89 Corolla Hesitation

[bdgood]

When I start it, I have to hold the gas down. It also hesitates on accelleration and lacks power. It's especially noticable in the middle of the pedal.

Any ideas of what the most common cause for this is on an 89 corolla with a 4A-F?

Also, as far as reading the codes - I can't seem to get anything to work. I have 3 wires going into that diagnostic thing. I've tried every combination of those with the car in nuetral and the ignition on but not started. I don't get any flashing check engine light.

Question: Without jumping anything, and turning the ignition on but not started, should the check engine light be lit? I think so. Mine is not. Maybe that means someone disconnected it.

Thanks.

[REN69]

hey.. i got the same problem with mine.. 4AGE engine though.. but I had the same problem with my old Civic carburated (like the 4AFE). After I got the fuel filter replaced on the civic, the problem went away, the filter was so clogged that it started leaking.. it never occurred to me then.. but after the replacement the car ran fine.
I got the fuel filter on my corolla GTS checked the other day, cuz i want to get it replaced. Unfortunately the filter has never been replaced :evil: so now i have to spend probably a few $$ to get the fuel lines replaced too.. grrrr.. the one line coming from the gas tank is rusted, so that's gonna cost me probably a bit more.
Hopefully your problem lies in the fuel filter too, the filter itself for my car is $40 CDN, but the install could be more $$, unless you could do it yourself. the filter in my car is located in the engine bay, not sure if the carburated version has the filter in the same spot, or near the gas tank at the back like my civic did.
hope this helps.

[toymaniac]

clean the carb, adjust it , spark plugs, cap wires rotor , fuel filter ,air filter,

dont forget it's a 13 year old engine.... thoses things above should be checked/replaced.....

[Spud]

Okay,I have an 89 Corolla with the same problem you describe.It used to stall when I put my foot on the gas and still hesitates on acceleration.I got rid of the stalling problem by changing a diaphragm in the carburetor and having the carb cleaned.As for the hesitation,i still havent figured that out.The tech at my local dealer says its probbably something internal in the tranny.In which case,an expensive overhaul is in order.I also had to change the valve body inside the tranny as it wasnt kicking down when I mashed the pedal.Im hoping you dont need a tranny like I probably do but our cars are"mature" to say the least so anything is possible.At the moment Im trying to decide if it makes sense to overhaul the tranny or replace it with aused one.Buying a brand new one is out of the question!!!!For the moment the car runs kinda okay but until I find the funds it will have to stay that way.Oh! and you could check to see that your shift cable is adjusted properly and have your torque converter checked if youve got one.Im not sure our tranny has one.

[jmschoep]

I have 3 wires going into that diagnostic thing.

Data Link Connector, or Diagnostic Link Connector. DLC for short

The check engine light, or MIL Malfunction Indicator Lamp should come on when you start the car. If the MIL does not come on and then turn off after the car is running there is something wrong. In your case most likely someone disconnected it or it burnt out.

[bdgood]

Thanks guys, I already replaced the plugs and fuel filter. The air filter, cap, rotor and wires were done about 15k ago.

I hate the idea of it being the tranny. That's not good.

Spud: Did you change the diaphram yourself? Was that expensive?

When you guys say clean the carburetor, forgive my ignorance, but I haven't had a carb since my '81 chevette, how do you clean it? Do you mean spray some carb cleaner, or remove it and take it apart and clean? Or can I just pay the shop to do it? If so, about how much will that cost?

I have another possible solution that I haven't checked on my car yet - check this out from the yahoo corollaandprizmowners group...

If your 89 corolla has 4AF 1.6L engine with carburator, please check
the following site and hope it helps:

http://www.ontool.com/library/document/340-
1419/mar_2001_tech_tip_01.htm

My 89 corolla had the problems like yours and was fixed exactly as it
describes. It had nothing to do with all the parts you mentioned.
It cost me $60 part from Toyota dealer to got rid of all problems.

Good Luck! Let me know.

Ken
89 Corolla
112K miles

[Spud]

I had my local dealer change the diaphragm.That is something i would never attempt myself.Carbs are pretty complex pieces of kit.In my experience anyway.When I say I had the carb cleaned I mean that I had the dealer dismantle it and clean it up as gunk builds up inside it from time to time.It cost me about J$3000 to have the diaphragm changed.About US$60.I dont remember how much it cost me to clean but I think it was about the same.You can always but carb cleaner and spray it in yourself.But the dealer clean will probably be better.Thanks for the url.ill be sure to check it!!!!

[bdgood]

Spark plug #1 looked clean. Also, no fuel in
that hose that connects to the Auxiliary Acceleration Pump housing.

So... I decided to check over everything, and found an old PCV, and
a cracked hose going from the Air cleaner to the head near the PCV.
This hose was cracked so bad it was a problem. I also found a very
bad rotor, even though I had a receipt from the previous owner
saying the cap, rotor and wires were done. Looks like they missed
the rotor. It looked original with a lot of corrosion. So I
replaced the PCV, that cracked hose, the rotor, cap, wires, and now
I don't have the same problem. The car runs 100% better. The only
problem now is that I have to give it gas to start it, and it acts a
little funny until warm.

Brad

[Spud]

What exactly do you mean when you say the car behaves funnt until its warm???I still have to pump the gas pedal once or twice to start the car when the engine is cold.I usually give it a minute or so before I drive off.Keep in mind that when your engine is cold you shouldnt be reving it hard or driving it particularly quickly as the oil wouldnt necessarily be circulating properly yet.Guys with newer cars may be able to get away with it but when its a mature car like ours,we have to be a little more careful.

[toymaniac]

Originally Posted by Spud

What exactly do you mean when you say the car behaves funnt until its warm???I still have to pump the gas pedal once or twice to start the car when the engine is cold.I usually give it a minute or so before I drive off.Keep in mind that when your engine is cold you shouldnt be reving it hard or driving it particularly quickly as the oil wouldnt necessarily be circulating properly yet.Guys with newer cars may be able to get away with it but when its a mature car like ours,we have to be a little more careful.

especialy with carbs.....

[bdgood]

Maybe what I'm experiencing is normal, but on my 87 corolla with a carb and 145k miles, that I had a few years ago, I didn't have to touch the gas when starting - it fired right up, so I thought this one should behave the same way. After it first starts, it almost stalls if you don't give it a little gas. Then after you wait a minute to let it warm up, when you first get going for the first minute or so, it hesitates alot. After that, it is fine now. None of this is a big deal, but I do think something else is up.

Brad

[Spud]

I know someone who didnt have to pump the gas pedal either.He just turned the key and the car would start.I think we have a carburetor problem tho.However,I cant afford a new carb right now so its going to have to be this way for a while.I guess we're just lucky!!!....You said it Toymaniac!!

[Hemi3TC]

An engine with a worn/stretched timing belt will be a bit harder to start cold.
Several people I know who have changed their own belts notice the enigne fires right up without needing cranking with a new timing belt.

Originally Posted by Spud

What exactly do you mean when you say the car behaves funnt until its warm???I still have to pump the gas pedal once or twice to start the car when the engine is cold.I usually give it a minute or so before I drive off.Keep in mind that when your engine is cold you shouldnt be reving it hard or driving it particularly quickly as the oil wouldnt necessarily be circulating properly yet.Guys with newer cars may be able to get away with it but when its a mature car like ours,we have to be a little more careful.

[Spud]

Really???I hadnt even considered the timing belt.I cant remember if Ive ever been able to start the car from cold without pumping the gas pedal at least once.When I bought the car three years ago I changed the timing belt.Hhmm,something to think about for sure.Thanks Hemi3TC!!!!!

[Spud]

Forgot to ask:The people you know who have experienced easier starting,are any of their engines carb fed??