Tercel log #3: fueled by uncertainty

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck) 12/18/2016 at 14:06 • Filed to: Tercel, Tercel log

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Folks, we have our first new (to me) problem with the lunchbox. Last weekend, I filled my gas tank, and pretty much immediately after that, I have been having idling issues ever since.

When you start the car — warm or cold — it idles fine, same as it ever was. But if you brake to a stop, it stalls. When you shift into neutral, it almost stalls instantly. In my mind it’s not weather related because last week I had zero problems in 20-degree weather.

I am not joking when I said it started right after I filled the tank, but that could be coincidental. Thus, I can think of the following possibilities.

- bad gas

- sediment dislodged in gas tank gumming up fuel line

- fuel filter

- fuel pump

- new vacuum leak

- carburetor black magic

Any suggestions?

S65 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/18/2016 at 14:08

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Doesn’t it have a aftermarket fuel regulator?

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > S65 12/18/2016 at 14:10

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Yes, it’s got a Holly fuel regulator -- for reasons I don’t really understand.

Spaceball-Two > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/18/2016 at 14:13

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Sending unit?

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/18/2016 at 14:14

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Fuel filter and/or sediment in the tank have my vote.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes 12/18/2016 at 14:16

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If it’s sediment in tank, that sounds like it will require the removal of the gas tank. My wife’s Tercel had the same problem. She’s fairly certain that’s what it is on mine.

This also makes sense... I bought the car with half a tank of gas. The first couple of times I got gas, I only put in a few gallons, because I was in a hurry and didn’t have far to go... So this was the first time I filled the entire tank. Hmm.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Spaceball-Two 12/18/2016 at 14:19

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Perhaps. Hopefully a $5 filter is the fix, and not a 30-$90 fuel pump.

Spaceball-Two > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/18/2016 at 14:22

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Can you flush the tank out? Clear any sediment or hopefully not rust in the tank.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Spaceball-Two 12/18/2016 at 14:31

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You can, but I’ve been told it’s a huge PITA. But I suppose I may not have a choice.

TheHondaBro > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/18/2016 at 14:33

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Sell it and buy a Celica.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > TheHondaBro 12/18/2016 at 14:35

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No thanks

Wacko > TheHondaBro 12/18/2016 at 14:36

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I told him he should of bought that white prelude.

fhrblig > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/18/2016 at 14:47

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That almost exact thing happened to my ‘01 Hyundai Accent and it turned out to be a faulty replacement MAF sensor. I don’t even know if cars that old have anything similar though.

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/18/2016 at 14:52

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Change the fuel filter but more importantly do a postmortem on the old one. Open it up see what junk is there. Also of note many Japanese cars of that era also have fuel filters in the carburetor. Check the manual to see if this applies to you.

Once you confirm or eliminate the fuel filter as the problem you can start with the more expensive parts.

My bird IS the word > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/18/2016 at 14:52

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It is, but something you should do for sanity’s sake on a car this old. A clear additional inline filter is a cheap investment too.

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/18/2016 at 14:57

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A quick Google shows that you’re lucky - there’s a porthole the fuel pump goes in that you can access without dropping the tank first. Have a look in there. I did the same with my e24 to make sure it was clean, and it wasn’t half bad. I know some people open theirs to find rust, sand, grit, bolts, so I’m sure youd be able to tell by looking.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes 12/18/2016 at 14:57

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Thanks!

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Wacko 12/18/2016 at 14:58

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But then I would have kept it, and what fun would it be to not torture my wife with constant car-shopping?

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/18/2016 at 15:00

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Of course, good luck with it! Seems to me that diagnostics are harder than the fix with older cars, but sounds like you’ve got a pretty good start.

MM54 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/18/2016 at 16:21

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Change the fuel filter (is there one in the carb as well?), go get some DryGas or something and top it off with fresh, clean gas - probably will be better then.

Sovande > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/18/2016 at 17:04

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My guess is fuel related. Goop from the tank clogging the carb would be my first guess, judging from the symptoms you describe. See if you can temporarily fix it by increasing the idle speed. If so, that would point to a partial blockage in the idle jet. You may be able to clear it with carb cleaner and some throttle. Or taketh carb off and actually clean it.

Second guess would be the small filter after the pump, if it has one. Next guess would be the big filter. If it’s carbed, the fuel system will be dead simple, so it should be easy to troubleshoot.

Good luck!

Wacko > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/18/2016 at 22:19

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