1993 Toyota Tercel Shuttering and lights

SHAMUS09

MEMBER
1993 TOYOTA TERCEL
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
236,530 MILES

I've got a 1993 Toyota Tercel, paid 500$ for it originally and never once had a problem with it until recently. Like all Toyota Tercels the car leaks some oil down into the spark plug tubes. Recently I put a custom cold air intake system on it which seemed to work fine, had to relocate some stuff, but that was just moving them around in the firewall cabin. Now as of recently, I was driving home and the car started to jerk, shutter, shake, acting like there was no fuel, yet when cold will start up and drive normal. I've thought and thought about everything, and don't wish to spend a limitless amount of money on something before knowing the cause. Has had a tune up, oil needs changed, etc. When the car goes to jerk and shutter it'll also die, sometimes starting is easy, the others it's impossible, lights kick on. Any ideas other than Fuel System?

1 Reply

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

Next time it refuses to start don't wait for it to make up its mind-do below immediately to determine if its fuel or spark problem

Get a helper disconnect a sparkplug wire or 2 and ground it to the engine atleast 3/16 away from ground-have helper crank engine over-do you have a snapping blue spark? If so-you have a fuel related problem, Do you hear the fuel pump come On when you turn key on? If not check fuel pump fuse and fuel pump relay if so, check the fuel pressure to rule out the fuel filter/fuel pump/pressure regulator and listen to the injector/s are they pulsing or hook up a noid light. No snapping blue spark continue to troubleshoot the ignition system-power input to the coil/coil packs, coil's resistances, cap and rotor, distributor pick-up coil, ignition control module, cam and crank sensors and computer Note: If it doesn't apply disregard it and keep testing