First post: need help, tercel wont idle.

[per1]

Hello Tercel4wd.

Straight for the sweet spot. I have a 4wd tercel with the 3ac engine. It is a 1986 model. I had it for 3 years and it would never idle immediately when cold. I always needed to pump the gas for a little while before it would idle (but then again I didnt learn how to engage the choke until yesterday...).

A couple of weeks ago it suddenly turned really bad. It will not idle, even when warm. Well sometimes it can run just fine for a while, but mostly it really struggles and coughs, then stops. It bugs me because when I approach an intersection and brakes to stop, the engine dies... If I need to go to the shop I need to restart the engine 10 times, every time I need to stop for some reason. I have posted on forums and asked people, here is what I have done so far:

Replaced fuel filter and air filter. Tried checking the 11000 vacuum hoses to see if there is a leak somewhere, didnt find any but not sure. Made sure the choke engages when gas pedal is pressed when engine is cold. Sprayed the exterior of the carb with rakleen brake cleaner to clean all moving parts, all seems smooth. Also sprayed into the carb and cleaned it all nice and shiny.

Thing is, fuel/air ratio does not seem right. When I remove the air filter housing and almost completely block the carb with my palm, it runs much better. If I use my finger to block the vacuum hose that leads from the carb up into the fiter housing, it has the same effect, car idles well when you block some air it seems. That is why I suspected vacuum leakage but didnt find any yet.

I was told the problem is not "too much air" it is "not enough fuel", but I dont know how to fix this. Somebody also mentioned the PCV valve but I couldnt find that in my online manual so I dont know what that is....

One of my concerns is that the "can" behind the engine seems to squirt oil or gas. It is really oily in the rear of the engine compartment.

Do you think this leakage is related to my problem? Or does anyone maybe have any other advice or tips? It bugs me that i can fix it temporarily by putting my finger in a hose but I cant really find the problem.

Thanks in advance

A swedish tercellion

Edit: what do I use to clean off all that oil? Brake cleaner does damage to rubber hoses, doesnt it?

[ARCHINSTL]

Welcome to the Club!

The can is the fuel pump. You need a new one. Be certain to check the sump, as you may have fuel mixed with the oil. Typrus has a thread on this - I would suggest doing a Search for this and the other problems; many of us have encountered the same.

An invaluable resouce is this link to the AutoZone site (it is a US chain of parts stores). The site has many photos, which the FSM lacks.
http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroke ... epairGuide

As far as cleaning the oil deposits - use somethng that does not attack paint - a citrus-based, water-soluble, type cleaner (but some do attack paint-check the labels).

I would suggest noting the orientation of your photos when you next post pictures.
Tom M.

[per1]

Thanks! I will order a pump.

And describe my pics better from now on....

[Typrus]

Simple Green.

Fuel pump is shot.

CHANGE YOUR OIL!!

That hose that goes from the carb to the air cleaner is a huge vacuum source. If you aren't hooking that up, there's your problem. Your engine will die if thats not hooked up right. Also if the screw is missing from the white thing it goes into you could have problems.

Check where the brake booster goes to the manifold. It can wiggle loose. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN! IT WILL STRIP!

Same with the vacuum source at the front of the manifold.