just confused when cold! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

lil corolla · 01-02-2006, 12:22 AM

Hello everyone, this is my first time on here, and I am happy to be here.

I received my 88 Corolla from a friend, the vehicle is a 5-speed with a two barrell carb. and 144,00 miles. I had to replace the air filter once I got it, and it started running bad at start-up, until it warmed up, then it purred like a kitten. The old air filter was so dirty, it was sucking oil through the intake, now it isn't, and also, before I changed the air filter, it ran fine on a cold start, now it will chug (sounds like firing on 3 cyl.) until it reaches a certain temp. and then runs real smooth after that.

At this time I have not changed any plugs or fuel filter,(if I knew where the filter was!) but that will be the first I will do. Also, when the car runs (chugging) at start, it has a fairly strong gas smell from the exhaust. and when it is warmed up, it has a smell of spray paint fumes from the tailpipe, not the usual exhaust fume smell like others have.

I have ran Sea-Foam through the intake, and the rest in gas tank, as per instructions on can.

I am really confused, but maybe thinking it might be either or both the fuel filter and plugs?

Corolla101 · 01-02-2006, 12:32 AM

as they r both cheap replace them both... i am using champion spark plugs right now, and the fuel filter is located on the firewall

ToyotaMan1281 · 01-02-2006, 01:53 AM

check the plugs and wires, air filter, gas filter, change oil maybe also antifreeze coolant maybe?

lil corolla · 01-02-2006, 05:00 AM

So, what is causing my exhaust to smell similar to the odor of paint spray from an earosol can? The oil smells fine, and the gas is good gas...

***REN69*** · 01-02-2006, 08:58 AM

The car chugs until it warms up? Sounds to me like the choke is not working, I'm not sure if this year has auto choke or manual choke. If its manual choke then there will be a knob you pull around the underside of the steering wheel that will rise the rpms until the motor is warmed up.

lil corolla · 01-02-2006, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REN69

The car chugs until it warms up? Sounds to me like the choke is not working, I'm not sure if this year has auto choke or manual choke. If its manual choke then there will be a knob you pull around the underside of the steering wheel that will rise the rpms until the motor is warmed up.

The choke is electric, and it does work, it stays at high idle until it reaches a temp. to where it then kicks itself down, then runs smooth after that!

***REN69*** · 01-02-2006, 04:08 PM

So you're saying it chugs while the choke is on?

TBayToyotaBoy · 01-03-2006, 12:32 AM

I used to have a carbed 4AF...by the time it had that many miles on it I had to hit the gas pedal about 8 times for a smooth cold start. The choke loses efficiency after time. How many times are you punching the gas to activate the choke?

Another possibility: I'm not 100% sure of this, but I think there's a mechanical valve in the fuel lines to prevent fuel from running back into the tank. I had my sending unit (the big cluster of metal sending and return lines located on top of the tank) refurbished and the cold start problems went away...just a hunch (how very uneducated of me)!

lil corolla · 01-03-2006, 07:31 AM

thanks TBay, I usually only punch it once at start and it starts fine while it chugs, then runs smoothly after it is warmed up, I just changed the plugs and #1(front) plug was fouled bad,(black as coal) all others were burning clean. I started it then after and it still chugged then, but idle perfect before it reached the regular temp. it would normally run smoothly,, I will keep you all informed on progress.

Thanks again

Nitro789 · 01-04-2006, 12:51 AM

this may or may not help but I just put a cold air-intake on not to long ago on my 92 and it is EFI and ran perfect, but once i got the cold-air intake on it it kinda bogged when it was cold and i didnt give it alot of gas but i used to drive that way before. What i thought was that it is now getting alot more air than before so it might be an air-rich mixture, but that didnt make great sense on my EFI, so i reset the computer and it did alot better i thing it adds a little more gas, on top of that i learned to start givving it slightly more gas and it gives me more power anyway so long story short i would, reset the comp, maybe slightly change air/fuel mixture, and if that help a little maybe learn to give it slightly more gas then before. Let me know if this helps.

lil corolla · 01-04-2006, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nitro789

this may or may not help but I just put a cold air-intake on not to long ago on my 92 and it is EFI and ran perfect, but once i got the cold-air intake on it it kinda bogged when it was cold and i didnt give it alot of gas but i used to drive that way before. What i thought was that it is now getting alot more air than before so it might be an air-rich mixture, but that didnt make great sense on my EFI, so i reset the computer and it did alot better i thing it adds a little more gas, on top of that i learned to start givving it slightly more gas and it gives me more power anyway so long story short i would, reset the comp, maybe slightly change air/fuel mixture, and if that help a little maybe learn to give it slightly more gas then before. Let me know if this helps.

Nitro, my corolla is an 88, not fuel injected, it has a 2bbl carb., but i think i have a sticky valve on #1 cyl.
thanks