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Location:
Sydney
Registered:
August 2002
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 SX sudden engine idle problem
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Mon, 18 November 2002 05:45
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Hi guys, I drive an 89 SX. Everything was fine until last night all of a sudden!
The car seems to want to stall all the time when its standing still. To describe the problem, at idle (ESPECIALLY WHEN ITS ON AN UPHILL SLOPE), the cars idle bounces. it bounces from JUST above the stall rpm, to about 2000 rpm very erratically. its kinda a quick bounce, like up and down, per every one second.
The orange light (i think its called the toyota service light), on my dash lights up as well and then dissappears now and then.
What do you guys think the problem may be? Is it something major or does it sound like something a quick diagnostic test will fix?
Please help me cos i am totally clueless here 
Thanks lots
P.S is it safe to keep driving until I fix it or should i not?
-tuz76
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Location:
Sydney, Australia
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: SX sudden engine idle problem
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Mon, 18 November 2002 06:23
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Definatly running a diagnostic on it won't hurt, and may point you to the problem.
My engine had a similar idle due to an air leak in the inlet manifold.. so go around and check things like vacuum hoses and stuff, like the one to the MAP sensor, etc.. or anywhere else an air leak might occur.
sorry I can't help more.
rgrds
Sam
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Location:
Shepparton
Registered:
October 2002
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Re: SX sudden engine idle problem
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Mon, 18 November 2002 11:29
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my old ae82 did that when i popped the head gasket... was the coolant burning in the cylinders and f@#king up the oxy sensor readings.... do a vacuum test to check for vac leak, a diagnostic check for codes then if that dont show anything try a compression test!
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Banned by his request
Location:
moved to tamworth
Registered:
July 2002
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Re: SX sudden engine idle problem
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Mon, 18 November 2002 11:39
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it will prob be just very dirt in the throttlebody give it a clean. have you checked your water level?
mick
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I supported Toymods
Location:
South of Wollongong
Registered:
May 2002
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Location:
Sydney
Registered:
August 2002
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Re: SX sudden engine idle problem
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Mon, 18 November 2002 22:33
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Yeah its getting worse!
Last night, It reached the point where (particularly on an uphill slope) the car keep stalling so much, that unless I rev it while standing at the lights, it will stall.
The car also sounds like its muffled or blocked somewhere. i mean the exhaust note is a bit muffled.
Also the car tends to cough or say bump a bit, as it accelerates, even if I accelerate gradually.
And finally, there was a weird fuel smell coming from the car, god knows where.
The thing is my under the bonnet seems fine. The oil and radiator levels are full, and the radiator has nice green coolant in it at all the right levels. The car has never overheated since Ive had it either.
It just got worse in the last 24 hours since my initial post was made
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Club Member
Location:
sydney
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: SX sudden engine idle problem
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Mon, 18 November 2002 23:06
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Did you wash your engine in the weekend??? if so did you make sure there was no water left around the spark plugs?
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Location:
Shepparton
Registered:
October 2002
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Re: SX sudden engine idle problem
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Tue, 19 November 2002 11:14
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have you checked the codes yet....that fuelly smell could be a dud oxy sensor richening up the mixtures too much....if the voltage coming from it stays at a certain voltage for too long it will set a code. normally it is just the sensor giving up the ghost but very occasionally it can be caused by a vac leak or dud fuel pressure,maybe even the thermo time switch(makes the car run rich at cold start, found on one of the water outlets from the block) from what you say about the smell it is running hell rich.
or did you just change the fuel filter and not tension it correctly or use the old copper washers around the banjo fittings?
check injectors for leakage too. do a fuel pressure test. see if you lose pressure excessively when you turn the engine off. if it drops at all it should only drop 1 or 2 psi.
BUT my first suggestion is to test the codes and go to your toyota dealer and ask them nicely if you can copy the diagnostic table/process for that code that is set.(the reason the light came on)
sorry if ive crapped on a bit but it is just a case of elimination.
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Location:
Hornsby, N.S.W
Registered:
September 2002
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 Re: SX sudden engine idle problem
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Tue, 19 November 2002 11:29
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i have seen this before, check your timing, vaccum leaks and, this was the HEAD GASKET sign to, but best of luck its something not to bad, but if you have a COROLLA service box, check the diagnosis and problem solving.
GOOD LUCK
JUZZO
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Location:
Melbourne
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: SX sudden engine idle problem
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Tue, 19 November 2002 12:19
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Thats has happened to me twice now, and both times its been an air lock, just flushed out the radiator and all was good 
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Location:
Sydney
Registered:
August 2002
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Re: SX sudden engine idle problem
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Wed, 20 November 2002 08:07
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Thanks everyone for all the help.
I fixed it today, thought Id post here for you guys to see since you were all so helpful
It was a broken wiring that came loose in the Map Sensor Wiring harness! Mechanic had to Fit up and clear codes and then Reset the Idle speed. (sam was close).
So all is well now, Im just $177.00 poorer I guess.
Cheers
Tuz
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