86 Toyota 4-door Stalling!

Depending on how many miles are on the plugs, wires, distributor cap, and rotor, it might be time for replacement, but I doubt if they are the cause of the problem.

The problem could be caused by gunk in the carburetor or it could be caused by the EGR valve sticking open. To check the EGR valve, disconnect and plug the vacuum hoses to the EGR and see if the problem goes away. If it does, remove the EGR and clean out the black crud accumulated inside and hook everything back up.

After you do everything that Ray said, and if the problem still persists, try cleaning the mass air flow sensor with spray cleaner (carburetor cleaner). It might be covered with accumulations of varnish and dirt from over the years. It can be the cause of surging and stalling IMHO. Good luck.

OOPS! 1986! No Mass Airflow Sensor, sorry.

Oh, this is a Fun Job!

I can't remember, but I snapped something on my Tercel wagon replacing the wires, on the distributor, IIRC. BE CAREFUL! The plastic gets brittle over the years!

Also, have you had the air cleaner off? There is a vacuum hose under the air cleaner that, if it becomes disconneted will cause just the symptoms you're describing. Take the cleaner off and have a look and see if that hose has developed leaks. If it has, it'll do just what you're saying. The same thing happened to me and I went nuts for a couple hours before I found it!

Thanks for the info. I tried both options and I still have the same issue.

2, EGR, I disconnected all the vacuum hoses and tested the EGR. It had some crap in it but nothing was blocking the air flow and it seemed to be working fine. I fired the car up after I cleaned it out and nothing changed. I talked to one of my roommates he we fabricated a piece of metal to cover the intake from the exhaust. I pulled everything off and tried again with it completely block and still the same problem. Nothing changed.

I should mention that when the car is cold is seems to work fine for about 5 minutes till the idle comes down and then it wants to stall. It'll rev really high then almost like its going to stall and then rev up again. It'll do this for a while till it finally stalls.

Do you have any other suggestions? Do you think its a fuel filter or bad gas or something?

Thanks,

- Justin

Look into the carburetor when the engine is running and make sure that the fuel coming out of the justs is a fine mist and not dripping.

It is not a fuel filter or bad gas because the engine would not rev up. I think the problem is electrical or vacuum-related.

Check all of the vacuum hoses to make sure none are cracked or disconnected. If you have a vacuum gauge, measure vacuum at idle. There should be at least 14 in Hg.

There should be a sight glass on the side of the carburetor somewhere with metal tabs about halfway up the glass. Fuel level should be even with the tabs.

I don't remember when the Tercel got the variable venturi electronic carburetor, but if that is what your car has, they are a nightmare to adjust or fix.

If those fixes don't work, it is time to bite the bullet and take it to a competent technician for diagnosis and repair.

Awesome, thanks. I'll check these and out keep you posted.

- Just>