Carbureted versions include a newly designed, variable-venturi carburetor.

The 2E-TE, appearing in 1986, is a turbocharged engine producing 100 PS (74 kW; 99 hp).

The most common problems affecting these engines are premature valve stem seal (nitrile rubber) failure, carbon buildup on the intake valves, and collapse of the oil control ring on the piston.

Any of these conditions can lead to rough idling, stalling, and fouled spark plugs, and therefore need to be differentially diagnosed.

The first generation of 4E engines found in the Starlet GI, Soleil and Corolla models were produced from 1989 until 1996.

This engine has more in common with the 4E-FTE, sharing the same throttle body, and slightly larger fuel injectors.

However the 4E-FTE was a very popular conversion engine by enthusiasts for many small Toyota cars such as the Corolla, Tercel, Paseo and Sera which it fit into with standard Toyota parts.

The turbocharger fitted to the 4E-FTE was Toyota's own CT9 model, which features an internal waste gate and has two modes: low 0.4 bar (5.8 psi) and high 0.65 bar (9.4 psi) boost.

In 1995 Toyota changed the ignition system to a distributor-less (DIS), coil-on-plug design, switched from OBD to OBD-II and began using flat topped pistons.

Double platinum plugs are used with this engine to prevent premature side electrode wear.

A much thinner 0.26 mm (0.01 in) head gasket is used to increase compression after the piston domes were removed, and dual electrode spark plugs were installed on California emission models.

[citation needed] In 1996 the connecting rods changed to the same thinner ones similar to those used in the second generation 4E-FE.

It uses the harmonic damper from the 4E-FTE, and slightly more aggressive higher lift cams (approximately 8.2mm inlet side, and 7.7mm exhaust side), high compression pistons (although they have a lower dome than 4E-FE pistons), cast 4-2-1 exhaust headers, and stronger internals (including the thicker connecting rods as found in the first generation 5E-FE which are factory forged, and a stronger factory forged crankshaft which has 5E markings).

Some versions of the 5E-FHE (but not for the Sera) are fitted with the ACIS intake manifold which is claimed to increase the power to 130 PS (96 kW; 128 hp).