i just bought this car a week ago and it has a rough idle. it gets where its about to cut off what would be the cheapest to fix this i know it could be multible of reasons but just dont wanna spend alot of money and it end up being something simple thanks
First, you MUST start with doing a scan. A scanner costs ~$35.
Also, is it a stock 86?
For an SD car (ECC), you can't do a cylinder balance test. So, on the chance that it is a cylinder/head issue, those require a compression check and/or cylinder pressure test.
If you do not get any codes, first, because of the age of the car, replace or clean the EGR valve. After a time, the valve gets caked with carbon and may not fully shut. Also, get some carb cleaner, and clean out the IAC/IAB. Those stick from carbon build up and will cause idle problems.
wish it was a cam ha ha but the only thing i know it has is a edelbrock intake and a holley carb. im gonna pick up a scanner this weekend hopefully or send it to my local tuner shop
NOTE: So, if your car has important mods, then say so in the original post!
Buy a repair manual for the car!
Also, you'll need a manual for an '85 GT. I suggest the Ford repair manuals if you can get them on ebay. Otherwise, the Chilton's Manuals are a place to start. But, the info in a Chilton's often isn't very specific, and often not complete or very accurate.
As I remember, only Canada '86 5.0's had carbs. So, if your car has mods, then say so in the post. Many of use turn off the often obnoxious sigs.
IMHO, don't waste your money on a scanner. It won't even hook up to your car.
You have much bigger problems now. My suggestion is that you may be better off taking the car to a garage. And, don't be surprised if a garage will not work on the car, or doesn't have a clue on how to hunt down a problem with an engine that has a carb.
It's not impossible to find and fix the problem. But, IMHO, you'd have to get very lucky as a new mechanic to find and fix the problem without putting a lot of time and money into it. But, hey we all have to start some time!
*I* started with cars with carbs, modified cars with carbs, and raced cars with cars. I still have a car with a carb - '69 Firebird. *I* am being honest with you. There are many things that you will likely have to to check and know about. If you have the time and money, then GO FOR IT! That's what this hobby is about!
But, if you think that you'll find some simple answer in the forums, IMHO, you'll be better off posting an thread with an honest title like "Looking for someone to blow smoke up my ***!".
Good Luck!
If I was you, and I was going to try to find the problem, I would do the following in semi-order:
o Get a vacuum gauge.
o Get a timing light
o Check the spark plugs
o Do a compression check
o Do a leak down test
o Try Get a cheap carb (swap meet, junk yard).
o Try a new carb (~$150++)
Each bullet above has many steps and is involved is NOT something you will learn about in the forums.
Again, get a repair manual, and read up on how to do the tests and read the results. Back when mammoths roamed the Earth , and there wasn't any Internet, that what people had to do. Really!! They read books, and learned that way! That's how I learned, and many other on here learned. So, it's not impossible. But, it's also not something that you learn and pick up in a few days/weeks.
There are a bunch of references on line. But, be please careful! A lot of the stuff on line is wrong, incorrect, incomplete, does not apply to your situation, and so on.
thanks for all your help i didnt know ppl could turn off the sigs or i would of posted it in the original. i took it to a auto shop i take all my cars to the guy got it running awesome!!!
For an SD car (ECC), you can't do a cylinder balance test. So, on the chance that it is a cylinder/head issue, those require a compression check and/or cylinder pressure test.
This is incorrect. I own a SD 86GT and I've done the cylinder balance test. I used to own a 86 5.0 Notch that was stock as a rock, was able to do the balance test on it as well.