Ok, having a problem with the car. Very minor, the major stuff was done the past few nights (water pump, belts that don't fit, take back, don't fit, hoses, hoses that don't fit, don't have the hose in stock...etc.) Well that Check Engine light w/o a code comes on at idle. Dad said he thinks it is the on where if you stand in front of the car, leaning over the nose straight on over carb, it is on the left side, on the side closest to you (in front of the primaries.) What does this sensor do? What do the others do?

 

TPS, Throttle Position Sensor.

Tells the computer how far open the throttle is. If it's causing a SES light, it should be setting a code. How are you checking for a trouble code?

 

Paper clip. 5+6. Will probably take to the autoshop because they have a scanner.

 

Are you getting the "12" flash?

If not, try pins 6 & 12.

 

There is no 12 pin lol. But I am getting a 1 pause flash flash aka "12". But I think I figured out possibly why there is no trouble code. I don't think I waited 3 rounds of code "12". I thought it does "12", code(s), "12", code(s), "12" code(s). Will look again in a few minutes. Gotta eat first, then we putting in some fresh antifreeze, check some codes, and then fire her up . Followed by possibly getting the Rustang (hehe I like Camaros and Mustangs don't get me wrong) prepped for radiator replacement. It's rotten.

 

actually if you are looking at the carb, the sensor on the left is actually the mixture control selenoid, this control the idle mixture at all times with the help of the o2 sensor and throttle position sensor. When you turn the key to on you should hear it clicking, if not then it's probably bad. It could be clicking and just be out of adjustment.

 

Does it click really fast? I hear that but wonder if it's that or the fuel pump priming.

 

yes it clicks prettty fast. If you have a carb, then most likely you don't have a fuel pump that primes. Only electric pumps prime and they are in the tank, and only for fuel injected engines(except for a few) and you shouldn't hear it clicking if it was a pump priming, it would humm or whirr or something like that. Your fuel pump on the other hand is located on the passenger side front of your engine block underneath and behind your smog pump. Does you engine light go off after you start to drive? If it only comes on at idle your car may be running rich or lean at idle. The first thing you should always do when checking engine codes is reset them, then drive the car for a while, let it idle etc. and see if the light comes back on.

 

Yea it goes off after you drive. It kind of will idle, maybe move up or down a bit, not stay smooth, and it will gradually get rougher, especially if you play with the wheel and put load on power steering. After you drive it will go off. No codes still, I got "12" 5 times before I give up. I will try to erase. If you tune the carb, would that be for the shop I know well (neighbor works there) that has a scanner and other electronic tools, or can you tweak it like a regular carburetor?

 

You certainly don't need a scanner to adjust your carb. I think your mixture control selenoid is off its range. Or your Idle air bleed was messed with. Or your mixture screws have been turned. Have you been making any adjustments to the carb? The idle air bleed looks like a big flat head screw in the front top center of the carb, and it looks like brass. This is assuming the air bleed cover has been removed. These are things you can tweak with the proper measuring tools. You would need a digital volt meter to check the throttle position sensor, and a dwell meter to check the duty (on/off) cycle of the mixture control selenoid. Its hard to give you good advice if I don't know how much you know about carbs, but I can help you through tuning the carb or an entire rebuild if you need.

 

*I* don't know much. My dad is the mechanic of the family, and is GOOD. But I never really asked him much on carbs so I don't know how much he knows, but I assume he knows a lot because while he was replacing my water pump, he told me a story of when he was aroiund 13 he replaced one on a silver 77 buick. Will look today. Hmmm