Lost throttle & rpms when driving won't start

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Nwtercel1
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Joined: Sun Mar 12, 2017 10:02 pm

Lost throttle & rpms when driving won't start

Post by Nwtercel1 »

I was driving up a hill at 45 and my rpm gauge dropped to zero and I lost all throttle now I can't get it to start

Any ideas where I should start

I turns over and try's to start
xirdneh
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My tercel:: 87 tercel 4x4 wagon w/reringed engine, 83 tercel 4x4 wagon w/salvaged engine and 4.1 Diff's
Location: seabeck, washington, USA

Re: Lost throttle & rpms when driving won't start

Post by xirdneh »

Is distributor loose?
Love those Tercell 4x4 wagons but they sure suffer from road noise.
xirdneh
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Posts: 2121
Joined: Thu Aug 04, 2005 11:38 am
My tercel:: 87 tercel 4x4 wagon w/reringed engine, 83 tercel 4x4 wagon w/salvaged engine and 4.1 Diff's
Location: seabeck, washington, USA

Re: Lost throttle & rpms when driving won't start

Post by xirdneh »

Only time one of mine did something like that the timing belt broke. Engine cranked over much faster than normal but never fired.
Love those Tercell 4x4 wagons but they sure suffer from road noise.
jimcrazy
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My tercel:: 1985 4wd 1986fwd 1983 4wd

Re: Lost throttle & rpms when driving won't start

Post by jimcrazy »

i have had that happen twice to me over the years,something in the distributor gave up,,swaped in another distributor and carried on,,never brothered to test to see what gave up as I have a half dozen spares
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rer233
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My tercel:: Multiple

Re: Lost throttle & rpms when driving won't start

Post by rer233 »

Same here- did you check for spark?
if it aint there, there's a good chance it won't break!
83 SR5 Silver/Blue (Snowmobile/work beater)-totaled but drivable
85 SR5 Blue
88 SR5 White (the 'good' one)-not anymore-totaled
87 fwd silver wagon a/t
87 4wd dx Cream (a/t- not anymore- now m/t)
Nwtercel1
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Joined: Sun Mar 12, 2017 10:02 pm

Re: Lost throttle & rpms when driving won't start

Post by Nwtercel1 »

Thanks everyone

It does appear to be distributor and I am in the process of finding another to swap in
xirdneh
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Posts: 2121
Joined: Thu Aug 04, 2005 11:38 am
My tercel:: 87 tercel 4x4 wagon w/reringed engine, 83 tercel 4x4 wagon w/salvaged engine and 4.1 Diff's
Location: seabeck, washington, USA

Re: Lost throttle & rpms when driving won't start

Post by xirdneh »

Timing belt may have lost some teeth
Love those Tercell 4x4 wagons but they sure suffer from road noise.
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Petros
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My tercel:: '84 Tercel4wd w/extensive mods
Location: Arlington WA USA

Re: Lost throttle & rpms when driving won't start

Post by Petros »

check the timing belt first, it will not spark with a broken timing belt because the cam is not turning the distributor.

if timing belt is okay, verify cam (or rotor in distributor) is turning when you crank it (to eliminate any mechanical failure in the system). even the distributor shaft can fail. so if everything mechanically is good, than swap out distributor.

if cam is not turning, a new distributor will not help.
'87 Tercel 4wd SR5 (current engine swap project)
'84 Tercel 4wd (daily driver, with on going mods)
'92 Mazda MPV 4wd (wife's daily driver)
'85 Tercel 4wd DLX auto(daughter's daily driver)
'01 Honda Civic (other daughter's daily driver)
Nwtercel1
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Joined: Sun Mar 12, 2017 10:02 pm

Re: Lost throttle & rpms when driving won't start

Post by Nwtercel1 »

Will do I will report back

Thanks!
Nwtercel1
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Re: Lost throttle & rpms when driving won't start

Post by Nwtercel1 »

Turned out to be distributor

Back on the road
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