'95 stutters are lower rpm and can't figure out... - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

redgtxdi · 10-09-2009, 01:16 AM

A little background. Pinhole in upper rad hose a few weeks ago. Until it finally started spewing enough coolant for me to notice, it would stutter miserably and have no idea why leaking hose would cause that. (???)

Next, after fixed all was fine. Now, lately it's been doing a very, very slight version of the same stutter at low rpm. No coolant leaks anywhere. One day I pulled all the spark plugs out just to see if any fouled. Nope. Reinstalled. Thing ran great for a week. Now doing it again.

Plugs are 2yr old Denso's. All ignition components ditto on age. It's certainly tolerable and goes away at higher rpm, but just buggin'. (The 4afe already ain't goin' places fast, so......ya)

???

TIA

Bitter · 10-09-2009, 07:18 AM

misfires or runs roughly? theres a critical difference. does it do it at idle? try to isolate it to one cylinder if its a misfire. if it just feels rough, check what speed its idling at?

redgtxdi · 10-09-2009, 11:13 AM

Thanks for the reply!!!

This sucker idles smooth like a baby's butt.

Just during acceleration. I thought it only did it in 1st gear but I can make it do it in any gear (though mine's a 3spd so not many to choose from

). It just has to be at a lower rpm in order to do it. It feels like a misfire/hiccup and I'd guess it's below 2,500rpm. After it's above that it's smooth as can be.

So, especially on a 3spd (long gears) and coming from a stop, it's most noticeable there....but definitely idles like a kitten.

Thanks again.

kevmac · 10-09-2009, 01:47 PM

thoughts:

-clutch issue
-vacuum leak
-injector
-dirty, plugged fuel filter
-carbon buildup. Sea foam?

Do a spark test to see if they are all strong.

redgtxdi · 10-09-2009, 02:26 PM

Doh! Shoulda' mentioned automatic trans!

Possibly injector, but I doubt the rest as I believe they'd cause the problem throughout the powerband, no?? (except maybe vacuum leak)

I'm gonna pull the cap & rotor off & see if there's anything going on in there.

I ran some gunk fuel-system/injector cleaner through it a couple years ago too, but maybe can't hurt to do it again if the cap & rotor look good.

???

kevmac · 10-09-2009, 03:06 PM

Run some sea foam in the vacuum line going into the brake booster.

I hate to suggest maybe your transmission is starting to go out? Could it be slipping issues? Checked the fluid lately.

1jzdreamer · 10-09-2009, 04:47 PM

I would use injector cleaner. Sounds like an injector issue because in 3rd, high load at lower rpm its at a high fuel load at a less frequent duration which would make any injector issue most noticeable there. I would look at all 4 plugs and see if any of them are lighter in color due to running leaner or an inconsistent burn.

redgtxdi · 10-11-2009, 12:31 AM

Got stuck doin' yard work today, so no update yet on the car but I wanted to reiterate something....

Remembering that it's when this thing was leaking coolant that the car started running like this........

What might have happened (specifically regarding coolant leak) that would have caused it to start running like this??? (pinhole was on top of upper hose but w/ hood closed coolant could've gone anywhere, of course)

Thx

Rip The E Brake · 10-12-2009, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redgtxdi

Got stuck doin' yard work today, so no update yet on the car but I wanted to reiterate something....

Remembering that it's when this thing was leaking coolant that the car started running like this........

What might have happened (specifically regarding coolant leak) that would have caused it to start running like this??? (pinhole was on top of upper hose but w/ hood closed coolant could've gone anywhere, of course)

Thx

If it was spewing like that, it may have gotten onto some of the ignition components. Combined with the heat that engine puts off along with the extreme heat that coolant is at at operating temperature, it may have shorted/caused an issue some where. I am willing to be one of those wires is bad or something has gone arise in the distributor area.

redgtxdi · 10-20-2009, 10:48 PM

OK, my lazy arse finally got to it.

Did a couple things tonight. (Tapping the rear-corner of the '95 w/ the front-corner of my Camry whilst shuffling in the driveway aside)

#1.) Took distributor cap off & inspected & cleaned all contacts just to be safe....(though the cap & contacts look fine)

#2.) Lightly sanded rotor to make sure of nice shiny copper to ensure good conduct......(though it looked fine as well)

#3.) Test-drove, still acted funny.

#4.) Trans fluid was a little low, so filled & test drove again. Still unchanged.

Cap, rotor, wires, and plugs are all only 2 yrs old so I didn't really suspect those to begin with but startin' to run out of options.

Consider replacing plugs just to see if that shows anything.

But I also still haven't done any injector cleaner. Perhaps I should try that first??? (Only one thing at a time so I'll know what it was when it improved)

Rip The E Brake · 10-21-2009, 06:29 AM

Your next bet is to remove the distributor and check it.

kevmac · 10-21-2009, 09:10 AM

DO A SPARK TEST

. Pull one wire at a time. Connect a plug and lay the plug on the block to ground. Leave your plugs intact, and use a new plug to test so as to not contaminate the engine. Crank and look at the spark to see if it is healthy. Compare all 4.

redgtxdi · 10-24-2009, 07:05 PM

Doh! Ain't got no old plugs from last time I changed 'em.

Not that I'm sure it's gonna show anything anyway. The thing idles smoothly. Rides at speed smoothly. Only at low rpm acceleration does it show its ugly head.

Only other thing I've observed the last few days is that it DEFINITELY only does it when fully warmed up. If it's cold it will not do it!!

Bitter · 10-24-2009, 07:10 PM

i forgot, what kind of spark plugs are they? what are they gapped at?

redgtxdi · 10-25-2009, 12:39 AM

Can't remember the exact part #, I just know they're the Denso coppers (pregapped, methinks .031 or something like that).

Maybe the overheating screwed with the spark plugs???

And being cheap enough, I wouldn't be opposed to just putting new ones in just for shits & giggles....or that they'd be the most suspect part.

I just hate troubleshooting by buying new parts when there's no definite isolation of the problem.