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rpms drop to 0


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timmosazz
New User

Apr 7, 2008, 8:32 PM

Post #1 of 4 (2363 views)
rpms drop to 0 Sign In

Hello I have a 81 Toyota Starlite with a 4KC engine stock with 325000mi on it. I just started having this problem where I am driving at 50mph for a mile or so and if I let off of the throttle and push the clutch in the rpms will drop all the way to 0 and stall. The engine will start right back up. I have changed the fuel filter, spark plugs, vacume lines, plug wires. I am thinking this problem is in carb but not sure. One more thing I am having to re set the timming alll the time. I set the timming last night at 8 deg btc with vacume lines removed and pluged from the distributor at a 700 rpm idle. put it all back together drove it for about 6mi put the timming lite back on it and now we are at 4deg btc. I cant get the timming to set? could this be a worn distributor? Any clues would be welcome. The car still runs great for the miles but with the stall its no good. Tim


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Apr 7, 2008, 9:00 PM

Post #2 of 4 (2360 views)
Re: rpms drop to 0 Sign In

Wow! At that many miles the book is wide open. The timing belt, or chain, sprokets - all the stuff up to and including the distributor itself and the camshaft the turns it! This could be second or third time around for many items. Do you have any idea of what was done when along the way?

T



timmosazz
New User

Apr 8, 2008, 5:11 PM

Post #3 of 4 (2352 views)
Re: rpms drop to 0 Sign In

Well not much has ben done to this little car. My wife is the original owner. Picked it up right off the lot in 81. Mostly the normal stuff, Tune up, oil change, bla bla bla. Two clutches, one starter. No major mechanical. I think it could be a loose timming chain as far as the sporatic timming issue or linked to the vacume advance in the distributor. I talked to a couple of people today about the distributor and they wantedto know the condition of the springs in the distributor (rusted or loose) they look good to me. The timming thing I can deal with I think but it is the engine dying after a run at freeway speed with no signs of any trouble untill you take your foot off the gas and push the clutch in the I just watch the tach go to 0


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Apr 8, 2008, 7:44 PM

Post #4 of 4 (2348 views)
Re: rpms drop to 0 Sign In

I think the tach going to zero is just the true reading - the engine is stalled or close so it's right. Obviously a tough little car and engine and even the best of timing chains, belts and the gears should be rules out or up an replaced if you feel you can keep on going which at this point would be a fun challenge if nothing else.

Distributor could use springs for RPM timing advance and they would be out of spec by now but not causing the stall. This distributor also has a shaft, bearings or bore, gear that drives it that must be close or timing would jump around. The timing chain itself (or whatever this uses) could jump a tooth or two and not quit and just stroke of luck pops back to the right tooth so you have to actually test it out or plain look right at all that and see what's up.

Perhaps get an overall professional assesment of this engine in general and diag done on it. At the moment I think a whole new or rebuilt distributor would be the immediate trouble but it would be nice to know the basic health check of this engine before you spend too much money on a lost cause.

There could be decent life left in this thing yet. It's already into the miracle group so what can I say?

T







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