High idle

[freshtiva]

I had thought of dashpot as it could be responsible for symptom # 2. Slow RPM drop between shifts. Since dashpot controls throttle closing speed maybe it wasn't closing fast enough. Just went out and checked it. In pushes in slowly and releases quickly. Linkage and spring around that area will get lubed tomorrow. Seemed a little stiff. Ill also check to see if dashpot rod touches the lever at 2650-2950 RPM when I can get someone other than the wife to operate gas and watch tach while I watch dashpot rod and lever. Id hate for the car to accidentally slip into gear. Ill also try a 2nd dashpot I have from an old engine. There is still hope.

[69shelby]

you may also try disconnecting the battery for awhile and reset the puter.
Did you spray starting fluid around the intake and look for a leak?

[freshtiva]

Man you are reading my mind with the starting fluid trick. I'm going to try the dashpot first. Then if it doesn't work Ill try that around the TB and plenum gasket and also around the center gasket of the plenum and a few other spots. Scares me to try that any closer to plug wires and distributor. Thanks for your ideas !! Ill disconnect puter for awhile too.

[miami man]

idle

i had a chevell in the past after changing intakes it ran bad and had funny idle then a mechanic told me to tighten the intake bolts after it had warmed up and it fixed the problem.

[ericsmith32]

Ever figure anything out on the high idle? I went over the entire intake with fi cleaner on the aspire no leaks. Adjusted the idle screw and tps sensor.. made it worse. I'm starting to wonder if its a temp sensor but all of them tested good. I'd like to get it fixed before I sell it.. doesn't look thats going to happen.

[ericsmith32]

Nevermind found the problem. On the aspire's it has a different on/off switch for the tb. On the switch it's adjustable.. didn't realize it until I looked at it further. Now it's idling a 650-700 good and steady. I bet the mpg will jump seeing that it was idling at 1500 before.

[freshtiva]

No I haven't found the problem. What did you do to fix yours? Adjusted the Throttle position sensor? Will that a apply to the festiva also? Also just put a new cooling fan motor on as it was making noise. Come to find out the motor was fine but someone had put a large washer between the fan and the fan motor that was rattling. Don't know why someone had put that in there.

[ericsmith32]

Well I think it would be considered the stop screw. It hidden underneath the dashpot on the festiva. The aspire has the dashpot and stop screw in one. I'd take a picture but you wouldn't be able to see it.

[freshtiva]

I know what you're talking about , yeah its the throttle stop screw.

[freshtiva]

Update:

Tried adjusting the throttle position sensor, didn't alter idle. Put on a different throttle position sensor, no change. Lubed linkage, cable, spring, no change. Put on a different dashpot, no change. Sprayed starting fluid around vacuum hose and intake system, nothing. Any more suggestions idle is still at 1500 RPMs? Unhooked battery to reset computer, nothing. Did find a loose ground anyway that is unrelated

[ericsmith32]

Did you adjust the stop screw?

[freshtiva]

No, that may be my last resort. Might explain the high idle, but not the other symptoms. Its the same fuel system that was on the original motor and it didn't idle this fast then. Thanks for the suggestion Ill let you know if I try that. Might read up on timing and maybe fool with that next. Kinda stupid in that area. Got 1000 miles on the new motor now, everything is working perfect except this idle problem, its starting to get frustrating.

[ericsmith32]

Mine didn't idle high with the old engine either. My thought is that someone adjusted the idle speed to compensate for the poor compression. Maybe they did the same on yours. Mine also did a 200-300rpm jumpy idle after I let off the gas, 1500 to 1700 two or three times. I think the computer was trying to compensate for the idle being to high. It hasn't did it since.

[freshtiva]

You make a good point !! Ive considered someone else has already messed with it. Especially after some of the things I found on the car when I first bought it. Ill try the throttle stop screw tomorrow. Ill let you know. Thanks!

[freshtiva]

Ok making some progress now. Backed the throttle stop screw all the way off until the throttle closed on its own without stop and then screw it back in until it just touched the throttle arm. Then I adjusted the dashpot the same amount. The idle dropped to around 1100. Then I adjusted the idle air screw ( which had little effect prior ) down half a turn and got the rpm to drop to about 900. I think with a little trial and error I will get it fine tuned. The dashpot adjustment seemed to allow the rpm to drop a lot quicker between shifts also. So I think I'm on the right track. Someone must have altered these setting to compensate for the old motors performance. Thanks everybody for your input.