erratic idle

[Sachelle Babbar <sbabbar@iris.nyit.edu>]

Recently, I've had a problem with my car. The idle surges between 11 and
1600 rpm. When it first starts, it idles stable at 2000. I hit the gas, it
goes down, but the surging starts. I smell gas out the back and I've tried
to get all the manifold connections, but it still idles the same. The
engine feels like it's almost going to die and then the idle goes back up.
I'm wondering about timing belt slip and how far the timing can be out
with the engine still being able to run. I am going to check it tonight
and change it this weekend. I constantly get the check engine light, but
it only signals a knock sensor problem. What might be the culprit? Can a
bad coasting valve do this as well? Check engine comes on at .8 bar and
above. I can get in to boost, but I'm not trying for fear of engine
damage.

It started on sunday night. I started my car, drove around the block, came
back half an hour later, started it again and had these symptoms.


****************************************************************************
*Steve                                             Sachelle Babbar
*'87  5000CS Turbo 5spd 1.3-2.0 bar             <SBABBAR@IRIS.NYIT.EDU>
*Cockpit adjustable wastegate, AudiSport badge
*
*Disclaimer:"Any information contained herein is based purely on my own
*personal experience and may not necessarily reflect yours. Use caution as
*your results may vary from mine."
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