86 GT - Runs rough... then gets better by itself

Hi,

My 86GT started sounding like it was running on 5 cylinders. I pulled
and reset all the plugs and distributer connections but couldn't get it
to smooth out. Worse during acceleration.

This has happened a few times and it will correct itself eventually but
only when it has been turned off and then started again later - never
clears while driving.

This doesn't sound like fuel cuz that would persist until I took some
kind of action. Is there some electrical timing that gets set randomly
when you start it?

There has never been any special circumstances when it has fixed
itself. Just parked and the next time it starts it runs smooth as
silk.

Any ideas

Thanks

maybe one of your injector connectors is loose.

ZRexRider wrote:
> Hi,
>
> My 86GT started sounding like it was running on 5 cylinders. I pulled
> and reset all the plugs and distributer connections but couldn't get it
> to smooth out. Worse during acceleration.
>
> This has happened a few times and it will correct itself eventually but
> only when it has been turned off and then started again later - never
> clears while driving.
>
> This doesn't sound like fuel cuz that would persist until I took some
> kind of action. Is there some electrical timing that gets set randomly
> when you start it?
>
> There has never been any special circumstances when it has fixed
> itself. Just parked and the next time it starts it runs smooth as
> silk.
>
> Any ideas
>
> Thanks
>


--
Robert W. Hughes (Bob)
BackYard Engineering
29:40.237N, 95:28.726W or perhaps 30:55.265N, 95:20.590W
Houston, Texas "The city with too much Oxygen"
rwhughe@oplink.net

Sound like a coil on the coil pack is giving up.

cselby@mts.net wrote:
>
> Sound like a coil on the coil pack is giving up.

His GT doesn't have coil packs, only the '87 and '88 L4
cars with DIS used coil packs. Likely it's an ignition
module if it's spark related, but the symptoms described
here are so vague it could be anything.

General recommendations would be to do a full tuneup with
new plugs, cap and rotor, and wires, and see if that helps.

JazzMan
--
************************************************** ********
Please reply to jsavage"at"airmail.net.
Curse those darned bulk e-mailers!
************************************************** ********
"Rats and roaches live by competition under the laws of
supply and demand. It is the privilege of human beings to
live under the laws of justice and mercy." - Wendell Berry
************************************************** ********

Vague? I tried to point out some specific symptoms like the fact that
it fixes itself after being shut off and never ever when it's running.
I think that's gotta be a big clue to somebody who knows this thing.

If i thought for a minute my local mechanic was on the internet I'd be
guessing you're him ;-) Full tune up is his usual way out for fixing
an intermittent problem like this. After a full tune up he's touched
and shifted everything and magically it's all better. 2 months later I
have the exact same problem. Anyway, I would expect a car needing a
tune up would act like it needed it everyday until you finally gave it
one. I may start the car tomorrow and it will run sweetly for another
month.

It doesn't seem spark related. If you watch the tach - its jumping
only when there is any acceleration. After you're at cruising speed it
looks nice and smooth.

Thanks everybody for giving me some suggestions to check this weekend.
If it turns out it needs another tune up then it's a goner. It's had
too many ;-)

JazzMan wrote:
> cselby@mts.net wrote:
> >
> > Sound like a coil on the coil pack is giving up.
>
> His GT doesn't have coil packs, only the '87 and '88 L4
> cars with DIS used coil packs. Likely it's an ignition
> module if it's spark related, but the symptoms described
> here are so vague it could be anything.
>
> General recommendations would be to do a full tuneup with
> new plugs, cap and rotor, and wires, and see if that helps.
>
> JazzMan
> --
> ************************************************** ********
> Please reply to jsavage"at"airmail.net.
> Curse those darned bulk e-mailers!
> ************************************************** ********
> "Rats and roaches live by competition under the laws of
> supply and demand. It is the privilege of human beings to
> live under the laws of justice and mercy." - Wendell Berry
> ************************************************** ********

> Vague? I tried to point out some specific symptoms like the fact that
> it fixes itself after being shut off and never ever when it's running.
> I think that's gotta be a big clue to somebody who knows this thing.

I will say again, this is exactly the symptoms evidenced with a loose
connector on one injector. Try pushing down on the ones you can reach.
--
Robert W. Hughes (Bob)
BackYard Engineering
29:40.237N, 95:28.726W or perhaps 30:55.265N, 95:20.590W
Houston, Texas "The city with too much Oxygen"
rwhughe@oplink.net

R W Hughes wrote:
> > Vague? I tried to point out some specific symptoms like the fact
that
> > it fixes itself after being shut off and never ever when it's
running.
> > I think that's gotta be a big clue to somebody who knows this
thing.
>
> I will say again, this is exactly the symptoms evidenced with a loose

> connector on one injector. Try pushing down on the ones you can
reach.
> --
> Robert W. Hughes (Bob)
> BackYard Engineering
> 29:40.237N, 95:28.726W or perhaps 30:55.265N, 95:20.590W
> Houston, Texas "The city with too much Oxygen"
> rwhughe@oplink.net

Thanks R. W. that's the first thing I'm gonna try. I appreciate your
advice.