Sparkey

Ok, I know it's been awhile since I posted this..bvut I tried all the suggestions and the first day I got some results...I was spraying wd-40 near the passenger side intake manifold and the idle changed, but the next day I tried the same thing and got no response....??? Whats involved in taking the intake manifold off and checking the gasket??

Yeah, the check engine light does come on every once in awhile...I know it's related to the high idle/ vac leak...this is going to be my next repair...Hopefully this week I'll have the time to snoop around and see what I find. Thanks for the advise.

Sounds like I have some info to help get me started on this problem!! Thanks for the advise!! I have one small question though....At work we use this fake smoke to test smoke detectors...I was wondering about spraying that into the intake after the airfilter and seeing if the smoke would leak out...I'm thinking that it would probably work better to not have the car running, as the fan would blow any smoke away from it's point of leakage.....this stuff is made out of "ISO Butane and propane"....Has anyone used anything similar to find leaks???...if not I'll let you know how it works if I need to use it after I try the other ideas....Thanks so much for the help!! Jordan

Well...I can tell it's coming form somewhere around the intake on the passenger side as it swoops down into the rectangle-ish valve cover. - What are some ways to locate it exactly? Or more accurately?? I'm stumped. Is there a common location on '91 Legacy's that have this problem...It's causing all kinds of idle problems....Thanks for the help!@ Jrodan P.S. Pictures would REALLY help me out too...I don't have a manual...and I'm a little to broke at the momment to buy one for $16-20!!

Ok here's a short update...Been driving the car for 2 weeks now...idle is still high, but the sticking lifter noise has quieted down...except for Monday after sitting all weekend...put some oil tratment in and It's helped alot, put some fuel treatment in and the idle still acts crazy...I know it's the vac leak...Anyone have any hints on how to locate a vac leak...I'm clueless...Thaks! Jordan

Thanks for the advise Ed... - I think it (the ticking) could be the fact that it sat for awhile and being and the lifter...It seems to come and go...I just changed the oil when I swapped the oil pan...It's weird. I'll see how a few more days driving it goes... -It seems to have a really strong engine and tranny...It's a shame the thing is kind of a rust bucket. Does anyone know if they salt the roads in Montanna? -As for the idle prob...I'm getting a "check engine" light when I first start it and it goes away after the engine warms up..how do I check the codes?? I'm just wondering if it is the ECU and if so what would people suggest?? -Another thing I noticed last night when I was tinkering with it was that when I pinched one of the vac. hoses - approx 1 inch diameter, swoops down from a splitter valve of sorts near the air intake and goes to an electrical looking thing- that it kicked the idle up really high...then took a few minutes to drop it down... Thanks again for the help guys!!! Sorry this post is so long.

Well, I used to frequent this site pretty religiously a few years back...Thhngs have changed...Looks good!! Nice to see a few of the smae names here...I don't remember what my last login name was so I figured I'd start over....Anyway...You'll see more of me now that I'm "back in the family"...Got a $600 Turd sitting out in the drive way that I'm going to be fixing all the "little" things that are wrong with it...So, I'm forwarning you all, that I'll be asking alot of stupid questions....I really need to get a manual for this thing, but I already put about $80 into it this last weekend just to put a new oil pan on, and we're in the process of buying a house so money is tight!! Not to mention all the frickin" time I spent just trying to swap the oil pan...GOOODNIGHT!!!! Approx 14hrs I think when all was said and done...anyway, sorry to ramble...Just saying HI! Jordan

Well....I'm the new owner of a '91 Legacy AWD Basket-case-of-a-Sedan. Thats what I get for $600 right!!!? Anyway. A little info on the car. Has a terrible ticking sound...coming from passenger side of the block...don't know if it's a valve/lifter or what. I do know that I have a vac. leak from where the cast-iron intake meets the top of the block.... My main problems I would like to fix ASAP are the high Idle (around 1200rpm) - How do I adjust this?? Tried the screw by the accelerator pedal cable...didn't do anything. Also the brakes feel SUPER spongy...they stop, but seems like you have to mash the pedal all the way to the floor before things start to slow down...also the e-brake has to be almost pointing strait up to hold...I don't have a manual so If anyone could help me out I'm kinda in need here. Thanks!! Jordan