at first my idle in drive was so low, around 200-300 rpm the engine would or would almost stall, i kicked it up to 500-600 with the throttle body screw using the technical article. however, the idle in park or neutral is high, around 1,100-1300, itll sit at 1100 then seem to just step up a notch and go up. what else should i try? i've read by searching to try the TPS but i havent seen anyone with this odd of a problem either. 200,000mi 305tpi '87 automatic

The TPS adjustment must be done after the minimum air rate procedure, if you don't the ECM will hunt for the idle using the IAC, most likely it's maxing out the IAC. When doing the minimum air rate procedure don't forget to disconnect the set timing connector, you don't want the ECM adjusting the timing which affects idle rpm. Stock tachs are not accurate enough for this procedure, but will get you close, a scanner would be better.

what is the timing connector? the only thing i read to unplug was the power connection to the IAC valve motor?

It the connector in between the two wire looms.

I believe that you only disconnect the ESC wire when you are setting the static timing.

It would probably help if you cleaned up the TB and the IAC. You have alot of miles on the car.

Then do the minimum air setting according to the article, then reset the TPS to 0.60V, then set the static timing (this is where you disconnect that ESC wire).

A complete tuneup would help also if it has not been done for awhile, new plug wires, dizzy cap & rotor, and plugs. And run some fuel injector cleaner thru the fuel system.

I've made this mistake many a time. In the Author column to the left it shows his car is a 305 TPI (unless this isn't the car with the problem,) not a TBI which doesn't have a set timing connector.

oh, i guess i'm going to have to start over, i didn't adjust the TPS. and the article said nothing about disconnecting a timing wire. i will do this in the next day or so and report back if it fixed my problem

if u figure it out i have exactly the same problem with a slightly higher stall in neutral. its around 1400 out of gear and 600 in gear. its actually at the mechanic right now cuz i gave up on it.

allright well it seems to be fixed, disconnecting the timing advance was def. a helper, then i adjusted the idle screw, then the TPS. at idle the tps is about .42 , is that okay? the idle screw is out like 3/8 of an inch, looks like alot, is that okay? she idles at about 1000-1200 park 500-750 drive now.

also, from searching posts, everyone always jumps down everyones throat about reading the technical article on iac and tps, but there's alot of important information that wasn't even put on the article that make people have to make more posts asking questions, such as disconnecting that timing cable, and it's VERY vague on the whole wire jumping thing and what wires to read with a VOM (because there's three). there's also some very good pictures in some threads i've found that should be added to that article, so everyone doesnt have to spend a half hour digging through what search comes up with.

thanks for the help, that 1300 idle was killing me!