"Fun" 3.2 intermittent problem?- help please!
 

We are trying fix an intermittent running problem on a 88 3.2. Every once in a while the car will idle only (it lopes like it has a cam then), not taking any throttle; it will just die if you insist on it. But then again sometimes it clears up and runs fine. It never seems to happen in the shop- only while driving.
Parts replaced with no effect on this problem:
Reference and speed sensors
Head sensor
Air Flow meter
Main ECU
Grounds, alternator output, fuel pump pressure all checked and within spec
Any other ideas?
Thanks!

You guys have WAY more experience than me but just to throw some random thoughts out there...

Does temp have any effect on the problem??

-idle speed control valve sticking?
-throttle microswitch on drivers side back of throttle body not engaged/loose bracket

-ground connection behind fuel filter canister (hidden)
-4 pin connector for fuel injection manifold harness on drivers side in engine bay behind heater blower motor

-in regards to the reference sensor, there is a small socket head cap screw placed into the side of the flywheel...is it still there (I would imagine it would be if the problem is intermittent)

Ouch...let us know what you find...

-BG

Like BG said, you have way more experience than most of us, but a couple that popped into my head:

Dist. cap & rotor
Plugs & wires

Hmmm...then again it sounds like the throttle postion switch (rheostat type device) on the right side of the throttle body. Can you test its full range slowly with a Fluke meter...? Turn the switch very slowly and look for the bar graph readout on the Fluke when in resitance mode to have a dead spot or crap out all together...

Again, just ideas...I know you have worked on way more of these than I have.

This happend to me when i reached the reserve part of the gas tank. It was a dirty filter inside the tank. I,m sure it must be something else but i thought i had to tell :)

we have tried it with full and low tanks, new fuel filter too.
thanks for the suggestions - we'll report back what happens

DME relay?

Dave:

Pull the connection to the o2 sensor and let it get nice and hot. When mine went it did some very funny stuff when the engine heated up.

Good luck.

okay- here is the solution to the problem on the 88 Carrera. The symptoms were idle with no acceleration possible; it would stall out or die
The throttle position switch was replaced and after achieving 100+ miles of driving, we deem it fixed.
Thanks to all Pelicanites for their suggestions!
Dave

BGCarrera32 wrote nice diagnose BG :D and thanks for sharing Dave, this is one to remember.


Cheers,

Ed