RPM's surging

[hyldalea]

a few weeks ago, while spending a couple of weeks in the blistering heat of vegas, my "service engine soon" light started coming on for short periods of time, then going off again. The day after it started, I was stopped at a light and the RPM's started surging up to about 3000, then going back down all on their own. occasionally, when this happens they will go all the way down and stall the engine (though it starts right up again without trouble). The problem comes and goes - it doesn't happen all the time, and the rpm surges don't seem to coorelate with the service engine light coming on (one doesn't seem to cause or preclude the other).

Also, occasionally, when the car is idling, a small amount of gas will leak from the front of the car on the driver's side. this problem, also is only an occasional occurrance.

Any advice and/or predictions on how much this is going to cost me when I take it in would be greatly appriciated--I always like to be informed on the problem as much as possible before I take the car in. Thanks

[Cat Fuzz]

Could be a bad fuel pressure regulator. They can leak when they go bad.

[sierrap615]

it could be the fuel pressure regular, or if could be about 8 dozen other things, first - find out what the code is

also what year and model

[hyldalea]

oops, it's a 95' SC1. You know, I was reading in the repair manual how to read the diagnostic codes, but the Haynes manual is useless - it only gives partial instructions. All the different codes are listed, and it explains how to perform the check (a series of three flashes which somehow mean 'code 12', or something like that), but doesn't explain how to read the other codes.

[sierrap615]

all engine codes will blink via the check engine light

all trans codes will blink via the shift to D2 light

when codes are displayed, it will be in the format of - Series of blinks, short pause, series of blinks, long pause, where the number of blinks in the first series of blinks is the first digit of the code and the second series of blinks is the second digit. after the long pause the pattern repetes, with each code being displayed 3 times before proceding to the next code. after all codes are displayed the system will begin again at the first code.

[hyldalea]

thanks