1989 Corolla 1.3 carb model, the problem is that at idle speed it varies from 500 to 1100 RPM? and can be hard to start when hot? any suggestions please.

NOT told TOO HIGH OR TOO LOW, and what the RPM now.????
800 RPM hot is par for hot idle.
in USA all are cars 1988 up EFI are controlled by ECU and not the humans did with carbs in the good old days/ by LAW here.

HOT idle RPM or cold IDLE RPM.??? or both are wrong.
not told that. and is key to any cure for sure.

Toyota glanza ep91 turbo , manual

what country is it. sold to first. (market export)
1989 to /96 car?
I bet this is the real name, fully]
Toyota Starlet 1.3 Glanza V Turbo (EP91, Japan)

glanza V was powered by the turbocharged 1331 cc 4E-FTE
ECU controls actual turbo and injection rates and more.
and sold to
Japanese market, although some used private imports made their way to the UK, New Zealand, and many other right-hand drive markets.
most cars but gee 1989/96 are very old cars.
had 2 idle speed controller. (this is pure experience not your car that the USA does not have)
IAC (thermal controlled idle (coolant temp.) only
ISC (ECU control hot idle above 65C coolant temp)
this how all ours worked here, 1986 to 2000, then the ISC took over all idle controls.)
no 2 engines use same controls,
on some old cars high idle hot is caused by these factors.
1: coolant never gets to 82c(bad thermostat)
2: vacuum leaks.
3:IAC bad or ISC , clogged up, and jamming/sticking
3: ECU is stuck in limphome, idle controls suspended.
4: on our cars the EPA dictates IDLE and has no screw to set.
5: TV plate gummed up and sticks (throttle valve)

the best answer is to first buy the service manual
and read ISC page (idle speed controls) ECU controlled.
read IAC Idle Air controller. page. water temp controlled.

old post
all do, everyone. but. the devil really is in the details with EFI.
this IAC valve does that,
to speed it up warm up , put in a 195F thermostat.
this assumes 800 RPM is hot.
most of these engines, do this. new. bewlow.

1: cold start, for 3 to 15sec, 2500 rpm , worse in alaska.
2: then the above DASH pot closes and IAC takes over, at ~1200
3: then as engine heats the IAC closed inch by micro inch a
its now 100% closed and the ECU not controls idle hot.
using the modulated ISC,
there is a fast idle feature on this year, 950 to1000 rpm hot
with these turned on.
1. headlights hot.
2: defrost glass, rear.
3: heater fan on.
4: a/c on if opted.
other wise 800 is normal hot.

no year, no joy (3 generations and 3 base designs)
first off all modern cars there is no idle set.
that ended back in 1988 with carbs. USA, all my posts are for
USA Cars, if you are not USA< then now the time... to say so.
on EFI cars, the idle is controlled by the ECU at all times.
its one of its major hard jobs.
and is the last thing top work right on all EFI cars.

so, to work on any car, the first thing is to
open hood and find out which of 6 engines, it has.

that is first. after checking all fuses)
the 1999 is the first car, and all 1999+ here are OBD2 engines
and ECU controls idle. totally. at ALL times.
post the symptoms ???

1: what year?
2: what engine. there are many.
3: is the CEL , check engine glowing running
yes, then scan it, to see the DTC errors.
4: is idle to low, say RPM hot or cold engine.
5: is idle too high, say rpm ,hot or cold
6: is idle out of control , varies. hot?

why not post the symptoms and let us guide you on the correct path.

Mass Air Flow sensor OK? right by boot. Check for clogs and dirt on pins

Sounds like a vacuum leak. Make sure there are no ports open on the intake manifold that looks like a hose is missing.

first, try to clean your throtle body with a good cleaner an a tooth brush, open buter fly and clean all around, front an rear, when starting it hold your gas pedal down until it starts letgo quickly but keep it running at 2500rpm until engine clears(some smoke may be heavy) this will help with idle problems and clean some carbon from valves and combustion chamber,.second your egr valve may be gettin partially stuck open, disconect hose from top of it, use a small bolt to plug vacum hose and drive it normally if problem doesnot occurs you need a new egr valve,
good luck.

Most carb. engines should idle between 725 and 750 R.P.M., lower the idle and be sure to check the timing. You should have an emissions label under the hood to explain the idle and timing.

spark plugs? spark plug wires? coil? if it shuts off when hot, and starts when cold, coil could be problem....could be radiator stopped up causing it too heat, and will go off wait a few and it'll start back up...

the ac idle assist may be defective, if it's electric check the fuses if it's vachum operated check for vac. leaks. Also lube cables sometimes they stick Use wd-40 on the cables sparingly don't want dirt to stick to the cable.

That is normal. When you put it in gear, the idle speed drops about 400 rpm.