Sputtering engine.

NICKNITRO

MEMBER
TOYOTA COROLLA

Hello,
I have an '89 toyota corolla station wagon, 101hp, 150,000mi, and recently every time I turn off the engine the car continues to run/sputter (not quite sure how to describe it). When I first bought it used, it used to do it once in a while, but now it will run for almost 10sec after I turn off the engine, and rumble as the rpms drop, then rev back up, then finally die. The car still runs alright, but i'm concerned that this is indicative of an eventually significant problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
NICK

1 Reply

DSPLC

MECHANIC
220 POSTS

First, check your ignition timing. If it is too much advance, this is one cause of the engine running even when the ignition is off. If the ignition timing is correct and still the same problem, then the top of your piston is full/thick of carbon. Carbon is like a charcoal, it still got ember when lighted. The ember of the carbon burns the gas even when the engine is off. The ember of the carbon is acting like the spark in the spark plug. Buy a gasoline additive that removes carbon. As per instruction, I think add one can of additive per full tank of gas. Do this for few times. This might answer your problem.