dies at idle (but only after a bit of a run around)

[polkadotsalive]

Hi! I am new to this board as I've just bought a 1985 tercel SR5 4WD, 163k miles. The car is great and I'm excited to learn more about it but here is my issue:
First run of the day is fine. After this, it will die at idles.
New vacuum lines, carbureter, altitude condensor, and I've messed with the Idle screws; no change. Also, I've just flushed with Seafoam with no smoke at all, and no change.
Any ideas?
Afterthought: the idle will hunt a bit at times. Every so often the acceleration is punchy. The Idle tends to want to rev high; until a touch of the accelerator make it dip down again.

[dlb]

welcome, PDA. first, i want to clarify some of the terms you're using.

when you say the idle hunts, do you mean it bounces up and down? if so, by how many RPM? when does it do this? cold, warm, or both?

what do you mean the acceleration is punchy? do you mean it will surge when you give it throttle?

in regards to idling high, when does it do that? it's normal to idle high when the car starts. as it warms up, the idle will kick down. is this what you're talking about?

let us know exactly what you mean. the better we understand what is happening, the better we will be able to help you. what you describe sounds to me like one or more vacuum leaks though. i would go over all of the vac lines again and make sure they are routed properly and fully connected. also check to make sure the manifold bolts are snug, since they can produce vac leaks as well. spray carb cleaner around the vac lines while the car is idling and if you hear the revs climb, you've found a leak. also, check this thread for less obvious vac leaks to look for:

https://tercel4wd.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=8058

good luck.

[ARCHINSTL]

polkadotsalive - Welcome to the Club!

Where are you located? I note your use of "hunts" and "punchy;" these seem to be more UK terms (OZ as well?) than North American common usage.
At least I only encountered them in the BritMobile books long ago.

You might look at this incredibly long thread that I started before I just gave up and installed the Weber: https://tercel4wd.com/forums/viewtopic.php? ... lit=vacuum

If you are in the USA and have a Federal car, there is a color-coded schematic in the Repair Guides section as a Sticky.
Tom M.

[polkadotsalive]

First a humble thank you, truly, for your time and advice to help me out.

dlb:
Yes, the hunting i speak of is an idle flux of about 250rpm in either direction; at times it hunts down until it dies.
Yes, the high idle tends to be at warm-up. It's nice to hear this might be a normal thing.
Yes, it is punchy at throttle, at about 10% of the time, awkward feeling I'll tell ya.
The vacuum lines will be the very next thing I will look at, thanks. The more I read and experience this car, the more it feels like a vacuum issue. Note: A mechanic acquaintance found no leak with a cursory carb cleaner test, but It certainly is worth trying again.
ARCHINSTL:
I am in South Lake Tahoe, Calfornia. I had not realized 'punchy' and 'hunts' might be a UK term. I have been out of the amateur mechanic world for a long time, but I remember these terms from a decade ago. Either that or my Sussex friend has been rubbing off on me.

I'll be looking closely at the threads you have provided. Thanks again to you both, hope to see you on the road sometime!

[Petros]

welcome to the list pokadotsalive,

sounds like a vac leak, but the dying at idle can also be from the device that prevents the throttle from slamming shut being out of adjustment. ON the end of the throttle shaft opposite side from the throttle cable (side of the carb facing the front of the car), there is a vac operated diaphragm that holds the throttle open a drops it slowly to idle. there is an adjustment screw, turn it in a turn or two and see what happens. there is a procedure for adjusting this in the FSM, not a big deal but if too far backed off it tends to make it die at idle after it is warmed up.

Good luck.

[celtglen]

HIya Polka dots,

Welcome! As a new owner of the Tercel I would advise you to download the FSM available free herein. Yes the high rev at warm up is what the engine is suppose to do the rev should also return down to idle speed.

In my experience with this car; the "curb" idle, fast idle and throttle position-er -- all three of them--need to be in "balance" idle wise so that the car will perform adequately. The FSM has a wonderful troubleshooting feature--be sure and get this.

Since you just bought this USED car you might consider replacing your fuel filter, spark plugs, PCV valve AND grommet--even your distributor rotor and or cap wires etc. But then I am very OCD (obsessive-compulsive-disorder) however my 2WD automatic Wagon has 311K miles on the engine (original engine) --I am the original owner

There is a lot of incredible information on this site..have fun and don't hesitate to ask questions!
willekomen!!~