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Re: Strange idle (80Q)



> From: conrad@lcc.stonehill.edu (Claudia Conrad)
> 
> I have an '88 80Q with 70000 miles.  It's been running perfectly until
> today.  I stopped to grab some lunch to go, got in the car, and started
> it.  It had only been turned off for about 5 minutes.  The idle sounds
> very strange now.  It's not smooth, it revs a tiny bit (200 rpms).  It
> seems like normal idle is 1000 rpm, but it's going up and down between
> that and 1200 rpm.
> 
> To use technical language, instead of going hummmmmmmmmmmm, it is going
> vrm,vrm,vrm,vrm,vrm,vrm.
> 
> Any ideas?  I have to admit, I have not bought the Bentley manuals yet
> (I didn't know they existed until I joined this list last month).
> 
> Also, if anyone knows a good mechanic in this area (I live in Newton MA
> and work in North Easton MA (near Stoughton)) I would love a recommendation.
> 

That sounds like the classic idle stabiliser problem to me.  It could
also be caused by a vacuum leak, but then there would also be
driveability problems.

IMHO, that's a problem for a dealer to tackle; they at least have the
necessary equipment for diagnosis.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
John Greenstreet, Senior Engineer           (jgreenst@motown.ge.com)
Martin Marietta Government Electronic Systems    Moorestown NJ 08057
WPI Class of '75, Temple Class of '94

My new car history:
  1975    1978    1982       1986        1989      1992      1995
   VW ->  Audi -> Audi  -> Mercedes -> Mercedes -> Audi -> Mercedes
Scirocco Fox GTI  4000S    190E 2.3    190E 2.6    100CS     S320

POSSLQ's* new car history:
         1978       1981       1985      1988        1990     1993
       Triumph ->  Toyota ->  Toyota  ->  VW    ->   Audi  -> Audi
       Spitfire    Tercel     Corolla   Jetta GL      80      90S

*POSSLQ = Person of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters
Note: All Audis and Mercedes above were sold to friends or family.
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