timing wandering, wandering idle, and seems to misfire

[misledxcracker]

I adjusted the TPS on my '86 EA82 3AT coupe (doesnt throw TPS codes no more!) though I didnt use a feeler gauge... still throws no codes, and did a 40 mile trip no problem.

 

The idle was real HIGH before, but not no more...

 

It wanders from 500-800 RPM in Park or Neutral, feels like it bogs... sounds like it misfires also sometimes. When in Reverse or any forward gear, it bogs lower than that... around 300-500. Turning on the A/C doesnt help it any, neither does the heater. Bogs it down more than it already was.

 

I'm also getting crappy MPG. 142 miles, 1/4 tank left. (unless its just my fuel gauge) When cold, smells like it's running rich, according to my uncle.

 

D-Check throws VSS, most likely related to the speedo cable which makes noise... but I dont think that has to do with idle. NO CEL while normal/spirited driving whatsoever. I plug in the greens and just start it right up, Fuel pump code comes right up. It didnt do that before...

 

I checked the timing, with greens connected, it wanders about 5 degrees from 15-20 or 20-blank spot on the flywheel.

 

I've changed the oil within 200 miles, replaced the gas cap, replaced the plugs with NGK, good wires, disty cap and rotor, fuel filter, air filter, pcv valve, cleaned the MAF and CTS, adjusted the TPS to where it wont idle high no more, Seafoamed the intake and threw some in the gas, WD-40'd the disty (which it didnt like for quite some time) cleaned the IAC, tested the IAC also... Disty has a TINY bit of play when I wiggle the rotor, only maybe 1/16th of an inch...

 

I'm at wit's end here... I'm very tempted to sell this gem with only 95K to someone that has more skill... because I'm just not capable of getting it to run right...

 

Any ideas?

[Gloyale]

What your describing makes me think of a few things.

 

1. Wandering timing. When was the last time you checked your belt timing and tension? It really shouldn't wander at idle. Maybe 2 degrees but not 5. If the belt tension is good, i'm suspect of the distributor. I've seen photoelectric pickup distys cause trouble when they get old and dirty.( and get WD-40 sprayed in them) It has a thin plate with 360 tiny slots in it. If even one or two of them get a film of oil or something else covering it, the Computer has a hard time figuring out where the engine is positioned and when to spark. You've got the oldest possible SPFI disty as well. Maybe grab a used one from a 90 up Loyale.

 

2. Low idle, worse in gear. This could be a governor issue or some other trans issue causing the line pressure in trans to be too high at idle. Line pressure should drop very low at idle, allowing the forward clutch to disengage and the engine to spin free from trans. Basically engine is bogging down against the force the brakes holding car still. Maybe. I think this is it because the idle is so affected by being in gear as opposed to in P or N. Possibly exsacerbated by funky timing. Get the linepressure in the trans checked. May need a new governor (they are notorious for failing). A quick check is to pull the Vacuum line going to the governor on trans, and see if it has ATF residue in it. If so, the governor diaphram is busted.

 

3. Raise the idle slightly. There is an adjustment scew behind the IAC. it is a flathead, recessed scew. Turn it up slightly as a temporary drivability fix.