Wont start HELP PLEASE

2mellow4wd · Post by **2mellow4wd** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 9:13 pm

Hey All, I bought my SR5 about 3 weeks ago. OK so after i bought it i replaced the cap, rotor, plugs, wires, and fuel filter because it would hesitate when i would excelerate, plus its just somthing i feel that should be done on a car of this age, especially if you are unsure of thier integrity. So those are new, well last week after a long work night on my way home my car died, it was out of fuel, turns out my fuel guage works when it wants to. so i filled it up and went on my way no problems. well today i am on my way to work and low and behold the car dies again... since my fuel guage is intermitten and i am not sure why the light doesn't come on, i was led to believe the car was out of fuel. luckily she died right next to the gas station. so i fill the car up but it only takes 9 gallons... now according to the manual the fuel tank is a 13 gallon, with the fuel fill tube and all the lines i suspect it would actually hold 13 1/2 to 14 gallons... so i get in the car and she doesn't start... she just cranks over and over and over.... well i call my dad to see if it could be the ingnition modul, and he suspects that is what it could be. so i start pricing... wow quite a shocker $120-200, so now i am hoping that isn't what it is... after more investigation, i find the the modul will fail if it gets too hot, but if the coiul fails, it just wont start... so i go back to start the car after it is cooled completly down, and NO START. so now i am thinking ok maybe i caught a break and its the coil, it is on $40, so i go get a new oe, replace it and again NO START... no i am completly boggled. I get some carb cleaner and clean the carb, thinking maybe due to the earlier incident. and again it doesn't start. after awhile of setting probably about 20 min. my wife is trying to start it and it starts to turn over, so i tell her to give it some gas but not too much because it is bad when it comes to cold starts... so it dies again, then i get in there and give her my special touch and i get her to start up, but even when i am massaging the pedal she dies, then finally i get here to rev, i take it to about 4-5K to clean out the system, hoping that it will clear it up. and it seems to be working, so i close the door, back out and start to go down the street, and then she dies again, but now it wont stay running it will turn over and start for about 1-2 revolutions then just shut off.... i am going to go to the junk yards tomorrow and see if i can find the ignition module for less the $30... IF ANYONE HAS ANY IDEAS PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME OUT....

Thanks Joel

2mellow4wd · Post by **2mellow4wd** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 9:14 pm

Wow i am bright i spelled accelerate, EXCELERATE... please disregard the temporary brain fart....

Joel

clbolt · Post by **clbolt** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 10:25 pm

Before you start buying and swapping expensive parts, you need to know in what area the problem lies. It sounds like you might have a fuel problem, rather than an ignition problem.

Hesitation in acceleration can be caused by a number of things, such as a bad accelerator diaphragm, or a bad float in the carburetor causing flooding. You could also have a bad fuel pump.

lesabre400 · Post by **lesabre400** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 10:44 pm

I'm inclined to agree - sounds like a fuel problem. Could be something in the tank clogging the lines. Running the tank dry then filling it again can stir up all sorts of junk. Could also be what's messing with your fuel gauge. I just replaced the lines going into my tank, they were quite rotten. The inside of the tank was fine, so I didn't flush it but that may be what you need to do. Wouldn't hurt to rebuild the carb either - most tercels of our vintage benefit from a renewed carburetor (especially if it's full of crap from your tank). Should cure the hesitation too.
Having said that, I'd also be checking everything you replaced, since it ran before you changed cap, rotor, plugs and wires. Could be you accidentally losened a connection or ground. I had a very similar problem a few years ago with my '68 Buick. Behaved much like you describe and it turned out to be a power wire running to the coil. 30 years baking on the heat of the intake manifold had made the wire brittle, and when it expanded from heat, the connection would be broken (only in my situation, once it cooled down, the wire would join up enough for it to start again). Took several months, 2 mechanics and many swear words to work that out.
I'd almost say your hesitation is a fuel issue (rebuild your carb), and your no-start problem could be unrelated - check to make sure you didn't damage anything installing the new cap and rotor.
Hope this helps - good luck!

hornett22 · Post by **hornett22** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 11:03 pm

do a compression test.sounds like a couple of burnt exhaust valves.

SUV1 · Post by **SUV1** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 7:44 am

Just my 2 cents, but did you see if your are geting fuel to the carb? pull off fuel line before carb and give it a crank, (fuel pump) also see if you are getting spark at the plugs, if not try putting your old cap and rotor back

3A-C Power · Post by **3A-C Power** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 12:08 pm

In general these engines have more fuel delivery problems than spark problems, and I would suspect fuel. Pull the fuel line off the carb and see if there's anything pumping through it. The explanation of crud in the gas tank and lines is a probable one. I have crud in the gas tank and it will clog if run close to empty, causing a quit or no-start situation.

2mellow4wd · Post by **2mellow4wd** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 7:13 pm

Hey All thank you for the quick replies. I bought a carb rebuild kit today, and a new fuel filter. OK, now are there anysurprises i might find, or anything unexpected when i do this rebuild. Also are there any little tricks i need to know about or any good pointers. I haven't pulled the kit apart to see exactly whats there but i am pretty sure, it is the minor kit. are there any other things i might need to buy... I only paid $750 for the car, and it is pretty good shape with my exception right now, the interior is great, just needed cleaned badly. but it was running strong...

Thanks

Joel

2mellow4wd · Post by **2mellow4wd** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 7:20 pm

Everything with the cap and rotor are good, i am pretty proficient when it comes to maintenance... i am a Harrier mechanic (the jet that hovers) so when it comes to attention to detail, that is on the top of my list. Plus my dad was a mechanic for over 20yrs, he stopped before computers took over automobiles.... I really appreciate the helpful attitudes, it is more often then not i find people treating other people like they are complete retards when the ask about fixing thier car, ( i have let myself slip and do it from time to time)
but you guys have been very helpful,
Thanks,

Joel

clbolt · Post by **clbolt** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 8:30 pm

If you're going to rebuild the carb, you'll want to install a new float. They're commonly bad on the old Tercels.

takza · Post by **takza** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 6:18 am

2mellow4wd wrote: I bought a carb rebuild kit today, and a new fuel filter. OK, now are there anysurprises i might find, or anything unexpected when i do this rebuild. Also are there any little tricks i need to know about or any good pointers. I haven't pulled the kit apart to see exactly whats there but i am pretty sure, it is the minor kit. are there any other things i might need to buy...

We need a good carb rebuild writeup over in the REPAIR section.....cause I'm going to rebuild mine some day soon...... :unsure:

2mellow4wd · Post by **2mellow4wd** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 6:57 pm

OK so i drove the car to work today, i am not sure exactly what is wrong, i am led to think that the carb had gunk in it, and it seems to be cleaned out now, i am still going to rebuild the carb... if i have time tonight while i am working i think i might....

Joel