1990 Celica GT Questions

[Baffles]

Hi, this is my first post on these forums!

Anyway, I have a couple questions about my Celica. I have a 1990 Toyota Celica GT, with the 5SFE engine.

First question is the car tends to idle rough. I've only changed the spark plugs and air filter, and was wondering what else to check. The car seems to run fine over 900 rpms, but at idle it runs rough and misfires on occasion. What could some things to check be?

Also, when I'm driving the automatic transmissions tends to be very conservative when shifting. It ends up, unless I manually tell it otherwise, in overdrive by the time I hit 30-35mph. Even when I floor it, it doesn't respond. The throttle has a sticky spot in it (due to the kickdown cable being hard to pull past one spot), so I didn't know if this may have to do with it. It takes forever to get up to 65 mph, I often have to kick it out of overdrive to get up to speed on the expressway. Is there some kind of setting I can adjust for this or some way to set the computer to a higher performance mode? Or will I have to take it to a dealer?

Thanks in advance!

[Blane]

That's a good question. your problem in the transmission sounds like it has to do with your engine problems. hmmm.......

here's a bump for your question.

[Baffles]

Turns out the kickdown cable just had a very sticky spot. Worked the spot out and lubed the hell out of the cable, and now it's working.

[wiccanferret]

That's good. As far as the rough idle, what RPM is it idling at? It should be idling at about 600-700 RPM. The next maintenance items would be the fuel filter, spark plug wires, distributor cap, distributor rotor...maybe Seafoam it (just buy some Seafoam at the store and follow the directions on the can).

[toyomoho]

If idle still rough might clean throttle body and IAC valve. Also check for vacuum leaks.

[AWDios]

Might not be a bad idea to run a fuel system cleaner or some isopropyl alcohol through the gas too.