'92 Corolla engine only works normal when it's cold?

bradster1200 · 11 Dec 2010, 07:25 am

I've got an old 1992 Toyota Corolla (base model). There is something something wrong with the engine (I believe). The engine only works correctly when it's cold, and only for about the first 5 minutes or so. Then once the engine (and other engine parts) get warmed up, the engine suddenly starts to ask as if one of the fuel injectors has gone out. The engine will begin to act normal if I take my foot off of the gas and take virtually all of the stress off of the engine. As soon as I start to accelerate (and stress the engine) It jerks around and there is a clear power drop.

Every once in a while, I can take my foot off the gas, then very slowly accelerate. The engine will then act normal, and I can feel a HUGE increase in power. But this only works every once in a while.

Does anyone have any idea what might be going wrong?

* "starts to ask..." should be "starts to act..." Sorry.

tootall · 11 Dec 2010, 07:40 am

Always start with the cheapest fixes first,have you changed plugs and wires lately,coil,fuel filter,air filter,pcv valve?

These will fix a lot of problems before you get into the more expensive stuff.

Matt · 11 Dec 2010, 07:54 am

I have a mate of mine who has (I think an '89) Holden Rodeo, and he has the same problem (runs fine when cold, on warm/hot days it coughs and splutters and wont accelerate very well). I cant remember what exactly the problem was (I think it had something to do with the seals, something wasnt sealing enough to get good combustion from the fuel), but to have his fixed he was looking at a complete engine rebuild, (about AU$1500 in his case). I figure for a car like yours, probably time to look for an upgrade and just scrap the car, seeing as the value of the car is probably not much different to a new motor? Unless of course, you love the car that much you are prepared to fork out around AU$1000 for the rebuild, or about AU$1500 replaced? :-)

EDIT: He has had it serviced regularly, and lately, fuel filters, oil filters, the occasional gasket, oil change (full drain and replace), fuel drained and replaced. But good idea from tootall though, take it to a mechanic to look at in terms of filters etc.

'92 Corolla engine only works normal when it's cold?

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