help: corolla hesitation - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

89corolla · 02-06-2004, 10:37 PM

Someone please help. I have an 89 Corolla with a carburetor. My problem is that it hesitates occasionally and it happens at different engine and vehicle speeds. It just happens out of the blue. I don't know if it's a misfire, but I'm pretty sure it's not detonation because there is no sound during the hesitation. Sometimes it's for a quick second and sometimes it happens 3 or 4 times consecutively.

There has been a "check engine" light only about 5 times since the problem started about a year ago and it will go off as soon as I turn off the engine, but will not return when I turn the car back on.

When I changed the spark plugs, spark plug wires, distributor cap and rotor, it worked perfectly for a few months and then the problem returned. I checked the spark plugs recently and it looks fine. Any suggestions on what else I should check or quick tests I can perform?

|PuNiSh3R| · 02-07-2004, 12:51 AM

Uh.. CEL on an '89 sr5? I don't think so, is it an ae92 coupe? or like a DX sedan?

89corolla · 02-07-2004, 12:35 PM

It's a sedan, but i'm not sure if it's a dx or not. It's probably the lowest model they had; no power window, no a/c, no power door locks.

Dicipleofthelie · 02-07-2004, 02:05 PM

does it just kinda....have no power......then pick back up?

most likely youve got a vacume leak or some sortof vacume problem.........try spraying starter fluid around the carb (not in it) while the car is running..........if the engine speeds up........you got a vacume leak

89corolla · 02-07-2004, 03:40 PM

Yeah, that's how it is. No power for a second or two then it picks back up. It happened again today and I notice that if I accelerate lightly, I doesn't happen as often.

I'm going to try spraying the carburetor. Thanks for the suggestion.

|PuNiSh3R| · 02-07-2004, 04:30 PM

Uh.. heh.. use a torch.. just don't light it! just spray the gas out along all of the lines n stuff.. first thing is to put the torch over the intake to hear how your engine sounds when it sucks it in.. that way you know what to listen for if you find a vacuum leak.

Dicipleofthelie · 02-09-2004, 02:39 PM

why a torch specificly?

i would think a fuel thats closer to car gas would be better for the engine

....ie starter fluid

|PuNiSh3R| · 02-09-2004, 04:42 PM

Uh.. no.. it does not matter.. it's just propane or MAPP gas.. it's really high octane.. Doesn't hurt the engine at all.

bdgood · 02-28-2004, 09:50 PM

Check out this thread... If you figure anything else out please post again.

http://www.toyotanation.com/showthre...lla+hesitation