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Toyota Celica Repair Questions and Answers

Answer: Replace the thermostat in the cooling system. Yours is undoubtedly stuck open allowing the cooling system to go below normal operating temperature which causes the transmission to shift out of overdrive. This is not a common problem and it is not a big repair job.

Question: 1993 Toyota Celica  mileage: 151,000. I went to a 10-minute oil / lube shop and after driving home the oil filter popped off. I immediately pulled off the road and shut the engine off as the oil went all over and smoke poured out. I had it towed to the Toyota dealership and they put a new filter, oil back in, and started it up. The technician said that the motor sounded good but that didn't mean that it wasn't damaged. Besides scoring the main bearings and also the camshaft / crankshaft bearings, what else could this have damaged? Any chance of damaging the oil pump or oil pressure sending unit? I've heard that Toyota's lubrication system is excellent and these parts are usually lubricated well. I am prepared for the worst but amuse me if possible.

Answer: Since you shut it off immediately, you should be fine. Rod bearings fail first with lack of oil. The last thing to go is the oil pump.

Question: 1992 Toyota Celica  mileage: 126,000. I am having a problem with the sunroof. It will open with the up switch but not with the slide. All I hear when you depress the button is a clicking sound that the relay is making. You have to manually screw the roof closed. I manually opened the roof and it would partially close, but not run the other direction. Now the motor is 12 volt, so I assume that open or closing, all it is doing is reversing the polarity of the motor to get it to run in the opposite direction. It will open in the roof up button, but only close in the slide mode. My guess is that it is in the relay, but that unit is $300.00 from Toyota. I would like to find out for sure before putting out money for no just cause. Any suggestions?

Answer: It is possible that your sunroof problem is the motor. We would suggest isolating the wires that go to the sunroof motor and applying 12 volts and ground to verify that the motor is working properly. If it works in one direction, switch the wires to verify that it works in the other direction, fully closing and opening the sunroof. If the motor checks out okay, then the relay is your problem.

Question: 1991 Toyota Celica   mileage: 90,000. My Toyota has a problem during the winter months. After driving for sometime on the highway, the car will downshift from high gear and will not shift back to high gear. The temperature gauge also shows the car as being cold. This problem does not happen during the warmer months. I believe the problem has to do with the thermostat or some temperature related sensor.

Answer: The transmission will not shift into overdrive if the engine temperature is cold. Your problem is probably caused by a thermostat that opens at too low a temperature. Try installing a 195-degree thermostat.

Question: 1993 Toyota Celica  mileage: 115,000. Hi there, for the past year I am looking for some tips that could help me increase the horsepower of my car. Others tell me there is no such a kit for the Celica and you can't do anything about it. Can you please help me out by telling me what could I do to make such a change in an economical way of course. Fotis Athens, Greece.

Answer: We are sorry but in order to answer your question, we would have to spend an inordinate amount of time, which we do not have considering the thousands of questions we get each week. You will find horsepower books in the 2Carpros Bookstore which might assist you. Your local library might also have some resources.

Question:  1994 Toyota Celica  mileage: 155,000  Hello, I thought possibly you could help me out with a disagreement my boyfriend and I am having.  The car is a bit salty and needs washing.  I was told by my mechanic years ago.  That washing a car in very cold temperatures before parking it is not a good idea.  And since we live in the city, the car would be parked within minutes of being washed.  I thought we should wait till the next day when the sun may be out, and the engine running would have a chance to dry the car. He on the other hand thought I was being very silly, for waiting.  Was I because if so, I can take being wrong.  Just one of those things you’re told that made sense.  To me it seems that water, freezing temperatures and a vehicle sitting cold is not a good idea.  Thanks in advance, just in case you have a moment to answer my silly question.  Can you believe we're not talking at the moment?  Strange the things women and men disagree on.  Evelyn

Answer:    Well Evelyn, you win this round.  Washing the car in warmer weather is better for the car.  The reason is that if it is washed when it is cold, the water that gets in-between the seams of the body does not evaporate readily.  The result is eventual rust.  When washed in warm weather, the water evaporates quicker thus, less chance of rust.

Question:  1994 Toyota Celica mileage: 93,000.  Hi, Bob and Ken.  My Toyota is leaking oil.  It always showed a little on my garage floor, but now it is more noticeable.  Toyota said oil leaking from rear seal, cost 795.00 labor/parts.  A second opinion at a station said if it were his car, he would not do anything.  That 75% of cars leak oil.  His fee estimated about 1,000 dollars.  He would have to pull the engine and there would be no guarantee that other leaks might occur.  Can you help me?  I am totally confused.  If you need the engine number, I can send that to you.

Answer:    A car with 93,000 miles will leak some oil.  The labor to replace the rear main seal is very involved and thus expensive.  Have someone check the rest of the engine's seals and gaskets to see if any of them are also leaking.  If there are other leaks discovered, it would be less expensive to repair these rather than the more expensive rear main seal and the result would be to slow down oil leakage.  Perhaps this would be an alternative you could live with.

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