Engine is hard starting

Tiny
1HOT65
  • MEMBER
  • 1989 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 90,000 MILES
I just rebuilt a carb on my 89 corolla. When it does start it will idle up to 2000 rpms then shut off. What do I do the car sat for six years. So I rebuilt the carb. Before I did that it would start, idle up to 2000 rpms, bog down almost to where it would shut off then idle back up to 2000 rpms. It did this pattern about 15-16 times then shut off. Now after rebuilding the carb it starts hard, idles to 2000 rpms, and shuts off. Sometimes I can hold the gas pedal down and it sounds like it is struggling, let off the gas pedal then it idles fine but when I press the gas pedal again it just chokes out and cuts off.
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Saturday, December 24th, 2011 AT 1:06 AM

42 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,606 POSTS
Recheck your float height and whether the float actually floats or not. the alcohol in todays fuel may have eaten it up on the inside and it won't float any longer.check for a vacuum leak after you get back running. like a hose off or carb leaking at bottom. THis guide can help us.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-cranks-excessively-before-starting

Please run down this guide and report back.

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Saturday, December 24th, 2011 AT 1:27 AM
Tiny
RPEMBERTON
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1988 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 188,000 MILES
The car is a Corolla FX and is carbureted, if that makes any difference at all. It always will be able to turn all the dash lights and radio on, but almost every morning it will take a few minutes to get started. When trying to start it the engine will usually turn over several times repeatedly, and then I'll let it rest and turn the car completely off. It takes me about three or four rounds of this to finally get it started and keep it started. But usually, if I can get it started in the morning, I won't have much trouble with it for the rest of the day. Sometimes, especially if it has sat for a few days, when trying to start it in the morning, the engine won't turn over at all. However the lights still turn on and a jump start will get it going right away. I had the battery and starter tested and they were fine. The battery terminals are very clean. Thank you.
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Friday, October 16th, 2020 AT 10:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
If you to give it a jump it will fire up with no problem
you had the battery tested !
Should have it tested 1st think in the morning and after it sat in the car all night
as you may have power drain over night causing the battery to weaken and spin the engine quick enough to fire

if the jump doesn't help much check it for tune up and suspect carburetor need adjustment and check the choke too
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Friday, October 16th, 2020 AT 10:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JAYDIII
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
  • 1986 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 142,346 MILES
Its a 1986 toyota corolla Sr5 hatchback 4cyl carburated. When its cold its hard to start and I notice that on the ground where my exhuast is its black on the ground and all around my exhaust is black too. Theirs also a really bad smell when im driving, when im just driving normally not flooring it its smells fine but when I speed up or slam on the gas it smells, catalytic converter? Also my car is leaking coolant I just havent been able to pinpoint it, I know it cant be the head gasket because the previous owner replaced that, and it leaks a lot, like a little puddle. Just today I started my car to park in the garage so the car was on for mayb 5 mins I look under the car and its leaking coolant. Could it be the intake/exhaust gasket?
Any help would be appreiciated, thanks.
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Friday, October 16th, 2020 AT 10:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,549 POSTS
You more than likely will have to rebuild or replace the carb. The rich exhaust has probably overheated the convertor and it will ne to be replaced.

The coolant can be coming from a hose, radiator, thermostat housing. On some Toyotas there is a hose from the waterpump to the thermostat housing that is under the ntake manifold and is hard to see. Try an inspection mirror.
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Friday, October 16th, 2020 AT 10:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JAYDIII
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Thanks a bunch for the quick response im goin to clean off my exhaust and get a new cat and see if it still smells or leaves black stuff on my muffler
and for the carb im goin to buy a weber carb, pricey but good performance, as for the coolant leak I might just take it to a auto shop and ask them to pinpoint the source of the leak.
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Friday, October 16th, 2020 AT 10:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JAYDIII
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
O one more question
test pipe or high flow catalyic converter?
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Friday, October 16th, 2020 AT 10:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,549 POSTS
Replace the convertor. Of course it is illegal to tamper with emmission devices and while you may not (now) have to pass a smog test or inspection to get your car tagged, that time is coming for everyone.
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Friday, October 16th, 2020 AT 10:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JAYDIII
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Hey again one of my friends recommended I get my carb cleaned out by a mechanic or do it myself and I wouldnt have to replace it.
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Friday, October 16th, 2020 AT 10:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
IMFASTRNU2
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1985 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 171,000 MILES
Hello,
My Corolla is having some truoble starting when the engine is warm. Two pumps of the gas pedal (carb. Car) and it fires right up. When it's cold. When it's warm though it cranks and cranks and cranks and will finally chug to life, with a little help from me and the gas pedal. The plug wires are new within the last couple years, I'm going to replace the cap and rotor and the air filter is in good shape. What else should I be looking for. Again, this is a carburator car, not fuel injected. Thanks.
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Friday, October 16th, 2020 AT 10:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,549 POSTS
If, as you say, it has been runnung rich, that can cause the convertor to overheat.
The way to find out is to fix the carb, then have a backpressure test performed on the CAT. That will tell you if you have any restrictions.
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Friday, October 16th, 2020 AT 10:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,549 POSTS
Try spraying some starting fluid in car when it won't start, if it starts or runs for a few seconds, then either fuel pump or filter.

If it does not start or run a few seconds after the starting fluid, then ignition problem.
It sounds like a weak ignition, since when you pump gas, it squirts gas into engine via the accelerator pump on carb.
When hot you may be flodding engine due to weak spark.
When engine is hot, try flooring gas pedal once and hold to floor, this may help.
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+1
Friday, October 16th, 2020 AT 10:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JAYDIII
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Hey again, so I replaced the cat with a new one, the odor is faint now. Also I wiped off all the black gunk on my muffler and drove it around for a bit with the new cat, theirs still black stuff on my muffler so im guessin its the carb. So im going to replace this thurs when I get payed. And also my friend checked my car and he said for the coolant leak he told me just to replace my thermostat. My question how do I replace my thermostat?
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Friday, October 16th, 2020 AT 10:15 AM (Merged)
Tiny
THEDARK_MASTER
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1985 TOYOTA COROLLA
So I am having problems turning on the car when it has been working for a while and is warmed up. In the morning when the car is cold and hasn't been started, it starts up fine with no problem. After it warms up in 10-15 minutes while I am driving it, when I stop at a stop light it shuts off and its really hard to start it up again. Is there any suggestions?
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Friday, October 16th, 2020 AT 10:15 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Is your vehicle carburetted or fuel injected?
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Friday, October 16th, 2020 AT 10:15 AM (Merged)
Tiny
THEDARK_MASTER
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Carbureted
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Friday, October 16th, 2020 AT 10:15 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Check the fuel level in carburettor float chamber.
Check ignition sparks. They must be bright blue.
Does pumping the accelerator 2 or 3 times makes starting easier?
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Friday, October 16th, 2020 AT 10:15 AM (Merged)
Tiny
THEDARK_MASTER
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I will check it out and will let you know
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Friday, October 16th, 2020 AT 10:15 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SSPARGUR2S
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
  • 1985 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 220,000 MILES
Lately my engine has been having some trouble starting. Replaced the battery, alternator, starter, and the spark plugs but I have to turn the key multiple times for it to start.

When I first turn the key there's no sound, no clicking, nothing. Then, I wait a few minutes (and turn the key again, really quickly) and it starts just fine. A tow truck driver jump started my car (about two weeks ago) and it made a noise it's never made before, since then I've been having this problem. The car needed to be jumped because I left the lights on and it drained the battery.

Also, the car now runs hot sometimes but as far as I can tell the cooling system is fine. I flushed and replaced the coolant, replaced the radiator and both the hoses, the pump works (the coolant circulates when the engine's running), and the fan turns on when the car is warmed up.

How do I find out what's causing the problem without replacing everything under the hood?
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Friday, October 16th, 2020 AT 10:15 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Have a shop verify the battery, starter and alternator are working.
The ignition switch needs to be checked as well. Jumping a car these days is never a good idea as computers hate voltage spikes.

Roy
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Friday, October 16th, 2020 AT 10:15 AM (Merged)

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