'91 ST Fuel problems?

[stevets]

Heya fellas, I just got my hands on a 91 celica st with about 92k on it. I ran into a problem while driving it earlier today. It started when i was heading down the highway, I noticed that while in 5ht gear the throttle would seem to lag at random times.I could be holding it steady but it would seem to suddenly cut out and then go back to normal. It really wasn't *too* noticeable so I didn't think a lot of it.

I was driving through town a little later and the problem became much more pronounced, especially in the lower gears. I would hit the throttle and it would start to rev up then suddenly fall back to idle, then, once again jump back up to its previous rpm. I pulled into a shopping center and just as I came to a stop it died. I tried starting it several times over the following two hours and barely got a hiccup out of it. Right before I gave up it would start (barely) but would only go from 500-1100 rpms before it died. When I would open up the throttle a bit the rpms would decline quickly. My first guess is the fuel filter/pump. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

[Blane]

Okay...

1.) It could mean your feul pump or filter is clogged.
2.) With that little miles your feul could have water in it?
3.) Adjust your idle screw?
4.) Tune-up?

I take it your car is 91 with manual transmission. Rev your car up for a sustained 5,500rpm and sustain it for 1 minute. This is after your car is warmed up. If it dips while holding let us know.

[adamderry]

I'd think fuel pump. Put the key in the ignition and turn it to on, then see if you hear a "whirring" sound coming from the rear of the car. If you don't hear it, that means you're not hearing your fuel pump pressurizing the system and it's dead.

[stevets]

I can hear the fuel pump going when I turn on the ignition, so I can rule that out. The problem is, once I finally get it started it will idle..for a couple of seconds then I give it some gas and the rpms drop like a rock...it usually dies, then takes forever to start again.

[Luckynumber5]

Check your distributor cap and the rotor, then check the spark plugs.

[stevets]

Well I found the problem. Let me start by saying that I bought this car last week. The previous owner negelcted to tell me that the gas gauge is wrong. It reads just above 1/4 tank when it is actually empty. It turns out I just ran out of gas. God I'm dumbass. Thanks for your help anyway guys.

Cheers

[liplip]

My 90 celica gt is like that too.The fuel gauge shows 1/4 but its actually almost empty.