Carina E Problems

[mbtaylor1982]

I just got A 1992/3 1.6 GLI Carina E (AUTO) and I have noticed some odd things. For a start the car seams to idle at low speed about 500 - 600 rpm and misfires, once I give the engine a few revs and let it settle back down it idles at around 800 - 900 rpm. Is this an indication that the automatic choke in the ecu is not working properly? Sometimes when stopped at traffic lights the engine can start to misfire and idle low too that’s with the car in drive or neutral.

Another oddity is that when the steering is taken to full lock, the belt driving the power steering pump starts slipping and a metallic screeching noise is heard as well as the belt noise. Could this be an indication that the pump may need replacing or is it normal (it don’t sound normal as my previous car a Nissan Primera made a noise at full lock but this was due to the pump working hard to push the hydraulic fluid and the noise was completely different)?

One other question the standard Toyota radio don’t work very well and when the alternator is running at high speed the radio reception is almost non-existent, any ideas on how to fix this would be help full. I am a student electronic engineer so I know that using a capacitor to short to ground any ripple on the supply voltage may help, but I was think the Ariel design on the Carina E is not so good and can anyone recommend fitting an automatic Ariel in the rear wing on the car.

Apart from the problems mentioned this Carina E is in perfect condition and has full Toyota service history from 1993 - 2002, the car has only cover 52000 miles and engine bay looks like new.

Any help with these problems would be appreciated

[sjrainsford]

As far as sitting at low revs is concerned this could point to sommat like the throttle advance system. Does the engine check warning light come on at all?

I don't like the idea of the metallic screeching noise! Althought he belts are probably steel lined. Changing the belt would be a good start. They do make a noise on full lock, but more sort of a buzzing or whining sound.

As for the alternator. Well, there could be a number of possibilities. The radio may not be correctly grounded, or the alternator suppressor damaged for example. Is this problem occurring when using the FM waveband? A good start would be the aerial. Where is it on the Carina E? I can't remember off hand.

Stu

[mbtaylor1982]

Oh my God I didn’t notice all my spelling and grammar mistakes before posting. Never mind it was late at night.

How should I check the throttle advance !Removed! system.

The engine check warning light came on once, the car wouldn’t start because the auto box thought it was in drive when it was in park but a bit of WD-40 on the selector mech sorted this out as the switch in there was sticking.

I will get the belt changed on the power steering pump and the fluid for good measure, I will see if this makes a difference.

The aerial on the Carina is mounted at the top of the front right hand side pillar so it is almost above the driver’s head. My concern is if I put an automatic aerial in the rear wing and remove the old aerial filling the hole left behind could be tricky any tips. I will also check the alternator suppressor and try to see if another radio works better but funds don’t allow just now, the interference is on both am and fm but where fm cant be heard at all am is just very distorted.

[sjrainsford]

I really would check the aerial. That door pillar style one should be fairly good really. You ain't gonna gain anything by putting another aerial at the back. You'd be better off tryin to fix the one you've got.

Have you got a haynes manual for it? If not I would really recommend getting one.

[Beardie]

Check the ISCV Idle speed control valve by the throttle assembly. It may be sticking and slow to open up. It works of a solenoid. You can remove it by undoing a couple of screws and using a little WD40.

[phues]

I've got a 1.8 Carina E with the ariel just above the head... Drove around for ages having bought it not noticing that it extended a good 2 feet longer than I had it

Felt a bit of a prat really, but at least the radio reception is now crystal clear!

So go ahead mate, give it a tug

Otherwise, I assume a connector on the head unit's not loose - had a similar problem with an old Carina II...

[MyV6Flys]

Have you checked the spark plugs yet. Old or misadjusted plugs will make a car miss. Check to make sure all the plug wires are connected tight. Might even pull them and put them back on.

[tivoli pete]

I used to fit car sound systems until I got in to IT and never looked back. If my college days serve me, you must create a Farady cage around the engine. I always used to fit a chunky piece of earthing braid across the hinges of the bonnet, and to the chassis of the head unit and the auto changer if there is one too. The aerial needs to be earthed independantly, and mustn't be used as the supply return to ground ( the lazy fitter's shortcut! ).

If your getting alternator whine, as well as the capacitor suppressor, check or install the in-line power choke. It will be in a plastic housing on the uninterrupted 12V supply, and sometimes on the switched power line too. Always derive the supply from as near the Battery as possible with the correct fusing, don't use a feed from the loom, unless it is fairly direct. Any screened leads like aerial cables and changer interconnect leads should be earthed at both ends.

I used to follow all these guidelines, and without exception, never had any more hum or interference problems.

Hope this helps.

Tivoli Pete

;)