1979 Toyota Celica problems

General information about Toyota-Celica
Overview of popular issues
Analysis of common problems
Сomplaints list

The Toyota Celica (/ˈsɛlɪkə/ or /sɛˈliːkə/) (Japanese: トヨタ・セリカ, Hepburn: Toyota Serika) is an automobile produced by Toyota from 1970 until 2006. The Celica name derives from the Latin word coelica meaning heavenly or celestial. In Japan, the Celica was exclusive to the Toyota Corolla Store dealer chain. Produced across seven generations, the Celica was powered by various four-cylinder engines, and bodystyles included convertibles, liftbacks, coupés and notchback coupés.

In 1973, Toyota coined the term liftback to describe the Celica fastback hatchback, and used the name Liftback GT for the North American market. Like the Ford Mustang, the Celica concept was to attach a coupe body to the chassis and mechanicals from a high volume sedan, in this case the Toyota Carina. Some journalists thought it was based on the Corona due to some shared mechanical parts.

The first three generations of North American market Celicas were powered by variants of Toyota's R series engine. In August 1985, the car's drive layout was changed from rear-wheel drive to front-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive turbocharged models were offered from 1986 to 1999. Variable valve timing came in certain Japanese models starting from December 1997 and became standard in all models from the 2000 model year. In 1986, the six-cylinder Celica Supra variant was spun off as a separate model, becoming simply the Supra. Lightly altered versions of the Celica were also sold through as the Corona Coupé through the Toyopet dealer network in the 1980s and as the Toyota Curren through the Vista network in the 1990s.

The Toyota Celica Liftback GT won Motor Trend Car of the Year (Imported Vehicle) in 1976.

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Common 1979 Toyota Celica problems

The 1979 Toyota Celica is known for several common problems, primarily related to its power train, suspension, and fuel system.

Power Train: Automatic Transmission

One of the most common issues with the 1979 Toyota Celica is related to its automatic transmission. Many users have reported problems with the transmission, including failure. This issue is often identified by the vehicle's inability to shift gears smoothly or at all, resulting in a lack of power or difficulty accelerating.

Suspension: Rear

Another common problem with the 1979 Toyota Celica is related to its rear suspension. Some users have reported issues with the rear suspension, including failure. This issue is often identified by a rough or bumpy ride, particularly when driving over uneven surfaces.

Fuel System: Electric Fuel Pump

The 1979 Toyota Celica is also known for issues with its electric fuel pump. Some users have reported problems with the fuel pump, including failure to deliver fuel to the carburetor. This issue is often identified by a lack of power or difficulty starting the vehicle, and can be caused by a faulty fuel pump relay, fuel filter, or the fuel pump itself.

In addition to these common problems, the 1979 Toyota Celica is also known for having a headroom problem, particularly with the Supra model. The sunroof takes up precious inches overhead, making the vehicle uncomfortable for taller drivers or passengers.

It is important to note that while these problems are common, not all 1979 Toyota Celicas will experience them. Regular maintenance and inspections can help identify and address these issues before they become serious problems. Additionally, it is important to use high-quality parts and components when repairing or replacing any parts of the vehicle.

In summary, the 1979 Toyota Celica is known for common problems related to its power train, suspension, and fuel system. These issues include failure of the automatic transmission and rear suspension, as well as problems with the electric fuel pump. Regular maintenance and inspections can help identify and address these issues, and it is important to use high-quality parts and components when repairing or replacing any parts of the vehicle.

What is the most common problem with the Toyota Celica?

Rough Idling and Misfires (All 1.8-ltr Engines)

The car is driving roughly, misfires and backfires occasionally, and the check engine light is lit. The car may also stall often and lose power.

How reliable are Toyota Celicas?

Yes, Toyota Celicas are generally reliable cars. They are well-regarded for their durability, sporty performance, and long lifespan. In fact, many owners of Toyota Celicas report that with regular maintenance and care, these cars can easily exceed 200,000 miles.

How many miles per gallon does a 1979 Toyota Celica get?

Based on data from 2 vehicles, 32 fuel-ups and 7,902 miles of driving, the 1979 Toyota Celica gets a combined Avg MPG of 20.83 with a 2.09 MPG margin of error.

What to look for when buying a Celica?

Check compression on all cylinders, should be around 200 PSI +/- 10% of each other. Check for possible head gasket leaks or cracks in valve head and engine block with oil and coolant mixed in engine oil and radiator coolant.

What is the most common problem with the Toyota Celica?

The belt problem is common, especially when it rains, for Celica. If you still under the warranty, just go change a new one for free from your dealer.

Is the Toyota Celica engine reliable?

In fact, many owners of Toyota Celicas report that with regular maintenance and care, these cars can easily exceed 200,000 miles. As a brand, Toyota has an excellent reputation for reliability and longevity, and the Celica is no exception to this.

Why did Toyota stop the Celica?

The Celica started as a cheap, fun sports coupe but its success in rally racing is what made the Celica into a true icon. Unfortunately, as the economy changed and consumer's tastes shifted, Toyota killed off the Celica in 2005.

Is a Celica a good project car?

Toyota Celica

This solid foundation allowed it to become popular on the project car scene too, and even today there are still a wide range of upgrade parts readily available to help turn this car into a fun track-day weapon.

1979 Toyota Celica car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Toyota Celica problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

Power train problems
Suspension problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1979 Toyota Celica vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

Date Of Incident: 1980-02-01
Components: SUSPENSION
Summary: REAR END PROBLEMS. *AK

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Additional sources

More sources of information about 1979 Toyota Celica problems:

so what are some common problems? 3vze - YotaTech Forums

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116/so-what-some-common-problems-3vze-115438/

May 11, 2007 ... Um common hum Are you new to Toyota's i can't think of one with the truck i have almost no experience with that v6 but it's Toyota

'81 Celica GT Issues... | Toyota Celica Supra Forum

https://www.celicasupra.com/threads/81-celica-gt-issues.51617/

Oct 2, 2009 ... I believe a 75-81 toyota celica or supra pedal will interchange. Thanks for... 1 reply 695 views. ance. Mk1 Specific Discussion -1979-1981.

1987 Toyota Celica - Buying/Selling - Car Talk Community

https://community.cartalk.com/t/1987-toyota-celica/116144

Apr 23, 2018 ... There is a guy in town here who has one with about 1 million miles on it. It spent most of its life in Nevada, so corrosion was not a problem.

What causes idles very rough when cold but idles fine when warm?

https://www.justanswer.com/toyota/4vlwm-toyota-celica-gt-2001-celica-idles-rough-when-cold.html

Apr 16, 2011 ... The most common problems here are that the ... 1979 Toyota Celica GT. 20R engine. 5 speed ... I have a 2001 Toyota Celica Gt with the 1Z engine.