Check to make sure that the choke is setting.  Remove the air filter housing
so that you can look down into the top of the carburetor.  Set the choke by
depressing the throttle pedal all the way to the floor once and releasing
the pedal.  The butterfly valve in the carburetor should be closed in the
horizontal position and you should not be able to see the jets protruding
into the venturis.  If the buttery valve is open and you can see down into
the carburetor, the choke is not setting.

If you have 2 electric radiator fans, one is for the AC and one is for the
engine coolant.  The radiator fans should not run until the coolant reaches
a certain temperature.  If you want to confirm whether they work or not,
unplug the connection to them and they should run.  Make sure your hands and
any loose clothing are not where they will be caught in the fans.  Even if
the fans are not operating properly, they would not cause the idle problem.

I'm no expert, but according to the factory manual for the 1986 4-door
version, which should be almost identical, the problem could be the
choke, needle valve, a vacuum hose leak, or a fuel cut solenoid
valve.

In my case the problem was the fuel cut solenoid valve because the
tiny o-ring that went over its tip had crumbled and gotten into the
float valve (not a factory original one -- lacked a filter screen).  
If the choke is opening normally (i.e., the engine won't idle even
when you stick a screwdriver in the carb throat to hold open the choke
-- make sure it's big enough that it can't fall in), this may be your
problem, too.  But I'd also check the vacuum hoses going to the choke
diaphram to see that there are no leaks (you may have to cover some of
the fittings when doing this).

Usualy when its both fans not working...its the Temprature Fan Switch
its a biometalic switch thats on the top side of your engine they
always go bad in any car that you might own.

On Jan 27, 8:16 pm, seraphicn...@gmail.com wrote:

1987 Corolla won't idle.  

Group: alt.autos.toyota Date: Sat, Jan 27, 2007, 8:16pm (EST-3) From:
seraphicness@gmail.com
Hey,
One day it was running fine, the next day when I went to start it up to
go out it wouldn't idle.
I usually have to let him warm up abit then kick down on the accelerator
to do the choke, (it has an auto-choke) after that it usually goes into
low revs and is ready to drive. But this time when I did that, the
engine chugged at low revs then just died on me, now I can't get it to
idle at all, it just keeps dying on me.
Also when this first happened, I lifted the bonnet to find that both my
radiator fans are not running at all, and I can't seem to get them to
run.
Any idea on how to fix this before I run it down to a mechanic?
Cheers.

Honey, I miss my '87 Corolla.   Gorgeous,  Blue.   I need reliable, she
always  started up great, idled fine...took great care of her.  She took
a huge hit at 5 years old, came back fine.  At the end,   got fussy when
wet...started up, warmed up,  ran fine, stop at a light, oh, damn.
Stalled, no matter what we did. I spent a lot to keep her going.   But
she would not  not go any further till she decides to go.   She got
risky, blocking traffic, I did a lot, spent a lot, but  can't take
chances here...maybe you can.
Had to let her go in 2002 for My 2003 Corolla.  Maybe it's time.