Re: Erratic idle speed

["twinenginedmc12" <twinenginedmc12@xxxx>]

Hi Richard.

I'm familiar with the "It worked before I fixed it" phenomenon. Given 
what you've said about the car working before replacing the HT (I'm 
assuming this means high tension, as in spark plug) wiring, it seems 
logical that something might have gone wrong in the exchange. 
Perhaps two of the wires are swapped. This could easily account for 
any manner of poor or non-running.
If it were my car,I'd start by verifying that all leads were 
reconnected properly, especially checking that they are in the proper 
sequence. If you don't have access to the firing order of the Volvo 
260, I'm sure someone on this list does. I don't. If this is what 
the problem is, you probably have not mixed up too many wires, or the 
engine would be likely not to run at all. Hopefully the problem is 
this fundamental. If it turns out that the wires ARE correctly 
installed, your problem is more sinister than I can diagnose. Good 
luck.

When I change my spark plug wiring, I always change one at a time to 
avoid any possibility of mixing them up. 

Please keep in mind that I'm not an expert with the Volvo 260 engine, 
as my Delorean doesn't have this engine in it. I'm just speculating 
from general automotive experience.


--- In dmcnews@xxxx, Richard Johnstone <webmaster@xxxx> wrote:
Hi
Got a problem trying to get my car going, starts ok but the idle 
speed is all over the place. When idling it either sits as normal 
about 900
rpm or runs well high at about 2000, and randomly switches between
them. When any throttle is applied it splutters lots and attempts to
stall. Initially it has trouble ontaining an idle at all with the air
flow sensor vibrating, and the engine miss firing.
We just replaced all the HT leads today, it was running fine before
that.
Anybody got ideas of what could be up and where to start looking as 
our mechanic bloke is off on holiday and we're trying to get it 
running in time for a show next week?
Richard (using Martin's email to confuse people)
#2727