Lopey idle and voltage gauge reading low - 92 PA

[ParkAve8-20]

This might be kind of long (sorry), but I want to explain it the best I can. So here goes:

92 Park Ave, 169,000 miles

Recently, I've been having an intermittent problem with the engine idle being very lopey, almost like I was running a performance cam. This only happens once in a while, and after the engine is started once warmed up. I have also noticed this problem under hard acceleration as hesitation and accompanying RPM fluctuation.

Today, it did this again (lopey idle) and I noticed that the voltage gauge stayed at around 10 volts. Under "normal" operation the needle stays at 10 for a few seconds after start-up then jumps to around 14. This is when the engine idles and accelerated fine.

I'm not sure if the engine problem and the voltage problem are connected because this is the first time I've noticed the voltage being on the low side, but I just might not have noticed the gauge.

A few components I've elimintaed as suspect:

-Plugs and wires are fairly new and in good condition
-Fuel filter is brand new
-Air filter is fairly new and still good
-PCV valved checked to be alright
-No vacume leaks that I was able to spot

Any ideas would be appreciated, because I'm clueless on this one

Thanks
-Chris

[HotZ28]

Have you check for any codes? Could be (CPS) crank position sensor, cam sensor or magnet in cam gear. Have you ever changed the timing set?

[ParkAve8-20]

Well, I solved the voltage problem, which turned out to be a bad alternator.

Originally Posted by HotZ28

Have you check for any codes? Could be (CPS) crank position sensor, cam sensor or magnet in cam gear. Have you ever changed the timing set?

As far as the idle problem, the OBD is not throwing any codes. A bad CPS or cam sensor should throw a code, right? Oh, and the timing set has never been touched.

After I replaced the alternator, the engine seemed to be running fine. I'm not sure if this means that was the problem, which I doubt, or that it is just back to being intermittent.

[HotZ28]

I hope the alternator was your problem. The PCM controlled cars are very sensitive to voltage drops. With 169K on the motor, I would budget for a timing set anyway.

[ParkAve8-20]

Hope you're right about the voltage drop messing up the PCM, that way I get off cheap. I am considering getting the timing set replaced, but I'll have to get some price quotes first. Since the car is so old and the body starting to rust pretty badly, I don't want to dump too much money into it.