Corolla Stuttering Machine Gun?

[madder]

I've just bought a 1996 Toyota Corolla. It has been road tested until february 2007. Should be fine. Its an XLI 1.3 Litre. It has only 73890 miles on the clock. The first day it was fine. It had no stereo so I fitted one. White block connects to white block, other block to other block and jack plug to stereo and it sounded great. However, the next day the car seemed to be stuttering slightly when driving. Reminded me of my old 1988 starlet which did the same before I moved on. Never found out what it was, but didn't really try either. The thing is that today, when I drove to the shops it was fine but when I got back in and drove again it was very sluggish, didn't accelerate very well, took a long time to get to a decent speed, much more than previously. When I got to my destination, I put it into neutral and listened. I revved very gently and it sounded like a machine gun!! I revved stronger and it sounded perfect then. WHats wrong if anything, does anyone know. I have a 3 month Engine/gearbox guarantee and I have the car 1 week. What should I do?

[dawesy]

have the ignition system checked as most toyota's are fussy in this area.

most likely suspects are plugs and ht leads, especialy plugs if cheapo ones have been installed. go for ngk platinums, they cost more but last for 60,000 miles

[System~G]

I had similar problems with my GTi shortly after I bought it. After replacing the entire ignition side of things and a full service, I put it on diagnostics - that didn't come up with anything... Eventually 4 month down the line I accidently found out it was the connector to the MAP sensor. So check that out before spending a small fortune on ignition components - although it won't hurt replacing ignition items

[madder]

So I shouldn't give the car back claiming I've been ripped off then? Maybe I'd be better off bringing it to my own mechanic to check it over rather than back to the place I bought it?

Thanks for the suggestions

[madder]

Incidentally, I know how to change a set of plugs and/or a set of plug leads, if thats all it is, but I have no idea about checking the connector to the MAP sensor? I have a very, very basic knowledge about cars?

So if anyone can help with that.......

Also I'd like to know if the car is going to let me down due to this problem. For example today I have a 3 hour drive ahead of me and then a 3 hour drive back to Dublin. Will the car be ok to do it?

[System~G]

Just re-read your first post. Seeing as you still have warranty on the car, car it back and ask them to find and sort out the problem.

Once the problem is sorted the car should be fine.

It's one of the issues when buying 2nd hand cars - you never really know what problems the previous owner has had. If a warranty is available you should always take it incase problems like this arise.

After the garage has sorted the problem out, it won't hurt to ask them to renew the warranty period FOC

[madder]

It should be that simple and I hope it is, but the car only behaves sluggish very occasionally. Knowing my luck, it'll drive like a dream when I bring it back!

[madder]

Typical, the car doesn't act up for three days. I brought it back anyway and he had a look and found nothing wrong. He reckons that perhaps it was a bit of dirty petrol in the tank as it was in his garage for 6 weeks? Does this sound possible? Either way, it has been running perfectly now for 5 days!