89 Corola difficult starting?

Replace the float and needle valve or better yet do a rebuild, WBMA.

mike hunt

When was the last time you did a tune up, and what did you use for parts? I had an '83 Tercel and asked my parts guy to send some plugs. He sent ACs. What a pain! Replaced it with NGK's and away we went! Two presses on the gas pedal and turn the key. That was about a year and a half ago, with 211,000 miles on it.

First, check to see that the choke sets when you set it by depressing the pedal to the floor once. The butterfly valve in the carb should be almost horizontal. If it is still vertical, the choke isn't setting. Then take a look at the sight glass on the side of the carb. There are notches on the side of the glass, and the fuel should be about even with the notches. If not, then the float is not set right or fuel is draining out.

Could this instead be a problem with the choke or its pull-off?

A month ago, I learned about the difference in quality between OEM and aftermarket carb rebuild kits. Some bits of rubber flaked off from a fuel hose and got into the carb, clogging the float valve and one of the jets, thanks to the aftermarket float valve having no filter screen to block such debris.

Well, what's your starting procedure?...the way you wrote that it sounds like you might be 'depressing the accelerator to the floor' then cranking the engine...you ARE releasing the accel before you crank right?...