Hi,

I just purchased a Toyota corolla 1988 1300 5 speed HB 4 door which has a 4 cylinder KE motor in it. I live in New Zealand so the model may only be available here but I'm not sure.

I'm having two problems with it:

1./ It is hard to start and the only way it will start is by placing my foot flat down to the floor and keeping the key turned until it ignites. I did clean the "spark plugs", "rotor arm" and "distributor cap contacts" lightly but that hasn't fixed it. When I do start it like this then it chugs a bit and then eventually fires up and runs nicely but it doesn't idle properly.

2./ The other problem I'm having is that it overheats and although it hasn't got up to the red or near to it, it is running very hot. The Radiator and Water cooler container has water filled up and it is clean with green Anti Freeze in there. I asked the owner before I purchased it if it has had radiator problems and he seemed genuine and said it hasn't.

The car oil is very clean and I asked if it has had an oil change recently and he said no. His wife has been using it for work and it runs very nicely but on idle it is lacking torque but seems like a tuning problem as it runs nicely when running past idling speed.

I checked the exhaust pipe end and it does have a black (not oily) film which is contrary to the clean oil.

Some suggestions on what I could do to fix these problems would help as I'm a bit scared to drive it because of the overheating and it also is hard to start which is embarrassing. It feels like it is flooding but I'm not sure. Would taking out the thermostat help the overheating problem? It's summer down here now and the thermostat is probably not needed here even in the winter, what do you think?

I would appreciate any help and I'll be keeping an eye on this post, eagerly awaiting any ideas.

cheers rAd

 

Umm this is a truck forum, but I'll give my inputs here:

1. Check the spark plug gaps (with a gapper) and the distrubeter wires and see if they are any good. Gotta use an OHM meter for that.

2. Change out your thermostat, it more than likely is stuck closed. Don't ever take it out completely that's a bad idea as your engine will run cold and you'll get a lot of carbon buildup from unburnt gasoline around your valves and piston heads.

3. Clean your Throttle body (use TB cleaner and I especially recommend STP's brand).

4. Try using a fuel injector cleaner, maybe your injectors are clogged or something.

5. As far as the black film in the exhaust, it could be a number of things, you might have a valve seal gone bad or a piston seal also going bad. If you have access to a compression tool, try a compression test on each of the cylinders. The number should be in the 100 lbs/in^2 range, anything like 30 or around that is a bad seal (well usually it is). If that's the case, you may need to do a rebuild of somesort to the engine.

 

I have a new corrola and have yet to find a good board like this one. I did find toyotanation.com though and they seem to be OK. Try asking over there.

Steve

 

Hi there,

Thanks for all this info, its a great help.

I went down to the auto shop to buy a new thermostat and before I purchased it the guy from the shop looked under my bonnet and pointed out that my Radiator was going to need replacing. Someone had water blasted it and it has most of the little grill things blown out. I did notice this but I didn't think they were important. He also took the plug off my Fan so it runs when idling now which means it keeps the motor cooler and it does too although I still get a little hotter running that normal but a lot better than before. I didn't but a thermostat as it may not need it once I replace the Radiator.

With the fuel problem: I took the air cleaner off but I found it difficult to work out what part was the choke so I just spayed "CRC", a lubricant and I'm not sure what that is called in US etc but maybe called "STP". It seems slightly better but not really fixed so I will go into the Library tomorrow and scan some parts of the Manual so I can fix the choke problem up.

Ok, just thought I'd keep you up to date on this and once again, thanks a lot.

 

Umm, not the air cleaner, but the air hose that is attached to the throttle body. Your "choke" as you call it is connected to the throttle cable. If you pull that metal knob towards the side of the engine bay (only works one way to do that) you will be able to open ah....what was it called......ah I can't think of the name now, but spray in there generously and possibly even scrub with a tooth brush once it's open. Use a lint free rag and wipe down as much as you can in there but don't get the rag lost in the intake.

STP is a brand name of carb/choke/TB (whatever you wanna call it) cleaner. CRC is also a brand name too and yes we do have that hear.

A word of advice, when installing the new radiator, make sure you burp the system with the engine running, the radiator cap off and the heater on and run it for a few minutes and it will start bubbling and the water level may go down, this helps in releasing any air bubbles/pockets you may have trapped in your cooling system lines, that would otherwise overheat your car. Just add coolant until it starts to almost bubble out or reaches the fill line.

 

You might as well replace the tstat when you replace the radiator. tstats are cheap and since you have the cooling system apart you might as well do it.

Steve

 

When I hear lack of torque, I think of timing.
You might check your timing. If it has been retarded, it will cause rough idling, poor fuel economy, and lack of low end power.