Tercel wont start
Tercel wont start
Hi guys, Im new to the forum and don't have a 4wd tercel but have a 1991 tercel ez. Everything is stock and it has 120,000 on it. It has been my daily for a couple months and never gave me problems, but yesterday I went and started it up fine and ran good, I went to pull out of my drive way and it died and wouldn't start. I thought it was out of gas, filled it and it started after a while of cranking, So I started driving down the rode and it was kind of sputtering but would rev up fine, I came to a stop sign and it died, and would not start. I towed it home and here it sits. It has good spark and gets PLENTY of gas, It was puddled under the air filter. I pulled all the plugs and cranked it over and it shoots out clouds of gas out only the 1st cylinder and if I stop cranking it bubbles gas out the carb. I'm thinking float seats but am not familiar with these carbs, I'm assuming it wont run because it is flooding itself. Sorry for the long post but any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Re: Tercel wont start
I just did a compression check on the tercel and starting by the timing cover it has 130, 145, 0, 120 I'm thinking the compression has always been like that, It always been very slow and idled rough like it was running on 3 cylinders, but I was always scared to do a compression check. I don't think this is the problem, it seems like it would still kind of run.
Re: Tercel wont start
Well I got it started and it ran just like it always has (kind rough) but didn't like to idle and when it died it shot about a 1/4 cup of gas out of the carb. any ideas? Thanks
-
Petros
- Highest Ranking Member
- Posts: 11941
- Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 6:31 pm
- My tercel:: '84 Tercel4wd w/extensive mods
- Location: Arlington WA USA
Re: Tercel wont start
Welcome to the list!
Your model has a slightly different engine installation, but many systems are similar.
IF you actually did run it out of gas the first time, it is very possible any crud in the bottom of the tank got sucked up into the fuel system. This would cause the car to act this way. It can plug the needle valve in the carb, the fuel pump and/or the filters. You might first try and change out the fuel filter. If you are brave enough you can remove the top of the carb (very carefully, and watch out for the tiny parts) and clean out the needle valve and float bowl. and than reinstall the cover. There is a risk of messing something up, so if this is over your head the safest thing to do is get some carb cleaner spray (from any auto parts store), and than remove the main fuel supply line on the carb and spary carb cleaner into it. That may clean out the needle valve in the float bowl. You can also spray it down the carb and into the vents and other places to clean it up. ONce you get it to run reliably you might put a bottle of carb cleaner in the fuel tank to clean out the fuel system.
I doubt the problem is the low compression in 3 cylinder, that is likely a burned exhaust valve. the head has to come off to fix that, a major job. IT will run on 3 cylinders, just rough and down on power.
good luck.
Your model has a slightly different engine installation, but many systems are similar.
IF you actually did run it out of gas the first time, it is very possible any crud in the bottom of the tank got sucked up into the fuel system. This would cause the car to act this way. It can plug the needle valve in the carb, the fuel pump and/or the filters. You might first try and change out the fuel filter. If you are brave enough you can remove the top of the carb (very carefully, and watch out for the tiny parts) and clean out the needle valve and float bowl. and than reinstall the cover. There is a risk of messing something up, so if this is over your head the safest thing to do is get some carb cleaner spray (from any auto parts store), and than remove the main fuel supply line on the carb and spary carb cleaner into it. That may clean out the needle valve in the float bowl. You can also spray it down the carb and into the vents and other places to clean it up. ONce you get it to run reliably you might put a bottle of carb cleaner in the fuel tank to clean out the fuel system.
I doubt the problem is the low compression in 3 cylinder, that is likely a burned exhaust valve. the head has to come off to fix that, a major job. IT will run on 3 cylinders, just rough and down on power.
good luck.
'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)
'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)
Re: Tercel wont start
I was thinking clogged filter/jets at first but it is simply getting way too much fuel. Im pretty mechanically inclined and pulling the head is no problem I just don't really want to dig in to this car. I was just wondering if there is a common problem with these carburetors? I will try the carb cleaner and pull the carb apart and see if that helps, Thanks for the advice.