[mdchlrnyota]

just bought my second corolla. however, this one has come with a few issues.

to start off, i have this issue where, if my fuel tank is reading a quarter tank and i happen to be braking downhill, the car will shut off. i have to put it in park and start it again. i've learned to be very careful about keeping my fuel levels high according to the gauge. i have this notion that it may be the fuel sending unit but i'm not 100% so, here i am.

the second issue i've noticed is a very bad stuttering when i want to take off. i'll put my foot on the pedal to accelerate and it stutters and almost goes nowhere until "realizes" that i want to go and it catches up. when i finally get it going, it drives fine; it's getting it to initially accelerate that's the issue. i have my suspicions of this as well as i pulled a few spark plug tubes and found oil in them. i'm thinking this might be an issue OR i also think it could be the fuel pump. i've ordered new spark plugs, wires, rotor cap, and valve cover gasket with spark plug seals and grommets in hopes that it'll help the issue if not fix it. (i need to do a tune up anyway). if anyone has experienced these symptoms, your input would be greatly appreciated. i haven't ordered the fuel sending unit or fuel pump because i'm doing one thing at time, in a sense.

third issue i'm having is with my wheels. i bought the rolla with aftermarket wheels. they appear to be 15x8 and no matter where i go, i scrape BAD. i'm wondering what you guys are running on yours. i have done a little research and found that i should be running 15x6.5 with a +35mm offset? the wheels on it now have a 0 offset.

last issue, and this is more cosmetic than anything, is the sunroof. it wasn't working when i bought it and i'm trying to get it to work but toyota has discontinued all parts but the drain hose. does anyone know of another way that i could repair the sunroof or if there's an aftermarket option. ideally, i would love to find a glass sunroof instead of a metal panel because of the rusting (which the current sunroof has) but, as long as i could get it going, i would be happy.

i have many plans for this little thing but for now, i just want to enjoy it as a stock sedan.

 

[DrZ]

Welcome to Toyota Nation!

I would check the base ignition timing with a timing light. That could cause the hesitation problems. Low fuel pressure could also cause it.

To replace the fuel pump you'd need to drop the tank, but the sender gauge can be checked/removed through an access cover under the rear seat.

Try to buy a used Toyota Repair Manual online (eBay, etc), the factory manual, not Chilton or Haynes It makes it a lot easier to diagnosis things. It gives the specs for the sender and receiver gauges so you can check them with a multimeter.

 

[75aces]

For the sunroof, use row52 to try to locate another Corolla that was equipped with a sunroof. It will be some time to source it within your local area. But they are Nationwide and some parts of Canada.

You can go to Sparks Toyotas website and cross reference the sunroof to other Toyota models it is interchangeable with. Might be the same part as say a Camry from the same era.

 

[Corrolla clone]

just bought my second corolla. however, this one has come with a few issues.
third issue i'm having is with my wheels. i bought the rolla with aftermarket wheels. they appear to be 15x8 and no matter where i go, i scrape BAD. i'm wondering what you guys are running on yours. i have done a little research and found that i should be running 15x6.5 with a +35mm offset? the wheels on it now have a 0 offset.

i have many plans for this little thing but for now, i just want to enjoy it as a stock sedan.

Yup, rims with the wrong offset will rub. Your 15x8 with a "0" offset push the rims out, and put the edge of the tire inline with the wheel well lip, hence your rub. Up front, you might also be rubbing the inner fender too. Yes, that size (15x6.5) will work for our cars, and I've even ran them in the +40 offset, but had to use a wheel spacer to clear the strut in the rear. A =35 offset is a great compromise in that you shouldn't need a spacer in the rear, and also tuck a little in front, as these cars are designed with 2 different track widths (front and rear).
Currently I'm running my stock 13 inch "winter" tires and wheels. But once the snow is gone, I'll go back to my 15x6.5+40 summer rims with Dunlop DZ102's in the 195-55-15 inch size. The numbers equal 185-70-13's that it had when I bought it that were right on the money with the speedo and odo. With them on it, it drives like a slot car.
I hope this helps.

 

[mdchlrnyota]

Welcome to Toyota Nation!

I would check the base ignition timing with a timing light. That could cause the hesitation problems. Low fuel pressure could also cause it.

To replace the fuel pump you'd need to drop the tank, but the sender gauge can be checked/removed through an access cover under the rear seat.

Try to buy a used Toyota Repair Manual online (eBay, etc), the factory manual, not Chilton or Haynes It makes it a lot easier to diagnosis things. It gives the specs for the sender and receiver gauges so you can check them with a multimeter.

did what you recommended besides checking the timing and found out that my fuel sending unit is bad. to make a very long story short, it seems like the previous owner didn't know what the issue was and he thought that it HAD to be that the fuel pump wasn't getting power. turns out he cut the connector wires that provide power to the fuel pump and ran a wire from the spliced wire coming from the fuel pump, straight to the ignition. he realized that wasn't the issue and "reconnected" everything back the way it was. i am currently waiting for a new fuel sending unit to come in the mail. i replaced my valve cover gasket, grommets, spark tube seals, and rotor cap with wires last night. i would've done the spark plugs but i didn't have the socket for them but that's next along with oil, oil filter, and air filter.
anyway, thanks for the advice!

 

[mdchlrnyota]

Yup, rims with the wrong offset will rub. Your 15x8 with a "0" offset push the rims out, and put the edge of the tire inline with the wheel well lip, hence your rub. Up front, you might also be rubbing the inner fender too. Yes, that size (15x6.5) will work for our cars, and I've even ran them in the +40 offset, but had to use a wheel spacer to clear the strut in the rear. A =35 offset is a great compromise in that you shouldn't need a spacer in the rear, and also tuck a little in front, as these cars are designed with 2 different track widths (front and rear).
Currently I'm running my stock 13 inch "winter" tires and wheels. But once the snow is gone, I'll go back to my 15x6.5+40 summer rims with Dunlop DZ102's in the 195-55-15 inch size. The numbers equal 185-70-13's that it had when I bought it that were right on the money with the speedo and odo. With them on it, it drives like a slot car.
I hope this helps.

that makes so much sense.. i'd rather have to use spacers than to be sticking out. as it happens, i am looking for a good set of 15x6.5 rims, if you know of anywhere i could get them. the rolla is white so i'd like something that maybe offsets the white.

 

[DrZ]

The fuel pump can be turned on by jumping B+ and Fp in the check connector under the hood, like using a bent paper clip. Then you turn the key to the ON position. Normally the fuel pump won't continue to run without the engine running. No need for the previous owner to cut wires apart. This is where having the factory repair manual saves a lot of headaches and grief.

I have been using NGK iridium spark plugs and they work fine. Make sure you check the spark plug holes for debris with a flashlight before putting the new ones in. When I got my 97 Corolla a few years ago I found someone had installed the spark plugs with a small piece of metal trapped under the spark plug gasket (circular metal ring).

 

[Corrolla clone]

that makes so much sense.. i'd rather have to use spacers than to be sticking out. as it happens, i am looking for a good set of 15x6.5 rims, if you know of anywhere i could get them. the rolla is white so i'd like something that maybe offsets the white.

Look on Craig's list or e-bay for them. You want the size (15x6.5 inches), and offset (+35), but on a 4x100 (4 lug) pattern. You'll find a lot of Honda's and Mazda's in that size. Most of the time, Toyota gets excluded, because no Corolla came with 15's stock. Although some Toyota vehicles did come with 15's and a 4x100 by 4 lug pattern.

 

[Corrolla clone]

did what you recommended besides checking the timing and found out that my fuel sending unit is bad. to make a very long story short, it seems like the previous owner didn't know what the issue was and he thought that it HAD to be that the fuel pump wasn't getting power. turns out he cut the connector wires that provide power to the fuel pump and ran a wire from the spliced wire coming from the fuel pump, straight to the ignition. he realized that wasn't the issue and "reconnected" everything back the way it was. i am currently waiting for a new fuel sending unit to come in the mail. i replaced my valve cover gasket, grommets, spark tube seals, and rotor cap with wires last night. i would've done the spark plugs but i didn't have the socket for them but that's next along with oil, oil filter, and air filter.
anyway, thanks for the advice!

I come from the air cooled VW world, and Previous Owner electrical modifications are very common. I don't know how many cars I've worked on that were modified by their previous owner to make something work again. So, you are not alone my friend.