1981 Toyota Celica hard start

UPWITHWINGS

MEMBER
1981 TOYOTA CELICA
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
80,000 MILES

Hello! Thank you for taking my question. My car cranks quite a bit in the mornings when cold before it fires, then seems to run rough for the first few minutes after starting. Until it gets warm, I don't know if it will shut off or not. It can sit for an hour or two and I have the same problem, however, the car seems to run fine once it's warmed up. OCCASIONALLY, it hesitates slightly when I accelerate from a stop (red light or stop sign).
I have replaced the spark plugs and fuel filter. Supposedly a local mechanic has checked the carburetor and found no problems. Accelerator and fuel pump also checked.
My gauges indicate high oil pressure and high battery charging when the car is running at higher speeds.
It's been hard finding someone who can still work on an engine that isn't fuel injected. Thank you for your help!

2 Replies

DSPLC

MECHANIC
220 POSTS

Check your timing on the crankshaft. If it is okay, the only thing I suspect is the carburetor. The automatic choke in the carburetor for cold start is not working properly. Also, from stop and then go acceleration hesitation, on the primary barrel of the carburetor, there is like a needle (like from syringe needle). Once you step on the gas, this needle will squirt gas. Only one squirt of gas everytime you step on the gas pedal. (Not continous). Needle maybe clogged.