Toyota problem (sorry its not bike related)

I need some help on my Tercel. I just bought it, and it idles erratically, like it'll run normal for a few seconds then the rpms will drop like it wants to stall and recover again to do the same thing. feels like its running rich, but I dont know. oh yeah its an 86 with a 1.5L carbed I4 motor. anyone know of what to do about it? I tried a bunch of toyota forums already, and nobody seems to be inclined to help since all they wanna do is make their cars more powerful or faster.

I need some help on my Tercel. I just bought it, and it idles erratically, like it'll run normal for a few seconds then the rpms will drop like it wants to stall and recover again to do the same thing. feels like its running rich, but I dont know. oh yeah its an 86 with a 1.5L carbed I4 motor. anyone know of what to do about it? I tried a bunch of toyota forums already, and nobody seems to be inclined to help since all they wanna do is make their cars more powerful or faster. Have you done all the normal stuff, like new air filter, spark plugs, etc...? That would be the first place to start (I'm trying to think back to my 'Yoda days.....). Esp. if you think she's runnin' rich, coulda fouled a plug. Start small, and work your way up from there -- eliminate the most elementary/obvious causes first.

The fuel, air and soon oil filter are new. plugs are on the way so I can attempt that, wires are ok.

Hopefully, it's something simple like a vacuum leak from a broken hose. When you take the plugs out, keep them in the correct order (I usually make four small holes in a piece of cardboard), and take a picture of them.

I looked under the car a minute ago, and I'm suspecting a headgasket blown, considering theres coolant unaccounted for, and the idle gets rough after about 30 seconds from the time I start the motor.

Has the car been overheating at all? Have you looked for the telltale signs (i.e. oily residue in the coolant reservoir, milky residue in the oil, or - as mine did when it went - an oily residue coming out the tailpipe?) of a blown headgasket?

I havent observed those signs, but compression is 125 in cylinders 1-3, cyl 4 has 100pounds. doesnt quite seem right to me. oil is dirty, but not milky looking.

Does the problem happen at idle only, all the time, when cold, when hot,...etc? Needlebug and NW have you going in the right direction. Read your oil, your old plugs, your new plugs. Did you dump out your old fuel filer and read that? Tried your new one yet?

If the head gasket is blown... you'll have one or both... white stinky smoke out the tail pipe / milky oil or oily coolant. How many miles on it? FI, carbed, or throttle body injection? If the milage is high... always try the plugs and wires. Is it throwing any codes?

Needlebug and NW have you going in the right direction. {hijack} :lol: :lol: :lol: It amazes me how many people call me Needlebug. Needlebug? LMAO! It's Neebelung! Not to worry... I'm not offended, and you're not the first person to make that mistake (I've even had local people come up to me at Bike Night and say, "Are you Needlebug?"), but it just cracks me up...... {/hijack}

I have some kind of whitish smoke coming out the tailpipe. car has 228K miles on it, carbureted, and its too old to have a computer to throw codes from. plugs didnt tell me much.

{hijack} :lol: :lol: :lol: It amazes me how many people call me Needlebug. Needlebug? LMAO! It's Neebelung! Not to worry... I'm not offended, and you're not the first person to make that mistake (I've even had local people come up to me at Bike Night and say, "Are you Needlebug?"), but it just cracks me up...... {/hijack} Youre NEEDLEBUG!

If the head gasket is blown... you'll have one or both... white stinky smoke out the tail pipe / milky oil or oily coolant. I have some kind of whitish smoke coming out the tailpipe. We have a match. You can pull the head and replace the head gasket if the valves aren't burned in cylinder #4.

228K Yota. Do the basic tune. Drive it till it quits and find another one.:2cents:

Good call NW... I missed that... too damn tired lately... DAMN work!

Youre NEEDLEBUG! :bash: :lol:

:bash: :lol: It just sounds cuet.:lol:

I like this car. probably when it dies, I'll resurrect it by putting some kind of sportbike motor in it, and puttin a turbo on too. knowing me, it'll be something like a Busa or ZX14 size motor. as far as making it fit the tranny, I'll MAKE it fit. :crazy:

:bash: :lol: I guess its now obvious that i dont know how to read. Thanks for pointing it out to everyone! :sob: everyone else can call you neebelung, but youll be needlebug to me! ok? :D

Just an update, I changed the oil, flushed the cooling system which was just filled with water, and put in a proper 50/50 coolant mix and its running MUCH better now.

Just an update, I changed the oil, flushed the cooling system which was just filled with water, and put in a proper 50/50 coolant mix and its running MUCH better now. where'd the smoke go?

Dude that sounds like a vacuum leak,make sure you still don't have an issue there...

I've only ever owned toy trucks ,and have several manuals,so I may be able to give you some specs if you need...

I think now that I give it some thought that the smoke was because it was relatively cool out and it was just a bit of condensation or something in the exhaust. I have to check and see if I've got less coolant yet but I doubt I will. maybe I'll put some stopleak in there to see if it helps any.

stop leak is as bad as fix a flat... don't use it. it will plug up more than just leaks. -a|ex

stop leak is as bad as fix a flat... don't use it. it will plug up more than just leaks. -a|ex :iagree:

ok, thanks for telling me now. how about super glue and duct tape? think that'll fix it right?

Just an update, this is THE strangest car I ever looked at, worked on or had anything to do with. the idle issue was somehow caused by transmission fluid being very old, and quite poor in condition. fresh fluid in the tranny, and Yoda's running like an absolute CHAMP. Thanks for everyone's input, assistance, and help in general. one by one the problems are getting straightened out. Next up is new CV axles and wheel bearings.

Just an update, this is THE strangest car I ever looked at, worked on or had anything to do with. the idle issue was somehow caused by transmission fluid being very old, and quite poor in condition. fresh fluid in the tranny, and Yoda's running like an absolute CHAMP. Thanks for everyone's input, assistance, and help in general. one by one the problems are getting straightened out. Next up is new CV axles and wheel bearings. id like to know what made you look there, or were you doing it anyway? CV's?.... good times good times....

well, the tranny was slipping like it was going out or something, but I sort of figured that it couldnt be slipping in EVERY gear and going bad on me, so I changed the fluid, and it REALLY REALLY made that difference. oh god, the brakes, another whole story, lines on the front nearly burst because of the age, $23 later that problem is done, plus a lot of NASTY NASTY brake fluid from the calipers and I've got some decent whoa to accompany my go. considering I got this little gem for $350, and only put about $150 in parts into it, and its worth at LEAST 1500, maybe 2k according to NADA. a lil lovin is all Yoda needs.