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82 Crossfire Rough Idle

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Old Jul 17, 2010 | 11:23 AM
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Default 82 Crossfire Rough Idle

Just picked up an 82 Crossfire and it has a real rough idle. When it is going thru the gears (in second) it feels like it is holding back. At low RPM, seems to have sluggish response with light throttle pressure, after a little more gas kind of "jerks" and goes. Also smells a bit rich out the exhaust. Where should I start to nail down the problems? Thanks for any help in advance. Tom
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Old Jul 17, 2010 | 12:20 PM
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Default Ideas...

How many miles? What type of gas? Do you know the tune-up history? Dist cap, rotor, plugs, wires? After that, maybe go after the O2 sensor....


When I picked up my 82, it ran a little rough until I did the basic tune-up....dist cap, rotor, plug wires...don't think they were ever changed out.. Also, previous owner ran regular gas, but an owner previous to him had put in a chip that required premium....
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Old Jul 17, 2010 | 12:37 PM
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Originally Posted by 6mn Vette
How many miles? What type of gas? Do you know the tune-up history? Dist cap, rotor, plugs, wires? After that, maybe go after the O2 sensor....


When I picked up my 82, it ran a little rough until I did the basic tune-up....dist cap, rotor, plug wires...don't think they were ever changed out.. Also, previous owner ran regular gas, but an owner previous to him had put in a chip that required premium....
72K, Use Regular Unleaded, New Cap, Rotor, Plugs, Wires, PCV valve, & Breather 7/6/2010. Replaced a few cracked vacuum lines too. Can I test for the O2 sensor?
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Old Jul 17, 2010 | 04:33 PM
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Sounds like you touched on the basics - except the fuel filter. I understand that this is something to check or changeout also.
Do you know if someone has run fuel treatment through the system? (this assumes that your base timing is correct also - which I believe should be 6 degrees - others can confirm)
There are probably some members more aware of testing the O2 sensor and cat converter. Another tech I've spoken to referred to the 82/84's having a vacuum leak around the seal of the intake manifold itself (just something to check).
With rough idle, does it rev rough in neutral? If so, gotta believe its one of the "big 3" - fuel, air or electric. Does the idle surge or just run rough all the time?

Just some thoughts. Some others may chime in to assist. Good luck..let us know......
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Old Jul 17, 2010 | 04:37 PM
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To clarify...are you throwing a check engine light? If not, possible that the issue isn't affecting emissions. But, this IS an earlier version of today's more complex systems.
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Old Jul 17, 2010 | 09:30 PM
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check fuel pressure, i had an 82 the other day at work doing the same thing, it world run real rough cold start, once it went into closed loop it would run kind of ok, but it had a bad tip in hesitation and seemed to lack a bit of power, the fuel pump was failing and it only had 6 pounds of fuel pressure, spec is 9-13 (should be closer to 13)
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Old Jul 17, 2010 | 10:01 PM
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Thanks guys. I will take a look at the issues and let you know.
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Old Jul 17, 2010 | 11:12 PM
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You can take the air cleaner off and check the spray on the throttle bodies and make sure it is a nice even pattern on both. You can see the spray from the driver seat. When you gas it does throw gas and bog or does it stop? Really need to know if you have a check engine light on? I just went through this same thing... My computer was bad.... You can buy a cheap OBDI cable (from here http://www.aldlcable.com ) and plug in to your laptop and get all the diagnostic codes....
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Old Jul 18, 2010 | 09:09 AM
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Default cross fire

On my 84 cross fire I had a problem close to yours and found that the trap doors that send hot air from the ex. manifold to intake when car is cold were stuck on I pulled the vac. lines off pluged them and it worked may not be it but a easy check
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Old Jul 18, 2010 | 09:19 AM
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lots of good advice .i think a good tune up is the best advice .i also would look herehttp://www.crossfire.homeip.net/index.php?act=idx
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Old Jul 18, 2010 | 01:17 PM
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Originally Posted by terry82
lots of good advice .i think a good tune up is the best advice .i also would look herehttp://www.crossfire.homeip.net/index.php?act=idx
I registered to that site but there is nothing there to look at?
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Old Jul 18, 2010 | 03:22 PM
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It will take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours for the moderator to approve your login. Once that is completed, you will see threads....
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Old Jul 18, 2010 | 03:24 PM
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Originally Posted by dhaile
It will take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours for the moderator to approve your login. Once that is completed, you will see threads....
Thanks for the info.
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Old Jul 18, 2010 | 07:26 PM
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Originally Posted by tjkcreations
I registered to that site but there is nothing there to look at?
there is all you need to keep that crossfire running go back and check out cross-fire faq and tech.it is a forum just like this ,you can ask for help .
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Old Jul 19, 2010 | 09:29 AM
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i would start by replacing gasket on the intake manifold top plate. you should also replace coolant temp. sensor and o2 sensor. check fuel pressure, should have no less than 9 lbs.
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Old Jul 19, 2010 | 07:38 PM
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Originally Posted by bdk2580
i would start by replacing gasket on the intake manifold top plate. you should also replace coolant temp. sensor and o2 sensor. check fuel pressure, should have no less than 9 lbs.
Those are the usual problems. The only thing I would add is to bump the timing up 2 or 3 degrees and see if it improves things before tearing into it and I also would advise the Felpro intake plenuim gasket(It's a nice piece that will never leak again!!!)
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Old Jul 20, 2010 | 09:15 AM
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If the car is untouched and everything that should be there is there. I would say its your fuel filter and or fuel pump. Aside from that it could be a lot of little things.

Some pictures of the engine area would help.

Is everything there?

Once you get past 1500 rpm does it run properly? Not idling but driving....

Jim
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Old Jul 20, 2010 | 09:55 PM
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Everything is there and all original. It is very rough at a stop light but if I put it in neutral it smooths out and idles at 1000 RPM's. It just feels like when you take your foot off the gas at slow speeds and then give it gas again it isn't smooth and the car kinda jumps. It feels like there is no throttle response until the pedal is 1/4 of the way to the floor and then she takes off. If you were a passenger in the car with me you would think I don't know how to drive and I am always "jerking the car".
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Old Jul 20, 2010 | 10:08 PM
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Originally Posted by tjkcreations
Everything is there and all original. It is very rough at a stop light but if I put it in neutral it smooths out and idles at 1000 RPM's. It just feels like when you take your foot off the gas at slow speeds and then give it gas again it isn't smooth and the car kinda jumps. It feels like there is no throttle response until the pedal is 1/4 of the way to the floor and then she takes off. If you were a passenger in the car with me you would think I don't know how to drive and I am always "jerking the car".
It shouldn't idle at 1000 in neutral, maybe 700 nad 550 in gear. Sounds like a vaccum leak provided the throttle bodies have not been tampered with.

Check the bolts on the top lid. You will notice the intake is two pieces, Make sure the bolts are snug. Also tighten down the throttle body bolts.

Disconnect the vaccum supply to the headlights on the rear driver side of the engine and cap the port. Eliminate vaccum leaks in the head light system.

Disconnect the hose on the front TBI to the EGR solenoid and plug the port. Eliminate a leak there.

Check the PCV valve and make sure its working.

See if the idle changes.

Jim
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Old Jul 20, 2010 | 10:12 PM
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your idle should drop down to about 650 in gear .check for vac leaks and check your injector spray.have you changed the fuel filter and checked the fuel pressure.
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