Gti Engine Problem

March 19, 2005

My son has bought a 1991 Corolla GTi recently. It was running ok until recently. He was sitting in it with the engine idling and it suddenly just died. Now when it is started from cold it will run (at high ilde) for about 30 seconds and when the revs start to come down it just dies. It then can't be started for maybe 10 of 15 mintues but the same thing happens.

Does this ring a bell with anyone or will he have to taken it to a Toyota dealer for diagnostics?

March 20, 2005

Yes that does sound like a diagnostic problem for a garage.

I would like to also metion one point: when was the fuel filter last changed (I know this might sound odd)?

Reason I ask is I knew of a Corolla GTi that kept staling at low revs and fuel filter hadn't been changed for 7 years, when changed staling stopped.

You may want garage to change the filter it's in an awkward place (passenger side bulkhead in engine bay) and fuel system trys to 'pump a bit' as you take it off.

March 20, 2005

That's my suggestion as well - sounds as though it's fuel starvation. Filter would be the first thing to change - BTW it should be changed every two years.

March 21, 2005

Thanks guys. I think that there are so many possibilities that at least hooking it up to a diagnostics would at least eliminate many of them.

I had come round to thinking that it was fuel related and the filter theory is interesting. We have no idea when the filter was last changed so it could be that. However, when it stalls or stops it won't start again for maybe 10 or 20 minutes. It's not just cutting out while idling.

Thanks guys (or gals!). Will keep you posted on how we get on.

April 12, 2005

You're all going to love this one. Problem finally solved.

It was fuel related but not what you would expect. We've spent the last couple of weeks trying to sort this problem out without having to spend huge amounts of money bringing it to a main dealers. I've learned more about the electrics, error codes, fuel system etc that I thought I would ever need to know. We have the Haynes manual and downloaded the technical manual referenced from this board. We did all the checks we could and couldn't find anything wrong.

My son rang me this morning and told me that the problem is solved. You see we assumed that there was enough petrol in the tank. The guage was reading over a quarter full. But, and here is where the simple things catch you out, the car was parked in our drive, on a slope, facing forward. In fact there was little or no petrol in the tank.

My theory is that the suction pipe from the pump was just dipping into whatever petrol was there and when the car was started the resevoir rail on the engine was filled up allowing the car to run for a couple of minutes but now the suction pipe was drawing air as the petrol level fell. Result - the car stops, starved of fuel. After being stopped for a little while the fuel in the pipes, filter and fuel rail drains back to the tank and so the suction pipe is imersed in fuel again and so the car can start for another little while.

Don't you just feel like screaming!!!!!.

I hope this little story gives someone a giggle. After the frustration of the last couple of weeks at least I can still laugh when it turns out to be such a simple solution.

April 12, 2005

LOL its always the simple things what catch you out. My drive is only on a slight slope and ive noticed when on 1/4 of a tank sometimes the red (empty) light comes on. Must because as you said the petrol runs to the back end of the tank. I bet u felt like jumping on it when you found out! :)