problem with gas\air mixture???????

[psycopanther]

well. i got this guy that gave me a 1990 corolla with the 4a-fe motor. needed ignition coil on it. the car will not do anything but idle. i mean, i hear the pump running, dont know how good it is putting out. i am getting good spark. seems like i get plenty of gas. but i can put starting fluid or gas in intake and the car fires up and revs up till that gas gets burned. and i can start it up to idle and it will for a few minutes than stall out. but while it is idling, if i get it more gas at the pedal, it dies out, or tries. like its getting to much air to the gas ratio. i held my hand on the intake so when i gave it gas, it wouldnt give it more air, and it ran better but still didnt seem to revup much more. car sat for 2 months. need it for driving to work cause of the gas mileage. anybody???

[1990geo5speed]

well first thing i would check is your oxegen sensor it might need to be replaced..check the throttle body see if it needs clean..check the air filter..plugs..fuel filter..then go from there thats the best advice i can give ya

[karugs]

What do you mean it will just idle? Did you try shifting it to D and see what happens? Or doesn't it move at all? If there's no response from the transmission, that's another problem. How many miles?

I wouldn't put my hand on the intake if I were you. Grab a Haynes manual or similar shop manual, it should help you plenty.

And what 1990geo5speed mentioned, check EVERYTHING! You don't know what has or has not been done in the 2 months or more that it sat. Better yet bring it to a local mechanic that you trust and you know will serve you honestly.

[polo708]

sounds like a possible MAF sensor problem?