Need help bad! I have an 89 Corolla with an automatic trans. I have what seems like a sudden draumatic lost of power. I could be wrong, it may have been slowing coming and I did not notice it. I disconnected the catalytic converter from the engine exhaust and took a test drive. It appears the power came back, however, I'm now experiencing an engine miss that was not there before. While in neutral, if I hold the engine rpm up high, the engine runs smooth with no missing. It only misses under load at any speed. The engine starts up on a dime with no heating problems. The spark plugs are less than 6 months old and I checked all of them and it looks like they are firing ok. I have 44,000 miles on the engine, I realise it's getting close to changing of the timing belt too. Hope to hear from you soon. You can email me if you like at: kamaki8@hawaii.rr.com. Thank you, Tommy.
All I did was to disconnect the side of the catalytic converter closes to the engine just to see if the loss of power was due to the catalytic converter being clogged up. The engine power did return to normal at that point. Just can't figure what's making it miss so badly? I will be installing a new catalytic converter this morning. If the timing belt jumped for any reason, I know that would cause the missing. However, the engine starts up fine, no heating, and at high rpm in neutral no missing at all. How can I check the timing on this engine? Is this year OBD l or ll? A thought just occurred to me. Could a faulty PCV be the cause of the missing? I'm thinking the back pressure from the clogged catalytic converter may have also clogged up the PCV valve. I guess I should be testing that as well. Any suggestions or comments? Thank you, Tommy.
My engine is carburated. I just checked the check engine light for codes. The Chiltons manual that I have says for the 4AF engine to ground the diagnostic switch terminal (T) to ground. I did that by grounding the wire to the negative terminal of the battery, and no codes came up. The manual also says that if the system is normal and has no codes stored, the lamp will flash on and off several times rhythemically. I'm not even getting that. I notice for the 4A-GE engines, the manual says to jump the (T) terminal with the (E1) terminal. To be honest, I'm not sure if the check engine light is working. I have never seen it come on. Unless the person who owned the car before me pulled the bulb. What location of the dash should the check engine light be flashing at? What is the best way to check if the check engine light is working?Should I jump the (T) with the (E1)? I hate to do that if I'm not suppose to. I don't need a blown computer on my hands. I checked the PCV valve. It checks out ok. I removed it and blew into the crankcase end and there is free air passage. Then blew into the other end and had no air passage, which appears normal to me. The only other thing I have not checked is the timing belt. I could be wrong, however, at this point, it does not seem like that would be where the problem is. Exactly what is involved with checking the timing with a timing light on this car? Never did it before on this engine. Sure can use your comments and suggestions. You can email me if you like at: kamaki8@hawaii.rr.com. Thank you very much, Tommy.
Go to the following link. If that does not work, just go to the Autozone vehicle specific repair guide webpage and find your car. The carb on this cars are complicated and where I live nobody is willing to work on it. You should see the CEL when you turn your ignition on. It is like a small engine block, orange, in the same area where the rear heater lamp is. Some on this forum don't have it. Mine is an 89, but california emissions, so I have it.
I have done some cleaning myself. I have a problem with hesitation in the cold weather and there is a long post over this issue around a year ago. I have got used to it and would probably be getting rid of the car soon anyways. Good luck.
I finally got the car running good. I replaced the catalytic converter and spark plugs. The car runs great. It was a combination of these two items that created a terrible loss of power and missing. I thank all of you who supported me.
Did you ever determine whether your CE light was working? Did you replace the bulb?
My 89 doesn't show the CE light, but there is a dark space on the panel at that position.
Thanks,
jb
No, I never found out if my check engine light works or not. I guess one day when I can find the time, I'll remove the dash cluster to see if there is a bulb missing in that area.
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89 Toyota Corolla HELP?
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