Toyota Tercel engines

The Toyota Tercel is a small-capacity front-wheel drive car produced by Toyota in five generations from 1978 to 1999. Sharing a platform with the Cynos (aka Paseo) and Starlet, the Tercel was sold under various names until it was replaced by the Toyota Platz.

First generation L10 (1978-1982)

Tercel went on sale in the domestic market in August 1978, in Europe in January 1979, and in the USA in 1980. It was originally sold as a two- or four-door sedan, or as a three-door hatchback.

Toyota Tercel first generation

Models sold in the US were equipped with 1 hp 1.5A-C (SOHC four-cylinder, 60L) engines. at 4800 rpm. Transmission options were either manual - four or five speeds, or automatic - three speeds, available with the 1.5 engine from August 1979.

On cars for the Japanese market, the 1A engine developed 80 hp. at 5600 rpm, while the 1.3-litre 2A engine, added to the range in June 1979, offered a claimed power of 74 hp. In Europe, the Tercel version was mainly available with a 1.3 liter internal combustion engine with a power of 65 hp.

Engine 2A

In August 1980 Tercel (and Corsa) were restyled. The 1A engine was replaced by a 3A with the same displacement but 83 hp.

1A-S

The carbureted SOHC 1A engine was in mass production from 1978 to 1980. All variants of the 1.5-liter engine had a belt drive camshaft 8-valve cylinder head. The 1A-C engine was installed on Corsa and Tercel cars.

1A
Volume cm3	1452
Power, hp	80
Cylinder Ø, mm	77.5
MOP	9,0:1
HP, mm	77
Models	Race; Tersel

2A

The power of the 1.3-liter units of the 2A line was 65 hp. SOHC 2A engines were equipped with contact and non-contact ignition systems. Motors were produced from 1979 to 1989.

2A
Volume cm3	1295
Power, hp	65
Cylinder Ø, mm	76
MOP	9.3:1
HP, mm	71.4
Models	Corolla; Racing; Tercel

3A

The power of 1.5-liter SOHC-engines of the 3A series, with contact or non-contact ignition systems, was 71 hp. Engines were produced from 1979 to 1989.

3A
Volume cm3	1452
Power, hp	71
Cylinder Ø, mm	77.5
MOP	9,0: 1, 9.3: 1
HP, mm	77
Models	Race; Tersel

The second generation (1982-1986)

The model was redesigned in May 1982 and was now called the Tercel in all markets. The updated car was equipped with the following power units:

• 2A-U - 1.3 l, 75 hp;
• 3A-U - 1.5 l, 83 and 85 hp;
• 3A-HU - 1.5 l, 86 hp;
• 3A-SU - 1.5 l, 90 hp

North American Tercels were equipped with a 1.5-liter ICE with 64 hp. at 4800 rpm. In Europe, models were available with both a 1.3 liter engine (65 hp at 6000 rpm) and a 1.5 liter engine (71 hp at 5600 rpm). Like the previous generation, the engine and transmission were still mounted longitudinally and the layout remained the same.

Aggregate Toyota 3A-U

In 1985, minor changes were made to some engines. The interior of the car was updated in 1986.

The 3A-HU differs from the 3A-SU unit in the power and operation of the Toyota TTC-C catalytic converter.

New powertrains in Tercel L20:

Mark	Max power, hp/r/min	A type
Cylinder Ø, mm	Compression ratio	HP, mm
2A-U 1.3	TBU	inline, I4, OHC	76	09.03.2019	71.4
3A-U 1.5	TBU	I4, SOHC	77.5	09.03.2019	77
3A-HU 1.5	85/6000	inline, I4, OHC	77.5	09.03.2019	77.5
3A-SU 1.5	90/6000	inline, I4, OHC	77.5	22	77.5

The third generation (1986-1990)

In 1986, Toyota introduced the third generation Tercel, slightly larger and with a new 12-valve engine with a variable section carburetor, and in later versions with EFI.

Twelve valve engine 2-E

Starting with the third generation of the car, the engine was installed transversely. The Tercel continued its march across North America as Toyota's least expensive car while no longer being offered in Europe. Other markets sold the smaller Starlet. In Japan, the GP-Turbo trim came with the 3E-T unit.

3E-E under hood Toyota Tercel 1989 c.

In 1988, Toyota also introduced a 1.5-litre 1N-T turbodiesel version for the Asian market with a manual five-speed transmission.

1N-T

The variable venturi carburetor had some issues, especially in earlier models. There were also throttle issues that could result in an overly rich mixture if it wasn't working properly.

Tercel L30 power units:

Mark	Max power, hp/r/min	A type
Cylinder Ø, mm	Compression ratio	HP, mm
2-E 1.3	TBU	I4, 12-cl., OHC	73	09.05.2019	77.4
3-E 1.5	79/6000	I4, SOHC	73	09.03.2019	87
3E-E 1.5	88/6000	inline, I4, OHC	73	09.03.2019	87
3E-T 1.5	115/5600	inline, I4, OHC	73	8	87
1N-T 1.5	67/4700	inline, I4, OHC	74	22	84.5-85

Fourth generation (1990-1994)

Toyota introduced the fourth generation Tercel in September 1990. In North American markets, the car was equipped with the same 3E-E 1.5 engine, but with 82 hp. at 5200 rpm (and a torque of 121 Nm at 4400 rpm), or a 1.5-liter unit - 5E-FE (16 hp 110-valve DOHC).

In Japan, the Tercel was offered with the 5E-FHE engine. In South America, it was introduced in 1991 with a 1.3-liter 12-valve SOHC engine with 78 hp.

5E-FHE under the hood of a 1995 Toyota Tercel.

In September 1992, a Canadian version of the Tercel was introduced in Chile with a new 1.5 liter SOHC engine.

New powertrains in Tercel L40:

Mark	Max power, hp/r/min	A type
Cylinder Ø, mm	Compression ratio	HP, mm
4E-FE 1.3	97/6600	I4, DOHC	71-74	08.10.2019	77.4
5E-FE 1.5	100/6400	I4, DOHC	74	09.10.2019	87
5E-FHE 1.5	115/6600	inline, I4, DOHC	74	10	87
1N-T 1.5	66/4700	inline, I4, OHC	74	22	84.5-85

Fifth generation (1994-1999)

In September 1994, Toyota introduced the all-new 1995 Tercel. In Japan, cars are once again offered with Corsa and Corolla II nameplates for sale through parallel marketing channels.

The updated 4 L DOHC I1.5 engine provided 95 hp. and 140 Nm, offering a 13% increase in power over the previous generation.

4E-FE

As entry-level cars, the Tercel was also available with smaller, 1.3-liter 4E-FE and 2E four-cylinder petrol units, and another legacy setup, the Toyota 1N-T, a 1453cc turbocharged inline diesel engine. cm, providing power of 66 hp. at 4700 rpm and a torque of 130 Nm at 2600 rpm.

For South America, the fifth generation Tercel was introduced in September 1995. All configurations were equipped with engines 5E-FE 1.5 16V with two cams (DOHC), with a power of 100 hp. at 6400 rpm and a torque of 129 Nm at 3200 rpm. The car turned out to be revolutionary for the market of that time, and was elected "Car of the Year" in Chile.

Toyota 2E engine

In 1998, the Tercel design was slightly updated, and a complete restyling took place in December 1997 and immediately covered all three lines of related models (Tercel, Corsa, Corolla II).

Tercel production for the US market ended in 1998 when the model was replaced by the Echo. Production for Japan, Canada and some other countries continued until 1999. In Paraguay and Peru, Tercels were sold until the end of 2000, until they were replaced by Toyota Yaris.

New powertrains in Tercel L50:

Mark	Max power, hp/r/min	A type
Cylinder Ø, mm	Compression ratio	HP, mm
2E 1.3	82/6000	I4, SOHC	73	09.05.2019	77.4

ICE Theory: Toyota 1ZZ-FE Engine (Design Review)