I just bought a 1984 GSL-SE. It won't idle and sputters below 3k. It had been sitting for 2 years. After installing a new battery it started right up and i drove it home 15 miles. It sputtered and coughed the whole way. I guessed it was bad gas so I drained the tank and installed a new fuel filter. That made no change. It smells rich so I replaced spark plugs no change. Then i started reading through this site to get a few hints on what is could be. I checked all the vacuum lines and they seem intact. My best guess is that it is in the throttle body. I just wanted to get a few ideas from everyone on what it could be. I know the fuel injection system has it share of oddities.


I also want to thank each and every person who has written a post on this board. I have never found so much info on anything in my life!!!!! This is fantastic!!!!

 

you may want to check for proper function of your BACV and for proper adjustment of the tps. two common problems. the tps will cause erratic idling and performance issues such as stumbling. you can search for the adjustment and checking procedeure. i have a write up on it if you need it. i made my own adjustment light and it works great. you may also have a problem with the injectors' flow rate and you also may want to look into your 5th and 6th port acutators and make sure they're not sticking.

 

Welcome to the forum, and yes it is a splendid source for information.

Your issue could be caused by a number of things, but lets start with the most simple to verify. My first guess is that you have no spark on your leading (lower) spark plugs. If you have a timing light, then check them for spark.

Otherwise, you can remove the plugs and ground them on the strut tower with the cable connected. Make sure you keep it away from the spark plug holes or you might get some flames! Crank the engine over and watch for a healthy spark at the plug.

Post back with your results and we can go from there. Good luck!

 

thanks i will get to work as soon as i can

 

i was going through the same problems 2 mos ago

i tried to clean mine and after that failed i changed throttle bodies with the same result. didnt idle properly till i re-adjusted the tps sensor.

i would recomment changind spark plugs too.

 

ok the good news is that i have spark. The bad news is that i started the tps adjustment process when i noticed whatever setting i put it at it made no difference (no lights) So I start tracking things down and the wires to the tps are melted. After some repair work it looks like they didnt reattach the wire loom. So what could be damaged by those 3 wires shorting? I have separated them and it is the same as if the tps is disconnected and the original problem.
They seem intact - the jacketing but i need to find a good test point to know for sure.

 

sounds like you need a new TPS
i have one
PM me if you need it, with or without throttle body

$25

 

glad to hear that you're tracking the problem down. get yourself another tps and adjust that bugger and let us know what happens.