Been a minute since i had a question... High revs issue

Wanting to get the years of grease and grime from previous owners off my motor I sprayed it down the other day taking usual precautions around coil packs and intake and being careful not to blast wires (still might have). Since i did that can only occasionally get a standard idle out of it . i fire it up and it jumps to and stays at about 2500 rpm even the quick tap to drop engine rpm doesn't work. looking for ideas of a starting area as i see no obvious issue in the engine bay. so if you have had this happen or are familiar with it any advice to correcting it would be fantastic. missing driving it.

You may have disconnected the IAC or MAF. Is the check engine light on?

It sounds like something is holding the idle up. Could you have bent the throttle bracket trying to protect the intake?

My engine light has been intermittent for a bit (bubble in the cooling system wouldn't come out) might have on the connectors tho.i will check here in a bit and see . checked for binding first being an old hot rodder

Trystlore wrote:

My engine light has been intermittent for a bit (bubble in the cooling system wouldn't come out) might have on the connectors tho.i will check here in a bit and see . checked for binding first being an old hot rodder

A bubble in the cooling system shouldn't cause a CEL. What's the code?

Does the idle settle at all once the car has a chance to warm up? I was thinking vacuum leak causing a misfire and setting CEL but I dont think that would be intermittent. Its just a guess without scanning for the code though.

Don't have the code yet obd 1.5 is messing with me and nope doesn't settle really

Do have your grounds cleaned and your Throttle Position Sensor checked as well as the Idle Air Control which are both on the Throttle Body. MAF sensors are a wee bit costly so cleaning it is an alternative before replacing it.

Actually work got stupid.will definitely try tomorrow. Off work finally.

Ok checked connections all clean and solid.how do I pull codes off obd 1.5? About to go get some maf cleaner and try my luck. Really can't spare the almost 200 for a new one atm hope cleaning works . Oddest part right now is no cell . Don't get to say it often, but car is confusing me.

It's tough sometimes to have hope while these cars are acting up. I know first hand how frustrating it can be. I spent six months chasing a ghost around in my white car only to have spent about $2,200 and replace every sensor known to man! I got the news that I had bad grounds after I went through and changed everything! I had the green car gone through as soon as I got it. Although some grounds appeared to be good like the battery ground, it was only when they were removed that we saw some nasty metal underneath. Do let us know how you make out.

Thanks for the info all took a few for the computer to readjust , but when it did it ran nice and smooth. Would still appreciate any info for pulling codes on obd 1.5. Thanks all for the assist.

Obd 1.5 is basically Obd II connector/plug on an Obd I brain/computer. You can splice together your own, buy a unit like the Actron CP-9145 which will read Obd 1-2 and has changeable plugs so 1.5 is golden, or take it in to your most trusted local mechanic. Or I suppose if you found the Obd 2 connector for a computer you could boot the obd I scan software n have away at it too.

No way to jumper for flash codes like the odb ones?

I couldn't say 100% for sure as I've never tried it on the riv, but I've read numerous reports that 1.5 won't flash the codes from jumper...

/facepalm that sucks

You might say that   

Have a bluetooth obd 2 scanner and know the tricks to the obd 1 hook ups. I of course get the pain in the butt year

The more 'unique' year. Haha

Lol

Swear I can't win. Ran right for a day now it idles to low and dies when I stop. Guess I am pulling the iac again

My thoughts would be either iac or more likely the TPS (throttle position sensor) they really don't like water so maybe it accidentally got doused when cleaning? A TPS Will cause all manner of idle problems. Also, check for any vacuum lines that might have come loose while cleaning. These will also ruin your day if you don't notice them

Thanks,  yeah I will have to chase through them again. /sigh. Drives like a dream when it is running right. Though I need another leveling pump

Think it would help to drop the battery cables off clear it and do a case learn?

Update : on throttle off it dips to low and tries to stumble and die. If I keep it running it settles back to where it should be. Could it just need a case learn or plugs and wires maybe?

Not sure that it'd 'help' but yeah, definitely clearing codes at least and then driving your car will set off a more specific group of codes as they happen so you can scan and see what they point to.
I'd still be most suspect of TPS, MAF, IAC, vacuum leak and then ignition wires and plugs.

New on most of those, doesn't necessarily mean they are good tho

That's certainly true but which are new? And is the before or after the engine cleaning? I guess, what's been the history of problems /work done to the car in the recent months?

Before the cleaning, previous owner thew money at it instead of troubleshooting a bad crank sensor. Only real issue I have had till now is tossing the serpentine belt. That's due to a pan Leak I haven't got to yet. Pulled iac and may released no change. Not finding vacuum leak

I've had 'new' delco maf units fail within just weeks. Tps I know can be problematic and linked with much of what your symptoms are. However, your description of the car wanting to flatten and stumble under throttle really sounds like a maf to me. Remember, it's not always mechanical, could be a voltage issue from a sensor like the maf. Heck, could be a really fouled oxygen sensor causing you to run outrageously rich/lean and exasperating another sensors bad readings.
Your best bet is clearing the codes, takin her for a drive or even just a startup if that's all it takes to throw the codes, and then checkin exactly what they are so you can avoid needlessly replacin anything that might be fine