Rough Hot Idle - 1992 2TZ-FE - The Saga of Njordi

[Jonny]

Yay! Way to persevere. Let's hope this particular issue is fixed for good, eh?

Some related info on the unreliability of very old connectors, for other people who may read in the future...

When I bought my '93 it had an intermittent non-starting problem. About once every 10 starts. Turn the key and no turn the starter. Very annoying. Starter worked fine, so problem was in that low current circuit to the starter solenoid. Whenever it intermittently failed to turn over I'd hold the clutch pedal down with a stick, crawl underneath and jump the connections at the starter to get it running. Eventually I went through the methodical process of checking every junction in the solenoid circuit by unplugging the connectors in sequence and testing for voltage. I got to the point where the only remaining connection to test was the final frame ground. I wasn't sure where this ground point was so I never tested it, but I never had the problem again. I believe that unplugging and plugging back in one of the connectors cured a bad connection in there.

Ditto with the windshield washer fluid motor. Motor worked, column switch did not. Voltage getting to all connectors when disconnected and tested. Has worked fine ever since.

[Previologist]

Let it sit for several days and see what the tailpipe smoke looks like.

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

https://youtu.be/DjmZNlrpFzM



It makes a lot more smoke than this sometimes, but it is the same color always.

New gremlin surfaced last night... when I was stopped at a light or stop sign, the engine would bog down if I was applying brakes. Feels like a brake booster issue with a vacuum line or the booster itself. Need to look into it.

[Previologist]

Video was a little short. If head gasket, it would keep getting worse for a couple minutes and then stop smoking after a couple more. I posted a video of mine when the HG was bad, I'll try and find it.

[Previologist]

No luck finding mine but here is Samay's https://www.instagram.com/previalege...l/CqUAaggA5iV/

His is more intense than mine was but you get the idea. The longer it sits before cold start, the more coolant collects in the cylinder and the more white smoke, but it takes a minute to really start blowing. If you start it every day you might not even notice the smoke because not much has collected and it burns off quickly.

[Previologist]

Found mine