luminati

My '94 Tercel with 160k worked flawlessly for the 2 1/2 years I owned it. Then this fall I noticed I had to crank the starter longer and longer before it would start. This winter It would sometimes require very extensive cranking at witch time it would cough and die immediately. Eventually, it would start but run very rough for a minute before it would smooth out to a normal idle. It reminded me of a carburated car with a faulty choke but this car has FI. Anyway,driving was fine and it would start right up the rest of the day. After sitting all night, however, I often (but not always) faced the same ordeal in the morning. Yesterday I went out to start it and although the starter spins the motor fine, it will not start. It won't even cough. I can smell unburned gas. I don't want to waste a fortune on parts. The distributor and wires looked new when I bought it 35,000 miles ago Any suggestions on where to start?

luminati

answering my own question. Simple tune up did the trick (plugs, wires. cap, rotor, air filter). Even these great little cars need SOME love. Next time I won't wait so long.