SOLVED - Idle problem -Need Help with idle solenoid problem.

[sherlock]

Ok, naturally I'm out of town visiting relative when the tercel won't start. I replaced the engine fuse on the panel inside the car and it starts. Now it won't idle. I have checked all the usual suspects and think its a stuck idle solenoid. I believe the problem to be one of the two solenoids because the fuse blew first. The choke seems to be ok. According to other posts the idle solenoid is by the throttle linkage. I have taken it out and need to know if the plunger can be pulled or pushed to check it out. I guess I could just cut the wires and connect them to the battery to see if the thing works. Im thinking it just might be stuck and by moving it in and out i can fix it.

[ARCHINSTL]

Check the FSM, in the Fuel/Carb section, around page 12 or so; you don't have to cut the wires to check them - just use leads, as shown.
Sorry I can't help with the fuse part of the question.
Tom M.

[sherlock]

SOLVED. I have read a ton of posts about this problem. The main relay was bad. I suspected it was something electrical. The main relay is in a plastic relay/fuse box on the drivers side shock tower. It is right next to the fan relay. The idle solenoid plunger has a spring behind it- closing off the idle circuit when there is not 12v to the valve. when you turn the ignition key the solenoid gets 12v and the plunger pulls in against the spring opening the idle circuit.
The main relay was not giving the 12V. I went to the boneyard and grabbed a bag of relays and electrical stuff to see what might work. My first guess was the main relay. Might be a good idea to get a spare and a 15amp fuse in case you suffer the same no start and no idle problem. Grab a spare fan relay while you are at it. I almost burned up an engine once when the damn fan didn't come on sitting in traffic. If someone can tell me how to change the title I will so others with the same no idle problem can find it easily.

[Neu]

I'll change it, what do you want me to change it to?

[takza]

Best to put it in the Repair section under the right title?

[Don Jorgensen]

SOLVED. I have read a ton of posts about this problem. The main relay was bad. I suspected it was something electrical. The main relay is in a plastic relay/fuse box on the drivers side shock tower. It is right next to the fan relay. The idle solenoid plunger has a spring behind it- closing off the idle circuit when there is not 12v to the valve. when you turn the ignition key the solenoid gets 12v and the plunger pulls in against the spring opening the idle circuit.
The main relay was not giving the 12V. I went to the boneyard and grabbed a bag of relays and electrical stuff to see what might work. My first guess was the main relay. Might be a good idea to get a spare and a 15amp fuse in case you suffer the same no start and no idle problem. Grab a spare fan relay while you are at it. I almost burned up an engine once when the damn fan didn't come on sitting in traffic. If someone can tell me how to change the title I will so others with the same no idle problem can find it easily.

Sherlock
The following is from my thread about "Won't idle...just dies but will come out of it"

Symptoms ...rough surging idle and dies below 1500. Lots of raw gas going down the primary..No vacuum at some ports of the carb. He suggested that the 1st fuel solenoid shut off be checked. Well I've done that several times not only checking off the battery but plugging and unplugging the solenoid with the ignition switch on and I've gotten positive clicks. Even went so far as to take the solenoid off and look at the little end needle move on activation. Well the tech suggested that I could plug the solenoid hole with a bolt and check that way.. What do I have to loose at this point? The rebuilt carb looks really good sittin there so I take one of 5 solenoids I have begging to be put in service and I saw off the business end, clear of any burrs and saw stuff and install it.

I'm back in the saddle again. Immediately the motor smooths out and after adjustments I now can idle surge free at 650, the fast idle kicks in when the AC is on, no more surging, and at this point the engine does not run on when the ignition is shut down.

Now I know what to do next to finish the job, even though he is running fine.
thanks for your followup
Don Jorgensen

[sherlock]

Update to my Solved idle problem. The car failed to start again three days later. I stuck a screwdriver in one of the plug wires and cranked the car over. I got shocked but it didn't knock the crap out of me. I found the tercel manual that someone put on this site and saw that the ignition fuse, main relay and the distributor with igniter/coil in it are all in line in the same circuit. Went to junkyard and found distrib with coil in it and it now runs. The coil assembly is held in by 4 phillips head screws so you can probably just remove it and save a few bucks. Thanks for the online factory manual. I was about to set the tercel on fire, but it has another life in it yet. And yes, this happened 1200 miles from home.
Happy Holidays!