Rough idle and loss of power?

1995 TOYOTA COROLLA
287,500 MILES
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MARIOC68
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  • 120 POSTS
Greetings. Difficult to start in the morning. Normal idle with engine still cold; but when it reaches its normal operating temperature the idle drops quite a bit and is very low and unstable. When I accelerate you can hear the engine knock.
May 9, 2023 at 12:04 PM
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STRAILER
  • Experienced Mechanic
  • 55,249 POSTS
This can be because of a vacuum leak. I would use this guide when the engine is cold to confirm the leak:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-an-engine-vacuum-gauge

This guide may help as well:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/stall-at-idle

Please go over these guides and get back to us.
May 10, 2023 at 4:41 AM
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MARIOC68
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Still having a low idle problem with a warm engine, but I'm getting some power back after repairing some vacuum leaks through the throttle body and a bad contact wire on the oxygen sensor. I also want to highlight that the valve gap was verified, finding a #4 cylinder intake valve with a gap greater than 0.25 mm, which is the maximum limit specified by the manufacturer, all the others and the exhaust valves are correct.
May 19, 2023 at 9:45 AM
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STRAILER
  • Experienced Mechanic
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That is a good sign. I did find this guide we can go over as well. This shows you the top problems for no power.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-has-low-power-output

Please go over this guide and get back to us.


May 21, 2023 at 4:25 AM
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MARIOC68
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  • 120 POSTS
Engine compression test: cylinder #1 192 PSI; cylinder #2 190 PSI; cylinder #3 187 PSI; cylinder #4 210 PSI.
Jun 7, 2023 at 9:40 AM
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STRAILER
  • Experienced Mechanic
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So, the compression is good, have you changed out the fuel filter? I would also service the throttle body.

This guide can help walk you through the service:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/throttle-actuator-service

Here is the fuel filter location so you can change it out. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
Jun 9, 2023 at 3:22 AM
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