Idle issue
 

Hello - I have a seemingly simple but irritating problem with my 73 2.4E; that is the idle never settles to the same speed. Obviously there is the hand throttle - that works properly and this can be 'tickled' to get a suitable idle, but no matter what the engine temp or what the car has been doing, it never settles at the same speed (I'm talking a range from dieing altogether to 2000rpm here). I have adjusted in and out the screws that adjust where the throttle sits at rest, yet this just either makes the car rev too high, or die completely (ie quarter of a turn either way means the car dies or revs to about 2000, or anywhere in between). I have replaced spark plugs and leads, and adjusted and lubed the hand throttle. The foot throttle is free of any snags and operates freely and fully, and returns properly when not depressed. I have changed the fuel filter......otherwise the car runs very well and strongly, the only problem being this idling...and ideas??

May be a sticking vacuum advance. Test that first. May also be bad correlation between cylinders, possibly air leaks also. I have found that the correlation needs to be set very precisely for MFI cars to idle consistently. When it is running low it is probably misfiring on one or more cylinders.

thanks......how do I check if the vacuum advance is sticking?

Sticking mechanical advance. Not unusual. If idle hangs high, then try to bring it down by putting it in gear and letting the clutch out a but with your other foot on the brake, slowing the engine with the clutch disk. If this makes the idle return to a lower speed, then you likely have sticky advance parts in your distributor.

Ah - mechanical advance / the distributor! Sounds exactly what is causing the problem; will get in the cap off and investigate