It has an AT, with a button that says AWD. Can the AWD be
engaged/disengaged while moving?

I had a Tercel AWD Wagon with a mechanical linkage, and you could just
slide the lever when you wanted (sometimes...it was a BIOTCH getting out
on dry pavement...)

Also, what do I need to look for? Headgaskets? Timing belt? etc.

The car is in fair shape; the body is OK, all one color, but there are a
few 'groans':

One of the front struts is in better shape than the other. How hard are
these to do?

One tie rod end has a bad bushing. The tie rod end itself is OK, the
bushing is shot.

One ball joint is in pretty bad shape. Any hints for replacing it? (Never
done ball joints before).

Rear shocks are...um...there. How hard?

Overall, the car is OK. This is all I could discover in about a 15 minute
test drive and a look on the lift. No apparent slop in the rear
diff/driveshaft, goes OK down the road but has 13" wheels! (Subaru/Tire
Rack say 14"!!!)

Not leaking oil from the oil pump...yet...how hard are the gaskets/oil
pumps to replace?

I took it "off road" (up a two track less-than-dirt road) and everything
seemed OK, except the 13" wheels rubbing on the calipers...

The 13" wheels are the stock size. The 89 XT6 came with 5-lug 14" wheels.
Everything else came with the 4-lug 13" wheels.

Changing the struts.schocks is simple. Ditto for the ball joints unless
the pinch bolts are bigtime rusted.

Oil pump gasket and seals typically require replacement. Sure sign is
valve train clatter.

The radiator if original is junk.

Smart to replace the timing belts but if one breaks, no big deal unless
one of the idler pulleys is ripped off. This is a noninterference engine.


Does the car have 4WDBs? Only the RX in this body style got disc brekes
on all 4 wheels.

On Fri, 08 Jun 2007 07:20:56 -0400, johninKY wrote:

Thanks John. I'll tell you what I know. I was supposed to go get it today
but got tied up.



> The 13" wheels are the stock size. The 89 XT6 came with 5-lug 14" wheels.
> Everything else came with the 4-lug 13" wheels.

Wow. the clearance is REAL tight on the pass. front. Enough to bind in
reverse on the caliper. We swapped the front with the rear.


>
> Changing the struts.schocks is simple. Ditto for the ball joints unless
> the pinch bolts are bigtime rusted.

Need a compressor for the spring? I can't find any info on this. I will
buy a Haynes for the car. The pinch joints look OK.


>
> Oil pump gasket and seals typically require replacement. Sure sign is
> valve train clatter.


Um, I thought they ALL had clatter after 160,000...

>
> The radiator if original is junk.

Didn't really pay attention. Looked OK


>
> Smart to replace the timing belts but if one breaks, no big deal unless
> one of the idler pulleys is ripped off. This is a noninterference engine.

This is a GOOD thing. Is this a big deal?

>
>
> Does the car have 4WDBs? Only the RX in this body style got disc brekes
> on all 4 wheels.


Disc fronts, drum rears. Brakes seemed OK, but rusty. Will check the specs
when I get it home. Probably do the whole thing. I used to work for
CarQuest and get a decent discount.