I have a 1984 ta 305 with carb. automatic. had the manifold gasket and valve cover gaskets replaced. car sounds great now and runs exccelent when only driving for like 5 minutes or 10. when it's been driving for about 15-20 min's. it starts to run rough. the engine feels like it is jerking really bad and when you slwo down or stop the rpms drop to around 300-400 and it dies. you try to start it back and it won't until it's sat for a while. got it home and put it in park. the rpms kept jumping from 1200 to 300 as if i was reving the car slowly off and on. any clues?

 

I can't pinpoint anything for you, But I would say check into the idle circuit and if you can hook up a scanner, be sure the coolant temp reading is correct.

 

i was thinking the tcc solenoid but that doesnt explain the problem when idling in park

 

Might try getting the ignition module tested. My car did the same thing. Ran bad after it was warmed up let it cool and it would run great till it warmed up again. Had the module tested and it was bad.

 

thanks, i will try that. hopefully that's it

 

i wasn't able to get the module tested but bought a new one anyway. rotor button had melted and was stuck replaced it. also, turns out the alterator was bad as well. it wouldn't atempt to turn the belts when we had it tested. not sure if this fixes things yet. i will have to fill the tank up and take the car out another day to test it.

 

o.k. didn't work. it wasn't running as rough and the rpms aren't jumping up and down anymore. as soon as I slow down fast or stop it still dies and doesn't want to start back.don't know if this has anyhting to do with it but the engine light hasn't been coming on anymore. it doesn't come on at all and now the choke light isn't coming on either.any clues? please????i'd really like to have it running so i don't have to take my 99 TA to work all the time.

 

I did get engine light to work and it gave code 13. the o2 is about 7 months old. i know the spark plugs are black looking and they are about 2 months old. they dod have new wires. whe you first start the car it chugs and puts out some black/ gray smoke until after about 3 minutes and then it sounds great and doesn't smoke or chug anymore. of course, until after 15 minutes. it idles fine in park but jumps an shakes really bad in R or Drive.the entire car shakes back and forth lik someone is jumping on it. I also noticed that even in park when I turn the steering wheel the rpm's drop and if I turn it all the way to the left or right the engine dies. ???

 

o.k. got tool and did compression test. cylinder 3,6,7 are low. 3- 80, 6- 60, 7- 33. other are 125 and one 140. I think this may be my problem