Hi folks,

 

The idle on my '89 GL (ea82, hitachi carb) is rather inconsistent. When I start it up it might idle 500RPM and nearly die (or in some cases, actually die), or it might idle at 800RPM, or even 1500RPM. When it's heated up, it either idles at about 800rpm like a good little soob or it sputters and (nearly) dies at 500rpm again.

 

Is it supposed to act like this, or is there something I should go check for?

 

Cheers folks

Have you checked the choke? Another possibility is a worn or sticking throttle plate.

Its certainly not suppoed to act like that, but it could be a number of things causing it.........

 

If it drives fine otherwise, its probably not plugs/wires/dist cap, but its always worth checking.

 

I would second checking the choke, thats definitly a possiblity.

 

A cracked vacuum line could also be the culprit.

It seems to have started doing it since I took off the carb to do the mod to open the 2nd barrel at about 2/3rd throttle, though I'm sure I put all the vaccuum lines back on correctly (except the one that powers the pump that used to open the 2nd barrel, I disconnected that one).

 

EDIT: sometimes when I start it it idles very low and dies, so I pump the accelerator a few times and then start it again. That's when it idles at 1500rpm, and it keeps doing it until I drove around a bit..

Gday FBH My 93 Gl was doing something similar recently. Turned out to be a couple of things. So check these out: (1) The carby to inlet manifold mounting bolts and gasket. an air leak can occur at idle but hwne under laod the vacum can pull it tight and the car seems to be Ok. When you come to a stop and the vacum is less it will sometimes stop. (2) The alternator. Mine was gone but for a couple of weeks before the car would intermittently stop. Check voltage once started, should be putting in over 14 volts. Check voltage when stopped should be over or near 13 volts. Mine was onlt putting in 11 volts (internal voltage regulator out of phase) - swap in new alternator , goes good. (3) I also had dirt in the idle system of the carby. Pull carby apart soak and clean out, put in second fuel filter under hood, fixed the idle. There is a telltale sign of the blockage, because when the car can use the idle system in carby it trys to use fuel elswhere, mine was leaking fuel on the driver side of throttle body. Hope this helps

I agree with the idle circuit diagnosis. I am usnure if Hitachis have a primary idle jet (I ripped it off and put a Weber on mine as soon as I got it!) - but that could be blocked.