car will not idle, symptoms--solutions--suggestions

[Robbie]

Hello All,

As stated above,
my car will not idle and stalls when slowing down
or coming to a stop it either runs very rough or just stalls.

When I am up to speed the car runs just fine.

Its been almost 3 years since a tune-up has been done,
so I would guess that plugs, wires, & distributor would be
a good place to start. Maybe a vacuum hose has dislodged.

Suggestions and solutions appreciated.

TIA

Robbie
[email protected]

[Dana R]

Most likely an idle control valve issue. Try cleaning yours with brake cleaner or carb cleaner before buying a new one. You can feel the motor in it when it's on. If not, you do need a new one.

[dcbrewmeister]

Its been almost 3 years since a tune-up has been done,
so I would guess that plugs, wires, & distributor would be
a good place to start. Maybe a vacuum hose has dislodged.

Suggestions and solutions appreciated.

TIA

Robbie
[email protected]

At the very least pull the plugs and check the condition of them, same with your cap and rotor - 3 years is a long time to run without, at the very least, looking at them. Assuming it's a daily driver.

You may have something as simple as a burnt rotor, or bad plugs, instead of hit and miss trying to find something else wrong, just start with the basics.

[Jeff in MN]

What you describe is exactly what was happening to me last year. Took me a long time to diagnose. Basically, due to age, there was some resistance in the TPS at idle. (at idle the circuit is supposed to be closed and read zero ohms). Mine was reading about 2 to 5 ohms on my digital meter. This reading totally confused the ECM. I took the TPS appart and cleaned the contacts in the micro switch with a small pieces of 600 grit sandpaper and she went back to normal idle.

Good luck, email me at jeffinminn @ comcast.net if you have any more questions on dissassembly of TPS.

Jeff