vacca@burdvax.UUCP (Dave Vacca) (09/19/85)
Problem: Surging engine at idle Car: 1981 Dodge 024 (80,000 miles) Idle is erratic. Already checked everything- carb, distributor, etc. Plus, just stopping at an intersection usually causes the car to stall. Help! Any ideas what the problem may be? - David Vacca Burroughs Corporation
goldman@ittvax.ATC.ITT.UUCP (Ken Goldman) (09/29/85)
> Problem: Surging engine at idle > > Idle is erratic. Already checked everything- carb, distributor, etc. > Plus, just stopping at an intersection usually causes the car to stall. > Help! Any ideas what the problem may be? I have the exact same problem on my '74 VW about every three years, and it is caused by a vaccuum leak. On the VW, the rubber elbow connectors from the carbs to the power brake vaccuum lines get brittle and split. It's probably something else on yours. Look everywhere for hoses or couplings which may be loose or broken. P.S. I went through about $200 worth of tuneups, valve adjustments, carb adjustments, etc. before a good garage found the broken $1.50 part. And if you have had your carb adjusted with the leak, it will have to be readjusted once it is fixed.
cl1667@hou2d.UUCP (C.LUZE) (10/01/85)
(Sorry, but a direct mail reply failed) I have a 79 Plymouth Horizon that had the same problem. The idle roughness would vary from day to day. A good mechanic found that the problem was worn bushings in the distributor assembly - the shaft that turns the rotor would wobble as it rotated. The fix is to replace the bushings (if possible) or the whole assembly. Good luck, Curt Luze 201-949-9142 hou2d!cl1667