Car Experts: What's wrong with my car < *** UPDATE *** >

[Night201]

I need some ideas or suggestions as to what may be wrong with my car.

It's a 1994 Toyota Tercel with 98,000 miles on it. When I drive the car, it's fine, but as soon as I come to a stop and idle with the car in drive still, the car shakes like crazy and the idle goes up and down (feels like it will stall at any moment). Sometimes when I am in a parking spot and I start the car and begin to backup in reverse, the car stalls then. If it helps any, the car is sluggish to accelerate between 0-10 mph.

Is this something that can be easily fixed? Is it the sparkplugs? Air filter clogged? Hoses? Transmission? I have no idea? Any suggestions?

I'm looking to get a new car next summer, and I'm hoping that this car will last until then. Do you think it is on it's final legs?


UPDATE: So, I brought my car in to the dealership and they said that there was an EGR blockage. So they fixed that. That theoretically should stop the stalling problem. The big problem (shaking, burning the oil fast) is due to low compression in my 1st cylinder. Looks like The_Good_Guy was right on! So, I'm not going to get a new engine or an overhaul. I'm just going to use this as long as it lasts and hopefully get a new car in 1-2 years.

 

[Lifer]

check some simple stuff like air filter and fuel filter.

 

[Toasthead]

clogged fuel injector?

 

[Ladies Man]

ever had a tune up?

 

[Saltin]

Check out the throttle body to. Probably has carbon buildup?

 

[Vette73]

First check for Vacuum leaks. With the hood open and the engine running listen for hissing sounds. Run your hands along anywhere you hear something.

After that check out each of your plugs to see if it is running lean/rich. then go from there.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: Saltin
Check out the throttle body to. Probably has carbon buildup?

Explain to me the logic behind carbon building up on a throttle body.

 

[Brutuskend]

Originally posted by: Ladies Man
ever had a tune up?

 

[Wduaqnug]

Engine mounts mine had same exact problem

 

[Turkish]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Run your hands along anywhere you hear something.

Not along the radiotar fan ofcourse

 

[XZeroII]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
First check for Vacuum leaks. With the hood open and the engine running listen for hissing sounds. Run your hands along anywhere you hear something.

After that check out each of your plugs to see if it is running lean/rich. then go from there.

I would have to agree with this. On my car, there is also an idle positioner thingie. That might be bad.

Get a haynes auto repair manual. Look in the front and it will have a section that has common engine trouble. Mine has irregular idling in there with possible solutions.

 

[Brutuskend]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
First check for Vacuum leaks. With the hood open and the engine running listen for hissing sounds. Run your hands along anywhere you hear something.

After that check out each of your plugs to see if it is running lean/rich. then go from there.

To check for Vacuum leaks, get some starting fluid or carb. cleaner and spray it around the intake manifold, throttle body or Carb. if the RPM's go UP, you have a leak.

 

[The Stigenator]

OKAY HOLD IT!!!!!

That is the same problem that ended up sending my 1994 Tercel to the grave yard.

The issue is that one cylinder isnt firing..and I can say its probably cylinder 3... damn toyota of glendale coudltn find the problem and replaced everything else but having to check the injectors.. My frineds Tercel (also 1994) had a similar problem but complicated with a oil problem.

I suggest you get a replacement engine, that's what my friend did, he got a 1996 Tercel Engine from Japan for 500 bucks + another 500 to install it and get it all setup.
The new engine has 65K on it, his frame has about 145K.

I suggest you check these out first:

1. Check to see if there is any Fuel Smell in the oil.. also see if the oil is being burnt.
2. Check for oil in the coolant and white mucous under the oil filler cap.
3. When idling pop the hood and you should hear one cylinder not firing (rather it will go tick tick tick, but there wont be a firing).

I dont know what teh problem is but for me even changing the plugs and wires didnt help (it was done before the engine died about 5000 miles before). Pull the plugs and see if anything is wet, if it is, your leaking fuel and the damn thing isnt igniting.

I had teh same issue.. all I can say its easier to just replace the engine.. I ended up seizing my engine and then throwing a rod through the block..

 

[Saltin]

Explain to me the logic behind carbon building up on a throttle body.

It can cause a rough idle, which is something he noted as a symptom.

I guess I should have said oil/dirt, but whatever.

 

[DrPizza]

1. Get a Haynes manual for your car. Read the trouble shooting part. That way, if you *have* to take it to a garage, you can sound like you may know what you're talking about and will be less likely to be taken advantage of.

Does the problem get worse on rainy/damp days? If so, it could be rotor, distributor cap has a crack, spark plug wires arcing out (which results in missing on cylinders as described above), or spark plugs... All are relatively easy to correct... and, probably correct all four things at once (but one spark plug wire at a time... if you get them mixed up, you're screwed.

Other possible causes (mine does the same thing, only sporadically. It doesn't stall except on rainy days, and I haven't had time to fix the problem yet): bad sensor of some sort... often caused by a bad or rusting ground from the sensor. Check the electrical connections... Haynes manual will describe where, and which sensors...

Good Luck.

 

[filmmaker]

Two words: FUEL PUMP

Have it checked by a mechanic and have the fuel lines replaced if you can afford to.

 

[Night201]

Originally posted by: The_good_guy
OKAY HOLD IT!!!!! That is the same problem that ended up sending my 1994 Tercel to the grave yard. The issue is that one cylinder isnt firing..and I can say its probably cylinder 3... damn toyota of glendale coudltn find the problem and replaced everything else but having to check the injectors.. My frineds Tercel (also 1994) had a similar problem but complicated with a oil problem. I suggest you get a replacement engine, that's what my friend did, he got a 1996 Tercel Engine from Japan for 500 bucks + another 500 to install it and get it all setup. The new engine has 65K on it, his frame has about 145K. I suggest you check these out first: 1. Check to see if there is any Fuel Smell in the oil.. also see if the oil is being burnt. 2. Check for oil in the coolant and white mucous under the oil filler cap. 3. When idling pop the hood and you should hear one cylinder not firing (rather it will go tick tick tick, but there wont be a firing). I dont know what teh problem is but for me even changing the plugs and wires didnt help (it was done before the engine died about 5000 miles before). Pull the plugs and see if anything is wet, if it is, your leaking fuel and the damn thing isnt igniting. I had teh same issue.. all I can say its easier to just replace the engine.. I ended up seizing my engine and then throwing a rod through the block..

My car also burns oil. It is almost empty everytime I do an oil change. I don't want to put any more money into this car. Putting in a new engine is out of the question. So, your car died about 5,000 miles after this all started to happen?

 

[Iron Woode]

It could be a lot of things. It may be fuel related or spark related or even serious mechanical problems.

How about taking it to a qualified mechanic?

You could get a multimeter and test for failed engine components.

 

[alphatarget1]

Originally posted by: Night201

Originally posted by: The_good_guy
OKAY<STRONG> HOLD IT!!!!! </STRONG>That is the same problem that ended up sending my 1994 Tercel to the grave yard. The issue is that one cylinder isnt firing..and I can say its probably cylinder 3... damn toyota of glendale coudltn find the problem and replaced everything else but having to check the injectors.. My frineds Tercel (also 1994) had a similar problem but complicated with a oil problem. I suggest you get a replacement engine, that's what my friend did, he got a 1996 Tercel Engine from Japan for 500 bucks + another 500 to install it and get it all setup. The new engine has 65K on it, his frame has about 145K. I suggest you check these out first: 1. Check to see if there is any Fuel Smell in the oil.. also see if the oil is being burnt. 2. Check for oil in the coolant and white mucous under the oil filler cap. 3. When idling pop the hood and you should hear one cylinder not firing (rather it will go tick tick tick, but there wont be a firing). I dont know what teh problem is but for me even changing the plugs and wires didnt help (it was done before the engine died about 5000 miles before). Pull the plugs and see if anything is wet, if it is, your leaking fuel and the damn thing isnt igniting. I had teh same issue.. all I can say its easier to just replace the engine.. I ended up seizing my engine and then throwing a rod through the block..

My car also burns oil. It is almost empty everytime I do an oil change. I don't want to put any more money into this car. Putting in a new engine is out of the question. So, your car died about 5,000 miles after this all started to happen?

.....

 

[syberscott]

I would get the Chilton's Engine Code Manual. There are 2 pins that can be shorted in a diagnostic connector under the dash and that will give you the computer trouble codes by flashing the check engine lamp. You can look the codes up in the manual and it will tell you what sensor is reading a problem. It will not tell you the exact problem, just a hint on where to look. And the book is only like $12.

 

[The Stigenator]

Originally posted by: Night201

Originally posted by: The_good_guy OKAY HOLD IT!!!!! That is the same problem that ended up sending my 1994 Tercel to the grave yard. The issue is that one cylinder isnt firing..and I can say its probably cylinder 3... damn toyota of glendale coudltn find the problem and replaced everything else but having to check the injectors.. My frineds Tercel (also 1994) had a similar problem but complicated with a oil problem. I suggest you get a replacement engine, that's what my friend did, he got a 1996 Tercel Engine from Japan for 500 bucks + another 500 to install it and get it all setup. The new engine has 65K on it, his frame has about 145K. I suggest you check these out first: 1. Check to see if there is any Fuel Smell in the oil.. also see if the oil is being burnt. 2. Check for oil in the coolant and white mucous under the oil filler cap. 3. When idling pop the hood and you should hear one cylinder not firing (rather it will go tick tick tick, but there wont be a firing). I dont know what teh problem is but for me even changing the plugs and wires didnt help (it was done before the engine died about 5000 miles before). Pull the plugs and see if anything is wet, if it is, your leaking fuel and the damn thing isnt igniting. I had teh same issue.. all I can say its easier to just replace the engine.. I ended up seizing my engine and then throwing a rod through the block..

My car also burns oil. It is almost empty everytime I do an oil change. I don't want to put any more money into this car. Putting in a new engine is out of the question. So, your car died about 5,000 miles after this all started to happen?

Yeah the car died about 5000 miles after I first noticed the problem. But when the problem got worse it lasted 15 miles or so.

See if your smelling fuel in the oil (pull out teh dip stick it should reek of gas. If that's the issue then your got the same problem. Its not an easy fix, why did my friend replace his engine, it was cheaper to do that than fix what happened to him. Basically this is what happened to him + his oil sump was not working right (because fuel made the oil thinner) and then the engine was starting to seize...

If you cant put a new engine in there, i dont know what to do.. cause my friend's mechanic basically said it was easier and cheaper for them to replace the engine than fix it.

BTW: Do NOT DRIVE THE CAR. Depending on where it is (how bad the body shake it) its close to dying. Mine was running okay (little shake) and then in a matter of 15 miles it got really bad. Well it wasnt even 15 miles but basically I was driving fine all morning then in the evening I was going to my parents place and on the freeway I suddnely lost power.. I limped 2 miles to near a gas station (where i could safely park) and that's where it had to be towed from, it wouldnt start from there. Basically before i parked it the car would shudder like hell, and even in neutral it would do that, but if you hit teh gas past a certain rpm it would smoothen out.. but it would still hardly pull..

THe next morning when the engine cooled we filled teh coolant with water (it was empty by then for some reason) and drove it to the dealer. It went to the dealer with a plume of WHITE SMOKE. That 1.5 miles to the dealer was hell i tell you, but I did fumigate teh enviorment. The dealer basically had one look at teh engine and said its gone.

The funny thing is she was with you them a few days before too... I have learnt not to go to the dealer now. I talked to a Ford Tech guy and he told me why dealers do that. Its not the dealer in hue but you see the mechanics have to sell parts to make money. If they fix the problem up front they relaly dont make much money. If I did that in the computer field and replace everything in the computer much less teh broken cdrom drive I make a lot more money, so that's what happens in most dealer garages.

All I can say is if you can, DUMP IT. I wrote the car off the dealer .. they took control of it. Now Toyota of Glendale owes me a favor for screwing up my car even after the amount i put into trying to fix it.

Stupid fscks! I am also mad at myself for letting them take over my rational thought.. damn you roxanne.

Anyway when I dumped my car, my friend's tercel was running okay, so I dumped him parts from my car (the tyres which had less than 5K, the speakers etc. I wanted to give him my new egr but it wasn teh same model as his or something like that (well the dealer gave me some bull sh*t of it being different because his is a manual and mine was stick - anyway i left the egr in there or i would have canablized it too.

All I can suggest is that its close enough to die. I have seen this exact problem so far in 4 tercels.. Toyota never really fixed the problem. Today's modern incarnation (Echo) still has some of the problems the original Tercel had.

 

[shekondar]

Check for oil in the coolant and white mucous under the oil filler cap

we filled teh coolant with water (it was empty by then for some reason) and drove it to the dealer. It went to the dealer with a plume of WHITE SMOKE.

White smoke + coolant in oil (or oil in coolant) + white gunk under oil cap + no coolant in radiator = blown head gasket or cracked block...:frown:

 

[The Stigenator]

Originally posted by: shekondar

Check for oil in the coolant and white mucous under the oil filler cap

we filled teh coolant with water (it was empty by then for some reason) and drove it to the dealer. It went to the dealer with a plume of WHITE SMOKE.

White smoke + coolant in oil (or oil in coolant) + white gunk under oil cap + no coolant in radiator = blown head gasket or cracked block...:frown:

hon there is a difference..

the white smoke was after I had the engine seize on me... and yes we lost one cylinder. Him checking for oil in coolant is just to see where the problem is.. the fact remains that I know this engine quite well. I have 3 of my friends (exculduing mine) with tercel engines (one paseo) that did teh same fscking thing.

 

[The Stigenator]

woot! that you found the problem..

but i am not sure if your car will last a year.. be prepared for it to die anytime..

I dont want to be the person with the bad news but that's what happened to my car.