1986 Corolla SR5 4AC engine does not start, Help!

[Rev2RedLouie86]

Hello Fellas,

My name is Louie and I just purchased a 1986 Corolla SR5 hatch with an 4AC engine but I cant get the damn thing to start. I got it with a Weber 32/36 carburetor which I recently got rebuilt. Installed a new throttle cable I ordered from RockAuto. Installed the carburetor accordingly and the car still wont start. I don't smell any fuel or anything so I suspect its a fuel pressure issue but Im trying to see if you guys could help me. I took a couple of pictures to show you guys the install and a pictures of a few connectors that I have no idea where they belong or connect to but I'm kinda suspecting might be the issue. Any help? Thanks! I would appreciate some pictures to compare mine with so I could have a better idea of where all those connectors go.














I checked all fuses under drivers side and fuse box in the engine bay everything looks fine there. Although I am missing a EFI fuel on the engine bay fuse box but I doubt that applies to my SR5 since its carburetor but please correct me if wrong. Also, I sprayed starting fluid directly into the carb and the engine turns on if I keep giving it starting fluid but as soon I I stop it shut down.

[Rev2RedLouie86]

Well I'm in the process of replacing the fuel pump, filter and gas rubber lines. I'll keep this thread up to date for future SR-5's!

[jondee86]

The mechanical fuel pump on the 4AC is driven by an eccentric lobe
on the camshaft, as shown here...



When the pump is working correctly, if you disconnect the fuel hose at
the carb and crank the engine, fuel should spurt out. If you don't get fuel
you could have one or more of the following problems...
- Pump arm or lobe wore down so that arm no longer gets enough movement.
- Filter on end of fuel pickup in the tank is clogged.
- Suction pipe from tank is leaking air into the fuel line.
- Fuel filter in engine bay is clogged.

Once you have fuel to the carb, you should be able to press the throttle arm
and see the accelerator pump deliver a squirt of gas down the throat. After
that the engine should fire up, but you will need to set a bunch of air screws
and idle screws to get it working properly.



Don't leave any tubes open that can leak air into the manifold, and good luck
with working out where all those tubes go I never saw an engine with more
crap hanging off the side of it than a 4AC !!!!

Cheers... jondee86

[Rev2RedLouie86]

Jondee86 thanks for the help you narrowed it down great for me. Appreciate that I will inspect all those things tomorrow.

[Ryusei_Date]

You sure that fuel pump's working? It may just be dirty, but the little tank thingy looked bone dry.

[Rev2RedLouie86]

Update:
So I replaced the fuel filter and fuel lines and re-installed the fuel pump but still nothing. I am however getting gas to the fuel filter but not pump is not sending it to the carb. So off to Autozone I go to check for prices on a pump if its too expensive I'll just order from RockAuto.
Ok so I ordered it online since Autozone and Pepboys didnt have it in stock now to play the waiting game. I gotta admit parts for this car are very cheap lol

[jondee86]

Usual reasons for the fuel pump to crap out are hole/tear in the
diaphragm, actuator arm worn down too far, or a small piece of
crud gets stuck in one of the disc valves. If you take the pump
off and operate the lever by hand, you should be able to feel some
suction on the inlet tube.

If the pump can be taken apart you could look inside to see if
there is anything obvious. If it is a sealed unit, then you are up
for a replacement.

Cheers... jondee86

[Rev2RedLouie86]

Usual reasons for the fuel pump to crap out are hole/tear in the
diaphragm, actuator arm worn down too far, or a small piece of
crud gets stuck in one of the disc valves. If you take the pump
off and operate the lever by hand, you should be able to feel some
suction on the inlet tube.

If the pump can be taken apart you could look inside to see if
there is anything obvious. If it is a sealed unit, then you are up
for a replacement.

Cheers... jondee86

The fuel pump is a sealed pump so I will just replace it. The lever was very stiff and wouldn't move so it might be damaged. Thanks for the help bro

[Rev2RedLouie86]

So Im not getting gas to the fuel filter or pump!
Here's some pics of a few electrical plugs that look important but are unplugged. Also, it looks like I'm missing a fuse on the positive terminal battery fuse box.

[yellowsnow4free]

So I'm not getting gas to the fuel filter or pump!
Here's some pics of a few electrical plugs that look important but are unplugged. Also, it looks like I'm missing a fuse on the positive terminal battery fuse box.

On a 4AC, your fuel pump is all mechanical, so it shouldn't be a fuse issue. However, it does look like you're missing a fuse.

If you're sure your car has gas in the tank (if you're not sure, you can take a peek by removing the fuel level sending unit from inside your trunk: http://www.aeu86.org/forum/showthread.php?pid=151308; you can also inspect the tank and the gas inside it).

Next, follow the directions jondee86 posted. I'd add that you should check the fuel coming out of your pump as well as the fuel coming out of your fuel filter. Who knows, maybe your fuel filter is clogged.

But if you don't have any fuel coming out of your pump, it's likely bad, and I'd replace the fuel filter as well anyway.

[Rev2RedLouie86]

Thanks for the reply Yellow, but it turns out I just needed to prime the engine a few times to get gas! The car is now running! So it took me to replace the fuel filter, fuel pump and fuel lines to get it running. Its running a little rough though but it might a timing issue. I checked the plugs which look good still just had a lot of carbon on them so I cleaned them up for now. I need to tune the carb a little any tips on that? Also, I might have a exhaust leak below but other than that its running. Thanks for the help fellas!

[yellowsnow4free]

It turns out I just needed to prime the engine a few times to get gas!

Yeah, with my car I turn it to "ON" then pump the gas once before turning the key to "START"; works great every time! Gotta remember this is a carbs only thing, and you should never pump the gas on an EFI engine.