Help! 94 Tercel dying in "idle"

[Bobby C 01TA]

I've posted this on the tercelonline forum but still couldnt get a fix.. so i thought i would give it a shot here... 1994 Tercel 3EE..automatic, 155k miles. The problem is that the car hesitates in starting.. u have to crank and crank it afew times and give it gas to get the car to idle. Another problem is the idling. The car will idle pretty smooth in park and Neutral but in gear the car shakes bad.. really bad.. seems it it idles so low and then sometimes it will just stall and then time to start the car again. I can just put it in neutral when i come to a light or when stuck in traffic, and then put it in drive.. but thats a freakin task!! The car runs fine when its moving.. even from a 20 or 50 punch or accelerating to get onto a ramp etc, it does fine! All the problems are at a stop. I changed the plugs/wires/oil/tranny fluid/pcv valve and coolant a couple months ago and although that seemed to have all helped, the car just idles extremely rough and chugs while sitting in gear. I even turned up the idle screw and it helped for a while but the problem cam back.

What could be causing this? The compression seems fine and so do the mounts. Would a bad idle control valve cause this? If anyone has any suggestions or a fix for this problem, please let me know! Thanks!

[Galvatron]

Have you checked the fuel filter? I know its a PITA to replace but at that many miles it cant be looking too hot.

[Bobby C 01TA]

haven't changed the fuel filter.. yes I agree it cant be too pretty right now due to the mileage and age on it. I dont think its ever been replaced either.. But... would that possbily be a cure to the problem? Remember the car runs fine while moving and downshifts fine and doesnt chug or hesitate while its moving.. only stopped in reverse,drive or the low gears... I would think if it was the fuel filter, it would effect the overall performance of the car and not just idle.. maybe i could be wrong!

[Tercel GTS]

I gotta say a vaccuum leak. Check all the rubber hoses.

[Bobby C 01TA]

i was thinking vacumn leak as well since everything else seems "fine" I have checked and checked and checked all hoses and i dont hear any hiss or see any hoses that may be off or loose or leaking.. theres just so many hoses.. i grabbed all the ones i could see and wiggled and tightened them. Are there any hoses in particular that can cause this really rough idling?

[Tercel GTS]

Get a can of carb spray. HAVE A HOSE RUNNING. Start engine and little at a time spray the ends of hoses while listening for engine to rev a little. If you do create a fire make sure NOT to spray water in intake.
This is the method used by many shops to locate vaccuum leaks, but after a few times you don't start fires anymore.

[Bobby C 01TA]

Originally posted by Tercel GTS
Get a can of carb spray. HAVE A HOSE RUNNING. Start engine and little at a time spray the ends of hoses while listening for engine to rev a little. If you do create a fire make sure NOT to spray water in intake.
This is the method used by many shops to locate vaccuum leaks, but after a few times you don't start fires anymore.

ehhh i was going to give your procedure a shot till i saw the fire part lol.. can u clearify the part when u said "have a hose running"? I'm assuming I just spray the carb spray at the end of the hose thats pulled out from the line? Or spray the stuff on the end of the hose while its connected to the line? I really want to figure this out but dont feel too comfortable having a risk of starting a fire! .. any other suggestions! Thanks!

[Tercel GTS]

hose = water hose as in from the house to put fire out if one happens. If a fire does happen, shut off engine, then spray water on fire, do not spray water on running engine.

The carb spray, you have engine running and without disconnecting anything spray a lil bit on each end of every vaccuum line you find, plus throttle body gasket area, intake gasket area, so forth and so on. when you spray the leaking spot the idle will rev a little. It revs because the spray is flammable. If you have{example}a spark plug wire leaking spark to engine block and you spray that area it will make a small fire[as long as you're not flooding the ares with spray] so just calmly have buddy that is sitting in car shut engine off then spray a little water on flame to extinguish.

If this is beyond you I'd suggest taking it to a shop, and let them do it. Not meaning that as an insult, just trying to help you.

[Bobby C 01TA]

oh i dont take it as an insult at all lol.. I like challenges.. i like fire ummm well u know what i mean LOL.. i will first try a good fuel system cleaner and see if that does any magic. I added a bottle of VP fuel system cleaner and my idle was smoother and the car seemed to be more responsive. So first that.. then maybe a fuel filter.. but the whole hose thing sounds fun Thanks!

[Bobby C 01TA]

<sigh> it took 10 freakin minutes for the car to start up this morning.. it turns and turns and turns and eventually starts. Fuel system cleaner goes in today and possibly a fuel filter

[bulldog]

carb spray on the vacuum lines, I have to try that.

Thanks for the tip

[jeffs94]

Sounds like it could be clogged fuel injectors, fuel filter, failing coil?, wornout dist.cap, ignition timing a little too advanced. Have you checked for DTC's?

[dotmrep]

Originally posted by jeffs94
Sounds like it could be clogged fuel injectors, fuel filter, failing coil?, wornout dist.cap, ignition timing a little too advanced. Have you checked for DTC's?

Id try the coil and dis cap checks. Had a similar problem before...cant hurt and its an easy to do project.

DOTMREP

[jeffs94]

Always a good place to check first.