86 5kt dying...help!

[Burl Vibert]

Rokas Reipa wrote:
> 
> Hello all..Haven't written in a while, because seemingly there wasn't much
> to complain about but with these cars, something major always pops up..So
> here goes: Subject is a 1986 5000CS Turbo(non-q) with a 3sp automatic. Cold
> starts are fine, car fast-idles at around 1200 or so, eventually settles
> down to 800-900 or so. Drive it around for around 20-30 miles, at 50-90mph,
> city/highway. Park it, go inside, come out 20 minutes later and car WILL NOT
> START. Most times, it won't even catch. In the off-chance that it catches,
> any sort of idle stabilization is non-existent because I have to nurse it
> with the gas or it stalls. If it doesn't catch the first time, it takes a
> while before it starts and when it finally catches, again I have to nurse
> it. At this point, idle is very low; when stationary, the car almost always
> stalls. At stoplights, I have to rev it in neutral to prevent this. Twice
> now it has stalled on me in a busy intersection. If it stalls, it sometimes
> restarts on the first try and sometimes it takes a while. This low-idle
> situation takes about 5 minutes or so to disappear; revving the piss out of
> it in neutral seems to shorten that time. What is the problem? Vacuum leak?
> Some hose leaking somewhere? This problem is driving me insane and is
> extremely embarassing! Please help! Thanks,
>

It sounds like a vacuum leak to me.  Although it could be many
things on these cars.  Check all the usual ones, intercooler,
michelin man, the rear one that goes to the valve cover, etc.  I
use the unlit propane torch with a hose method, not lit of
course, but sometimes it's tempting.

If that doesn't work we'll try plan B.

Burl Vibert
1987 5kcstq
Kingston, Ontario