# 2003 Toyota Corolla - Revs high

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-toyota-corolla-revs-high/144431>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** toyota\
**Created:** [July 15, 2019, 3:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-toyota-corolla-revs-high/144431 "2019-07-15T15:05:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BradleySchaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc79bd/32.png) [@BradleySchaffer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BradleySchaffer)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 3:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-toyota-corolla-revs-high/144431/1 "2019-07-15T15:05:33Z")

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I have an older 2003 Toyota Corolla with almost 120K miles. When I first start the car, especially on cold days, the engine revs very high (sometimes as high as 3000 rpm) until it warms up. Is there something wrong, or that needs adjusting? I can only imagine how much stress is put on that engine holding such a high rpm for so long. Periodically I’ll tap the gas pedal to make it drop down a bit but it’s short lived… It’ll just climb back up. What’s going on and what can I do? Thank you for any help or insight! -b

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**Author:** ![tcmichnorth](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tcmichnorth/32/25126_2.png) [@tcmichnorth](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tcmichnorth)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 4:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-toyota-corolla-revs-high/144431/2 "2019-07-15T16:21:31Z")

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I’d start by fixing the reason the check engine light is on. If it is not on I would clean the throttle body.

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**Author:** ![Steward-R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Steward-R](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Steward-R)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2020, 8:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-toyota-corolla-revs-high/144431/3 "2020-06-16T20:27:11Z")

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change the head gasket

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**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2020, 8:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-toyota-corolla-revs-high/144431/4 "2020-06-16T20:31:37Z")

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> [@Steward-R](#):
>
> change the head gasket

And just why do you say that for an engine revving problem from 11 months ago ?

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**Author:** ![Steward-R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Steward-R](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Steward-R)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2020, 8:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-toyota-corolla-revs-high/144431/5 "2020-06-16T20:46:51Z")

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the problem is with airflow admission changing the gasket will give you the correct amount of air draft