OT: Hard Starting Toyota

[Colin King]

Why would my "88 Toyota Corolla (carburetted) cold start fine when the air temperature is below 70 degrees, but be really really hard to cold start when the air temps are high?

It"s been in the 90s here, and she"s been really tough to get going.

Colin, MN

 

[glennbrown]

My guess would be that corn alcohol you're putting in your tank....

 

[dwol]

When air is cold, it is more dense. This means more fuel and air (more explosive) in colder temps. It can have a factor especialy in engines that have compression issues or low spark.

 

[glennbrown]

seriously...excessive alcohol in fuel causes vapor lock in these.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Colin; Ya got to feed the mice somthing more than alcohol, when it's warm out.!!! {
LOL

Gary

 

[Colin King]

Interesting. Despite having 225k miles, engine compression is just below factory spec. So it could be vapor lock, or a bad coil/igniter?

Colin

 

[Colin King]

The ethanol concentration in Minnesota is 10-15%. You think that might be the culprit?

Colin

 

[Colin King]

hahaha! I knew I was missing something.

Colin

 

[Randall(AL)]

I have a 1986 Toyota truck same symptoms. It starts right up cold but after it warms up it is a hard starter. I've seen them with fuel injection this way and carburated. I think it is something to do with it being a Toyota. I am also fairly positive it has something to do with gas not getting to the carb!! Sometimes a fuel filter helps.

 

[Dave H]

Colon

Around here if you look hard enough you can find non alcohol gas. That would be one way to sort out that issue.

 

[glennbrown]

God I love Minnesota.... but down here in Indiana I had a customer once that put so few miles on his vehicle, drove so little, the last time he filled up he still had winterblend fuel in his car...same difference...
Stay away from Hi Octane gas too...

 

[Anonymous-0]

If I remember correctly (my 'yotas are all fuelies, now) there is an altitude adjustment diaphram on the sides of the 'yota carburators that tend to go bad @ 15-20 years. They crack or rot and make things go a bit whacky. I think $15-25 at the dealer.

 

[Colin King]

Thanks for all the suggestions!

Colin