Odd Starting Problem - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

92seo · 08-14-2007, 07:47 AM

Hi guys,
I have a couple of Toyotas, and right now my 1986 Corolla has an odd little problem. The car is in excellent condition with only 96k on it, and I just purchased it a little while ago as a work car. It runs great, starts great in the morning and throughout the day, unless........................

Unless you start it after driving it for a while and then turning it off for a very short time. Let's say I go to a job that is a half hour away. I start it in the morning and it is fine. Then I go to the job, turn it off, do the job, and come back out. Then it will start up fine, as I may be on that job for several hours. However, if when coming back home I stop somewhere to run in a store for something, turn it off for a short period of time, and then come back out, it has trouble starting. Then even after it starts, it hesitates horribly when I try to drive it.

So, what could be the problem? It starts fine when cold, but when stopped for only a short time, it has problems restarting and then runs like poo. Is it possibly some sort of heat related problem, causing it not to want to restart after a long drive with a short time being stopped?

I know it is an older car, but it runs great otherwise, and gets me where I need to go.

retiredat44 · 08-14-2007, 01:16 PM

heat is the problem,, starter is going bad...

92seo · 08-14-2007, 03:59 PM

Well, that is a thought, and possibly a good one, but something doesn't make sense to me. I would think the same thing if it just had trouble starting, but after it starts kind of rough, it then runs like crap as well and hesitates badly afterward. What would the starter have to do with that? It seems to me that it might be something with the fuel system somehow. When it does start rough after a short stop, you can't press the gas pedal far, or it will bog down and hesitate badly.

What else could it be, or does everyone think it is just the starter? If you think it is the starter, can you explain why it would cause the other symptoms that last for a while after it starts.

retiredat44 · 08-14-2007, 04:12 PM

you have to tell the story of everything for a better diagnosis... can only go on what you tell us..

keep the info coming

retiredat44 · 08-14-2007, 04:14 PM

when you say it has trouyble starting, do you mean the starter turns over slowly, or do you mean the stater turns over normal (fast) but the engine does not start easily?

92seo · 08-14-2007, 04:44 PM

Normally when I start the car I can just turn the key and go. But when the car has been stopped for just a short period of time, the starter is turning fine, but it is as though there isn't enough gas getting to the engine to make it fire. Instead of just turning the key and having it fire right up, it has to have the gas pedal pumped while starting it, and after several pumps it finally, and begrudginly, starts. The starter seems to be working fine, it almost seems like the gas just isn't getting there upon startup like it should, but only after a short stop. If it sits for a while, it fires right up fine.

It had a new fuel pump installed not too long ago from what I was told, and I do have a receipt for the work that was done. Could heat maybe cause the fuel pump to act up, or could it be something with the carburetor that isn't opening and closing properly due to the short stop?

powellsd · 08-14-2007, 05:01 PM

i was thinking fuel pump could be the issue. another thing is that the carb is overloading itself with fuel but that isnt usually a heat issue. Do you smell gas at all when this is happening?

tashirosgt · 08-14-2007, 05:01 PM

Is this problem worse when you have a full tank of gas or better if you release the vacuum from the fuel tank by losening your gas cap for a moment?

92seo · 08-14-2007, 08:14 PM

There is no gas smell whatsoever, and it doesn't seem to matter how much gas is in it. I have never tried loosening the gas cap while it is running to see if it helps, but I guess I could next time.

This may be a really stupid question, but I make no claims to being a mechanic. Does the carburetor have some sort of choke that the heat could affect, thus making it hard to start without giving it lots of gas on those long drives with brief stops in between?

It really just seems like it doesn't get the gas it should then, as I really have to pump the gas hard to get the car to start at those times. The starter is going strong, it has enough fire in plugs every other time, so what could be missing but air and fuel. I don't know if it gets enough air or not, but the gas has to be pumped in when it is having such problems.

90 GP · 08-15-2007, 05:18 PM

Your carb should have a clear plastic sight glass for the gas level on the drivers side. It should be at middle of sight glass if the fuel pump and float level within carb is working right. Also have you tried removing air filter cover and spray a shot of starting fluid in carb opening to see if it would start up and then immediately stall? If so you definitely have a fuel delivery problem. Also how old is that gas in the tank and how old is fuel filter?

root · 08-16-2007, 12:43 AM

Hm, carb. I've had heat soak problems with carbed '83 LandCruiser and other friends I know have had probs with it too, but it's usually mechanical fuel pump. Running electric pump and routing fuel lines away from engine block fixed those probs. What was happening was after stopping and sitting for short while, heat would soak in engine compartment, fuel lines would heat up, cause vapor gas bubble, & pump wouldn't pump. Sometimes called vapor lock.
Other heat problems, I've run into heat soaking starter, but you said your starter cranks fine.
Coil is another possibility. Marginal coil can sometimes go funky with heat.
And actually another one my friend ran into with an old chevy with exhaust & intake saimese manifold, loose nut on intake. Ok when cold, but heated up would expand open up and cause vacuum leak.