Niall

Thank you all, much appreciated. I'd not even considered the 4 cyl -v- 6 cyl issue. Good thing I asked.

I have the SDV10 1994 Executive model, the instrument cluster on which doesn't include a tachometer. The SV21 I owned previously had a tach and the MCV20 I currently own (2nd car) has one. I find myself kind of lost without one in the current work hack. $45 for one from a Vienta, but will it simply plug into the loom on board my SDV10 Executive?

Now there's the thing.....I don't know the history of the SDV10 I bought recently. 228k on the odo and the usual scrutiny tells me most of the normal logbook timings have been followed, but just how does one 'take a look' at the timing belt? That's an engine out job isn't it?

aaah yes, the SV21. A truly mighty example of a Toyota which just doesn't know the word 'die'. The engine change mentioned will be inevitable. Nothing lasts forever. Replace the suspension for around $1,500 but watch out if you lower it at the same time. There's not a lot of real clearance underneath. Look out for rust in the 'A' pillars and turret as well. I cut heaps out of mine. I miss the old girl, but all good things must come to an end. Just wish I could have rescued the suspension components & engine before the knackers took her away. The donk only had 80,000k on it & 2.5 years on the suspension. **SIGH**

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER throw away your original equipment audio head unit, and NEVER simply cut the wires aft of the installed wiring. As others have stated, there are a myriad of aftermarket wiring loom adapter kits for every make of car & stereo so cutting the wires is simply not on. Keeping the original equipment head unit allows you to keep your preferred after market unit if/when you sell the car, re-installing the original, even if it doesn't function, makes the console look so much more attractive than a gaping hole with wires showing.

Absolutely concur! Some come away easier than others. If the rear squab has never been moved since installation, it's quite difficult. Heave on it from INSIDE the car, even if that means removing one of the front seats. Leaning in and yanking upwards will screw your back bigtime.

a 1968 KE10 Corolla (PFR-225)....which despite concerted efforts to destroy it at almost every turn, survived from 1974 until 1976, when it was traded on a 1972 KE70 Corolla (PZB-412). The latter survived three years and numerous minor bingles until being replaced by.......**GASP**.......A 2L Ford Escort!! Of all the cars I've owned, the KE70 remains a favourite. I'd love to get hold of one as a project.

Thanks guys. I suspected as much. I have the workshop manual and read the wiring diagrams carefully. Just wanted to make damn sure I wasn't missing something. Sounds to me like either a dying battery or stuffed solenoid is the problem. I suspect leaving the boot lid open all day while installing rear speakers wouldn't have helped a three year old 'low-maintenance-battery'. Despite a 24 hour charge, INOX and a little acid injection, this morning's start was still a struggle. Buggered if I know why people believe the farce of 'low-maintenance-batteries'.

I've recently replaced the stock standard Radio Cassette with a CD/Tuner. In the wiring loom from the old radio are two plugs. One with eight pins, and one with five pins. The eight pin connector contains the RF and LF speaker pos & neg wires; battery; accessory; illumination and dimmer wires. The five pin connector doesn't seem to serve any purpose, despite containing a red wire, white wire, black wire and white-with-black-stripe wire. There's another but can't remember right now. That aside, none of these wires have power either with or without the accessory switch on. The only thing I've not done is tested them with the engine running. I won't get back to the thing until next weekend, so would like to know if anyone else has run into the quirk I've found. Since installation of the CD/Tuner, and abandonment of the small five pin connector (it's not cut off, just not used or plugged into anything) the CD/Tuner does not hold any memory settings and start-up of the engine is a hit & miss affair. I can only think of two issues. failing battery and/or solenoid on the starter motor; or some function of the five pin connector which needs to be spliced into the CD/tuner wiring. Any ideas?

Just a brief intro. Male, 52 yrs, Outer Brisbane, owned three Camry's over the past ten years, still have two of them. Keen to read about and assist with where possible, other Toyota owner's issues.