Hi all,
This is my first post in this forum and I hope you can help me out.
I recently received a 1979 KE55 corolla sedan off my great aunty who is 86 and can no longer drive. She has taken extremely good care of this car, or so I have been told. The engine has been changed at least once or at least re build, it has done 285000k's. The body is in great shape. Only a few small rust patches, new window seals etc. Mechanically it is very good also. Handling/suspension is great, brakes are great aswell as the clutch.
However, there are a few small niggling problems I would like to try and fix myself if possible, I don't want to pour money into it.
1st of all it seems to stall with the choke all the way off, when I first picked it up it seemed to be fine but now it just stalls when I put the clutch in when slowing down for traffic lights etc for example. It just seems like the rpm is too low. For example it RUNS fine with the choke off, it is just idling is a problem. If I have the choke a little bit on it is fine.
I had a look under the bonnet to see if I could maybe adjust the throttle so at idle it would be a little higher. I think I found what I was looking for. There was a thumbscrew looking thing that controlled the throttle located under the right side of the air filter cover. This seemed to rest on a white plastic solenoid thing? I presuming this was the choke? because if I had the choke out this thing would also be further out whereas if I had the choke off it would go back. I had a go at adjusting the thumb screw but it was quite corroded and impossible to turn with fingers. I didn't have a tool that could reach it well. I also wasn't 100% sure I should be adjusting it. Which is also why I came on here.
Also, my great aunty almost definitely wouldn't be running any lead replacement fluid in it. She just wouldn't have thought about it. So at the moment its running on regular unleaded. I am guessing this is of concern and might be contributing to the stalling. Can anyone recommend some good lead replacement fluid? Or other things that might be good to run in an engine of this vintage? I am in Australia btw if this makes a difference.
It is also a bit hesitant when cold and a reasonable amount of choke on. Like if I don't keep the revs up when changing into 2nd for example it might kind of bog down and lurch and hop and splutter until it sorts itself out (usually by me reducing the throttle a bit and then putting my foot back on). I am guessing the engine might be getting flooded?
Last but not least. This is an unusual one. I have noticed while driving that I will suddenly lose my fuel and temp guage. Like the car isn't even on and then it will come back later. I think I have deducted that this happens when I have my lights on, because I haven't noticed it yet while driving in the day and when I turn my lights off it seems to bring them back. I am assuming its some electrical fault. Any obvious things to check though?
This is not my only car. I also drive a 1992 silvia. I was hoping to use this car as a run around while I sort out some problems and have my silvia serviced and after that will be sold. I used to own a 260z so I am not a newbie to old cars and this car as brought back A LOT of memories of that car. Its a lot of fun to drive compared to a modern car IMO.
Anyway, if anyone can help me out to my small problems it would be much appreciated!
Martin.
