Low Idle

[unleadedbrew]

Idle was a steady fluctuation of 6-700 and it looked like the wires had never been changed. 100K on the meter. After changing the plugs and wires, now the idle has started fluctuating between 5-700 and wants to die when stopped.
She (no offense) used to kick right in on initial startup, but now wants to die unless I give some throttle. Sitting at red lights, everyone thinks I'm just revving to show how sweet it sounds. What could have gone wrong. I'm still very new to the world of sensors. Fuel filter was changed last month. It also seems to have a slight miss while driving, but it could just be my mind that's missing.
Have re-checked all the wires and the plugs were gapped a .035. (Aluminum heads.) Any ideas?? Please, on bended knee?? :confused :confused

P.S. - The right front plug by the air compressor is a wooly booger to get at. Looked like whoever changed the plugs before I got the car left that one alone.

 

[tnovot]

Idle was a steady fluctuation of 6-700 and it looked like the wires had never been changed. 100K on the meter. After changing the plugs and wires, now the idle has started fluctuating between 5-700 and wants to die when stopped.
Have re-checked all the wires and the plugs were gapped a .035. (Aluminum heads.) Any ideas?? Please, on bended knee?? :confused :confused

Did this start Right after you changed plugs and wires? If so, something changed during the maintanence operation to cause this problem. You didn't say exactly what you did to recheck the wires.
If you just checked for good contact, that might not be enough. Check which wires go to which plugs IAW your firing order. It is very easy to get the plug wires mixed up.
Also. you maybe have cracked or broken the insulator on one of the new plugs. Try shorting out each cylinder pug by plug to isolate a miss fire.
Have you checked for any vacuum lines you may have broken or loosened?

 

[unleadedbrew]

Thanks for the reply tnovot.....Yes, this started with the new wires and plugs. I changed the wires one at a time as I did each plug, so they went back on like they came off. I went very easy on the plugs because of the horror stories I've read. The only plug that could give me heart burn is the one by the compressor. I'll take that one back out and give it the once over. If I cut a small portion of the inner plastic fender well out I'll have a straight shot at it without using a dozen elbows. I'll also check the vacuum lines. Thanks, again.

_Gordon

 

[tnovot]

_Gordon[/QUOTE]
You're welcome. Something else I just thought of --- I once had a similar problem a long time ago on a '61 Vette (wish I still had that one - traded it in on a new '68 Camaro RS and got $1700 trade-in. What a deal!)
Anyway, it drove me crazy and turned out to be that one of the new AC plugs was faulty. It would fire when cold but at operating temps, had an internal short. The sort of problem most people would not expect.
Good luck.

Terry

 

[unleadedbrew]

Thanks again, Terry. That's one of the great things about this place. There's always an answer that comes up that few would think about. This miss I have is not really bad, but I can feel it and I know it wasn't there before. I'll spend some time on it tomorrow. Ummm......I did use the air hose to blow dust off and around the engine and junk was flying everywhere. I'd better check and make sure the plenum is still there!
_Gordon