engine running doggy- possible distributor?? Options

[cavernouspluto]

So my engine hasn't been running right lately and it occasionally won't start or starts the dies right away. The idle goes between 800rpm and 600rpm ( like the needle bobs) and when i accelerate it doesn't really pick up pep until 4000prm. I'm thinking its a distributor problem but could it be something else?

[Box]

Check engine light on? Which being OBDI it won't give codes unless it's something critical. Could be the IACV or coolant temp sensor, the distributor would give a code.

Though it sounds like timing could be off as well. When was timing last done? Belt may have slipped.

[cavernouspluto]

no codes are on ( obd1) the timing was done at 140,000 by previous owner, its got the 185,000 on it now. how would i figure out if the IACV or coolant temp sensor is bad?

[Box]

There are tests online that give resistance specs and such. The IACV likes to get dirty and stick over time, so if it's never been cleaned it probably needs it.

[cavernouspluto]

okay thanks! ill try that friday when i have time.

[Box]

That could very well be the idle issue, as far as not feeling peppy until higher rpm's it could be in need of plugs and wires if they haven't been done in awhile.

[cavernouspluto]

it shouldn't be the plugs and wires. i replaced the plugs in the fall and the wires seemed fine, but when i did the plugs there was wet oil on 2 of them. like the valve cover gasket was leaking into the plug holes but i had replaced those gaskets before did the plugs.

[cavernouspluto]

okay so i took off the tb and cleaned the whole thing and when i took go the idle air control valve i accidentally took ogg the calibration plate for it and now my idle pulses from 1000 to 2000 and I'm not sure how the spring goes on the back side of the iacv

[Box]

I wish I could remember, but it's been about two years now since I've done it myself. Perhaps someone here with it more fresh on their mind could say for sure.

[VavAlephVav]

if you've messed with the Throttle Position Sensor it needs to be calibrated.
here's the thread on TPS setting
http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showto...e+throttle+body

[cavernouspluto]

Thanks for the info but it's not the tps it's the iacv that's needs to be recaibrated, I'm going to the scrap yard tomorrow to see if I can get one off a Camry because I can't figure out how to get it to idle correctly, it keeps pulsing

[VavAlephVav]

If the TPS isn't set the computer won't be able to use the IACV properly. If you unscrew the TPS and move it at all it has to be calibrated to an exact spot within .10"
The IACV itself is just a magnetic coil and a valve that opens and closes. The computer tells it how far to open and if the TPS is off the computer can't adjust the idle right.

[cavernouspluto]

If the TPS isn't set the computer won't be able to use the IACV properly. If you unscrew the TPS and move it at all it has to be calibrated to an exact spot within .10"
The IACV itself is just a magnetic coil and a valve that opens and closes. The computer tells it how far to open and if the TPS is off the computer can't adjust the idle right.

yes i understand that, i never touched my tps when i took everything apart. i took the spring off the iacv which keeps the valve in the correct spot when it opens and closes to adjust the idle. i can't get the the spring in the correct spot so the valve opens like it should. so if you or anybody knows how to that then that would be helpful. i have taken the tps off my t100 and repclaced it with another off a junk yard truck and got it to idle fine without calibrating it so i doubt its the tps, but thanks for giving me a heads up.

[cavernouspluto]

I Checked my timing and it was at 5 degrees I changed it to 14 and it doesn't run funny and more!! I also checked my compression #1 220 #2 210 #3 240 #4 215

[Box]

Woo, funny how timing can make such a big difference. Glad it was an easy fix.

[cavernouspluto]

Okay so my engine has been tough to start the past couple weeks. When I would spary starter fluid in the intake it starts up, but today it was not wanting to start with the starter fluid. It would start up then die and it did that a couple of times. Then I would start and idle at like 200! Rpm then die, I finally got it to start. This LEDs me to believe it's the fuel pump but I've always heard a fuel pump works or it doesn't. And this is an internment problem. So any suggestions on what would cause this to happen?

[Box]

Could be fuel filter is clogged, or the fuel pressure regulator is going out. Possibly the pump is weak as well. Easiest way to find out is test the fuel pressure before and after the regulator.