Poor idle on '89 3.2
 

I posted on Pelican but thought maybe one of you guys could help?

I've got an '89 with pretty low miles (19k), and have had it for about a year. It drives and idles fine during warm up, after I drive for a half an hour or so, and I pull up to a street light - it settles at a smooth 800rpm idle at first....

But if the light is long, more than say a couple a minutes, it starts to sputter and the idle gets very poor - between 500-700 rpm. It never stalls, but sputters badly. If I give it a little gas it settles out, but then returns immediately to sputtering if the gas is removed. Drives fine afterward when the light changes, then when I pull up to the next light same thing, first ok, then helloooo sputter.

Any ideas on were to start looking?

The plugs are less than a year old, installed by the P.O., I don't think the wires, rotor or diz cap have ever been replaced.

Keith

Yep, Mr LeShander will recommend a remove and replace to correct. . .Your engine, that is. I'm your basic idiot. . .dunno.

Keith,
First thing to check test is the idle regulator valve.
The test procendure documented in your Bentley - post if you don't have one so we can all have a chuckle, then give you the test steps.

Yep, got it - page 240-22, even gives a valve test procedure - I love Bentley books! Thanks for the suggestions.

Keith

Keith,

In addition to the test procedure outlined in Bentley, you can remove your Idle Stabilizer Valve and clean it with carb cleaner or brake cleaner.

Every couple of years, I remove the ISV from my '84 Carrera and spray carb cleaner inside the ISV. Shake the stuff around in there and pour out the excess cleaner; any remaining cleaner will evaporate quickly. I do this because the ISV gets gummed up over time.

If testing and cleaning the ISV doesn't fix your problem, let us know and we will move on to Plan "B".

Bruce