I have a 1.3ltr, 1985 Toyota Lite Ace Van which Revs very high at low speeds and feels like it loses power when you go into a new gear, as well as having an impossibly slow acceleration, it chews fuel like an alcoholic, I get about 6-7kms to every litre and get about 250kms to a full 45ltr tank fuel.
Is there a way to fix these problems? I am losing so much money, just having to drive to work and back because of this, please help meeeeeeeeeeee!

Lachy Clark, June 2008

Was this the clutch? Im actually thinking it probably needs a tune up and the revving might just be low gearing because its a 1.3 .. I have a 1.8 liteace and its not great on fuel either 8kms a litre around town, but I do load and push mine..
I once owned a Suzuki 1300 4wd which sounded like your liteace.. It was flat out doing 60 koh into a srong headwind when I bought it, A quick stop for some plugs a fuel filter and a timing light and it was doing 100kph up just about any hill thrown at it..

Randy Dean, September 2008

Thankyou for your help, i was hoping it wasn;t the clutch, but bugger, I live in Australia so I'm not sure how much it would cost, whether it would need to be imported or whether i could buy the clutch set and do it myself at home, not sure which option would be the cheaper, any ideas, has anyone done this before at all, thanks again, Lachy C

Lachy, June 2008

I agree with last post ,alternitavely try to wheelspin away from a start..if van won't or stays still, the clutch is deffo gone . Don't worry places like mr clutch etc on the back of those free motor magazines in the filling stns u go in so much will show they are quite cheap..less than £100 & a few hours.

David, June 2008

The problem u described sounds like your clutch is slipping.
Try putting the van in 3rd gear and taking away from standstill
if it does not stall then the clutch needs replaced.

Karen, June 2008