96 rs with start and idle problem

i looked and couldnt find another thread with my issue
so here it goes

1996 rs 5spd

at times i will stopping or just starting the car and the rpm's will drop super low around 100 rpm and alot of the time it will die
i'm unsure what this issue is and i was looking for some clue's to what could cause this

the other issue is about once a week on avg the car wont start at all
like the starter is dead (just been replaced) i turn the key the lights come on and nothing.

the owner before me said he had this issue and had a toggle switch installed that i later hit with my knee turned on and didnt know left it on and driove to the store and burnt up the starter that was in the car
he told me that the problem was fixed when he had the alarm installed
and i never had the problem till about 3 months ago

but its not a all the time thing so i cant figure it out

so any ideas what these problems can be would be helpful and give me a place to start

thx in advance for any help
and if theres any questions about the problems plz ask

also i have a question not part of the problem but just something i'd like to find out
i have a big rpm gauge /w shift light on my dash that they installed before i bought the car and its not connected to anything the wires just drop down behind the dash and sit there where do you hook these kind of aftermarket gauges up

Do you have a check engine light? Maybe the starter solinoid is bad, you are just going to have to start checking things when this problem happens and see where the power is stopping.

For the idle, maybe test the IAC sensor to make sure its good.

Make sure you have done a tune up resently: plugs, wires, airfilter, fuel filter, clean TB.

As for the aftermarket gauges, you will need to tie into a 12v source, ground, and signal for the tach. Easiest thing to do is to find the 12v that powers the stock gauges and tie into that, then just ground it on any metal part. Find the rpm signal wire and tie into that also. I dont have the papers with me but I can tell you the color of the rpm wire at the ECU. Should be the same at the dash.

EDIT - The RPM signal wire is the white wire going into the ECU. You can either tap into it here or at the gauge cluster if you can find it.

well the starter is pretty new maybe 6 months tops i havent got an CEL from either one of the issues i am having
i did just buy a fuel filter but i havent got around to installing it just yet
i looked in my book so i could find where the fuel filter is so i could install it but the car book i have has no info about there location of the fuel filter so i am just gonna have to jack it up and track it down

you suggest i clean the TB what is the TB?

thx for the help i will start with the fuel filter and work down the list

TB - Throttle body

Your fuel filter should be under the car on the passenger side right in front of the rear tire. If its not there then its on the firewall behind the motor.

ah thx found the fuel filter changed it out now i just gotta drive the car some and see if the dropping rpm issue is still there

Check ALL your vacuum lines for cracks or holes, that might have to do with the dropping idle and stalling issue, otherwise you can test the IAC like Silvr said.

As for the starter, did they replace the starter wiring when they replaced the starter? I would check all the starter connections first (battery, starter positive and negative), and if they all check out, they might have toasted the starter wires if they left the power on long enough to burn up the starter.

Don't forget the crappy little plastic TPS. I had similar issue with RPM bouncing and it ended up somehow the TPS was stripped inside :/ oh well...

Also you don't need that huge tach..it will draw a lot of attention to your car and the RS is a base model so it doesn't have the power to back up look. Plus you dont want your window busted out and it stolen..I would just remove and sale it. Unless you have a turbo plan soon , the idiot guages are accurate enough.