New from CT and have a question about my 1988 Corolla - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

kookookitty · 01-30-2009, 11:24 PM

Hi. I have a 1988 Toyota Corolla 2-door Sport Coupe. It has apx 212k miles on it. I have gradually been experiencing a lurching or jerking that has been worsening over time (over a year), but when I take it to the dealer, the car doesn't demonstrate the problem so they said they couldn't do anything about it. It can happen in any gear (manual transmission). A lot of times it happens in first gear. Other times it happens on the highway, sometimes it's very subtle, other times it kind of scares me. A few times, I have heard a very loud "clunk." Other times, the stick shift actually shifts like when you take your foot on and off the gas, but this happens when I keep my foot on the gas. It has a carburetor, no fuel injection, no computers, nothing fancy like that. Any ideas on what might be wrong? Thanks!

***new echo owner*** · 01-31-2009, 12:24 AM

Have you check the ignition system on the car? When was the last time you had a tune up done?

N.E.O.

kookookitty · 01-31-2009, 05:37 AM

I'm not sure when the last tune-up was done, but the car was in for some work 2-3 months ago for a new radiator and I had asked about a tune-up. They said I wasn't due for one, yet. fyi - I know absolutely nothing about cars. I was looking for causes of lurching thru Yahoo and found a few possibilities: fuel filter, fuel pump, bad ignition module in distributor, spark plug wires. This is probably a stupid question, but is it possible the engine is coming loose from the car's frame/platform?

***new echo owner*** · 01-31-2009, 12:18 PM

Your description of the problem seem to sound more like an ignition system problem. With 212k, anything is possible; however, if it is mechanical problem, it will usually act up any time you are under load. I would suggest start with doing a close inspection of the tuneup parts and the ignition system especially the secondary items like the ignition coil, plug wires, distributor cap and rotor.

Another item you might consider if you are not sure when it was last replaced is the fuel filter, whether it is the cause or not. It doesn't cost very much for a carb engine.

N.E.O.

kookookitty · 01-31-2009, 10:35 PM

Thanks, N.E.O. I will ask the dealer to look into that!

***new echo owner*** · 01-31-2009, 11:04 PM

Let us know what they find! There will probably be others who might have similar concern and would like to find out too.

N.E.O.

***REN69*** · 02-01-2009, 09:31 PM

So the dealer said the car wasn't scheduled for a tune up yet? the problem is how would they know if the car was even in for a tune up the LAST TIME AROUND it was due for one? chances are you do need one as a lot of owners tend NOT to follow the dealer schedule.

Wouldn't be surprised if the carb needed a clean up or better yet a rebuild.

freakinbox · 02-01-2009, 11:04 PM

my car does the shifter moving thing in 5th gear! it seems to lurch when you first hit or let go of the accelerator in 1st and second. I don't think it has anything to do with needing the timing done or spark plugs and so on. I think it's a mix of the carb getting old but more so the vacuum advance on the distributor going!