My car idles at about 1200-1500 RPM, is that higher than normal, or just about right? I always read about the cars having really bad idles, and when I searched Icouldn't find anything.

 

Thats a little high.. slutomatics idle higher that sticks.. but most guys idle their bars around 850. I idle mine at 950-1000 because it idles smoother there with the port job! (plus, it makes it easier to set the idle since that exactly on the 1K map for the haltech!!!)

 

Stock idle is 750, so yes, yours is high. Likely a sticking cold start cam.

 

yup. usually between 750 - 900 are common idle points, but not bouncing to and from. 1500 rpm is pretty high ...there are a couple idle adjusters to look for, hopefully somone can provide a better explanation of what they are ...im brain farting at the moment

one is located on the front side of the passenger shock tower and another is on the bac valve which is on the top side of the uim pointing to the passenger shock tower.

could be a sticking throttle too ...in which case you need to lube all the moving joints on the tb

 

None of these should be touched until it is verified that the mechanical systems are working properly.

The idle adjustment on the passenger shock tower is an IDLE MIXTURE adjustment. Does not really effect idle speed.

The idle speed adjustment on the '86 NA is on the top of the throttle body, not the BAC vave.

But first, the cold start cam MUST be checked. 1200-1500 RPM idles are classic symptoms of a stuck cold start.

 

Do you think letting the accelerated warm up happen would make that go away, versus blipping the throttle and having the RPMs drop?

 

wait, so can i lean out my mixture a little to save gas, or would that be a big no no?

 

I too, am intrigued. So, I can run leaner, just by twisting a screw? Give me more info.

 

No. The cold start cam is controlled by the thermowax, which is a purly mechanical system.

No. That screw only effects A/F ratios under idle. At idle, if the car is running alright, it should already be full lean.