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Hi there,

So my little hatchback Toyota Tercel has had a problem with intermittent surging for the last couple years, but the problem has gotten more and more frequent--to the point that it's now extremely annoying.

It starts surging mere blocks away from my house.

The air filter is nasty dirty, but Wal-Mart doesn't carry a replacement. In fact, it's a weird filter style I've never seen before--like a round, flat, plate...or pancake. However, is a tremendously dirty air filter enough to cause this problem?

Does this car have a fuel filter? Could that be the problem (if it was disintegrating over time)? If it does, where is it located (please don't say the fuel tank)?

Other culprits?

It does idle extremely high fairly often, and it's muffler/exhaust is trashed. I'm not sure if the heat sensor is accurate or what because the car's temperature gauge often says the heat is maxed out. Yet, all these things have been the case for the last couple years and it's run relatively fine.

Where do I start in determining what's wrong?

Basically, the surging occurs in any gear (at any RPM), and seems alleviated a bit by pumping the gas pedal gently. It is strong enough to throw me forward and backward in my seat, making driving a hastle.

Any advice? (I hope to replace this car with something newer, but am hoping that the Tercel will last another three or four months until that time)

Thanks!

Abe  

take your air fiter off and drive around the block see if it helps.  When was the last time your coolant has been changed?  Is your car low on coolant?  

Forget walmart go to a real parts store like Checker, Pep Boys,
Auto Zone or Napa.
Absolutely if you haven't changed the fuel or air filter in a couple
years it is bound to have a huge effect on performance and gas mileage.
Every car has a fuel filter buy a haynes manual {$15} and find out
where it is. Do a tune up on it, wires,cap,rotor,plugs,filters,is it time for an oil change too ?  

Man you have to do the basic maintence! If you are not up to it have it done someplace. Why would you think Wally World would carry a filter for a car almost 30 years old?

Gary  

LOL !! Wally World only carries the most common {FRAM} filters for newer vehicles anyway.But look at the upside if you can find a parking spot you get to meet the door greeter ! lol.