spelling arse? (rather than Ass)

 

From my experience with head gaskets, you can limp around on them for a fair while, if you avoid hot weather and keep an eye on the water levels. Given that your's is blowing white smoke (probably Steam) then it may be a fairly drastic failure and you might not get much use out of it.

 

One mate of mine carried a forty litre drum of water in an old ford laser, that's how frequently he'd need to top it up.

 

Not being familiar with the engine, you can save a lot of money if you do some of the labourious work yourself, like removing and reinstalling the head, but you'd need to be reasonably confident and have a handy tool set.

[parrot]

Changing a head gasket really isn't a hard job, as long as you have a few tools, a manual (likely to find one at the library), and can handle having the car off the road for the few days it will no doubt take you.

 

Buy a VRS gasket set from your local car parts place or cheaper on UK ebay if you can wait a week, have the head crack tested and skimmed, borrow a torque wrench from somewhere (even if you have to buy one you will still come out way ahead) and have a go. Follow the manual to the letter. If it was me, I would be changing the timing belt too.

 

The hardest part of the whole job will likely be getting the bolt off the bottom pulley.

 

At the end of it, you will have a good reliable car again that will probably last another 150,000km.

 

Plus the satisfaction of knowing you did it.

 

If it doesn't work, it won't have cost you much at all.

[Kimby]

You folks are wonderful! Already we are pondering accessing the tools and giving this a whirl. We had just bought tickets for Burning Seed up north for the coming holiday weekend, and are now trusting that fate will provide us a way to carpool up for that event.

 

We are getting nervous, as the 4k ride back from the mechanics results in massive steam coming off the engine. Fearing there may be more than just the gasket involved. But the pointers here will get us through the odyssey.

 

More as the onion gets peeled (or however you say that in gear speak)

 

Kim & James

and the hopeful dog Baci

[rob83ke70]

we have an ae93 (1.8lt manual power everything) with a little bit of panel damage, odd wheels, scary re tread tyres and a few major handling issues that we bought for too much on here.... some of the problems fixed up pretty easy, but I've just completed a full engine rebuild due to oil consumption - there would have been $1500 or more spent, with me doing all the labour bar the cylinder head reconditioning!! it doesn't take much for it to spiral out of control lol...

 

I'd buy a VRS set, go see repco, they had a pile of discontinued ACL brand VRS sets for really cheap, then I'd pull the head off the car, take it to a machine shop and get them to recondition it, then reassemble it yourself, probably the best and cheapest way to do it..... if it isn't burning oil then your bores and block should be OK how it is and your head won't need too many major things doing to it (we needed guides and replacement valves and all the seats were stuffed badly) that would be the best bet. Do this if you are planning on hanging on to it for a while longer (why not? its a good economical little car!)

 

Robert.

[Kimby]

Thanks, Robert. Your advice sounds right on. Before the CBD overheating incident (sort of my worst night since I've moved here, as I was alone with hubby home in bed with the sick) we seemed tight on the oil, and prior owner swore it wasn't burning any really. We will hit up repco right away for the kit you mentioned.

 

We are already looking for someone who can mentor us through some of the steps in exchange for cash, food (we're great cooks), beer, laundry, or housecleaning.

 

Our dog has already grown partial to the back seat of this machine, though he still keeps looking for us to get out on the other side of the car!

 

Kim

[rob83ke70]

If I was a bit closer and had some time/money spare I'd definitely give you a hand :happy: - I'm a motor mechanic/automotive technician for Holden/Hyundai as my day job lol, I've owned my fair share of corollas, and I've worked on a LOT of different cars over the time I've been a mechanic, including spending 18 months in an aftermarket workshop, so a head gasket doesn't seem that scary to me.... I'm sure other people have a different perspective though lol.

 

there are a few 7a builds floating around on the internet with lots of instructions/photos and from memory there was a crazy 4afe build somewhere as well...

 

Robert.

[Killar_of_giants]

If you don't need the car running asap and you have access to tools, Id check out the for sale section and ebay for a second hand engine. You could also use the WTB section here on rollaclub. A wreckers will be more expensive but I think you would at least get a 30 day warranty on an engine but I could be wrong. The first thing I do when I buy a different model corolla is buy a Gregory's service manual. I can then read threw the step by step process of whatever needs to be done when something goes wrong and assess whether Ive got the know-how and the tools to do the job properly myself. I don't know much about cars/engines but engine/gearbox/diff swaps in corolla's are very easy to do with the right tools. Rolla motors are easy to find and I wouldnt think it would be difficult to find a cheap decent motor for an AE92 (unless its a 4AGE that is). I have no income so usually for me its about getting the job done properly the cheapest way I can. Of course this usually involves more time and labor which I have plenty of and the good thing is I love rollas and I usually learn something new.

[Kimby]

We are making great progress with the Haynes manual and most of the prices spec'd out at our local auto parts place in Waitara. We have a referral to a local guy to have the head tested/reconditioned, and have decided that it may be best to also put in a new timing belt and water pump while everything is apart. We have prices of $147 for the VRS Gasket set, $98 for the water pump, and either $125 or $109 for the timing belt. The fellow needed to know if it was a 94 teeth or 117 teeth belt. It is the AE92 engine, and the plate under the bonnet says 4A-FC (I presume that last C means it is carbuereted not fuel injected?). Do any of you know how many teeth on the belt? It was replaced in 2001 at 100k kms (now at 195000 kms) but the little sticker from Repco says nothing else.

 

I'm about to go digging about on the Toyota sites, but if they are anything like Ford back in the states once a vehicle is 10 years old they pretend they never manufactured the bloody thing and disappear all OEM parts and manuals.

 

Thanks for your ongoing support.

 

Kim

 

PS I wish my daddy would have taught me more about cars when he rebuilt a ford pick-up in 1979--instead I just learned how to identify tools and curse. It was my job to sit next to the truck in the garage and listen for phrases such as "give me a mother-f**king 5/16th socket" Now the cursing has come in handy, I won't deny that.....but learning how to rebuild an engine would obviously be handy TODAY.

[Rolla Newbie]

Did someone mention housecleaning?