idling problems

[fluxuatingcars]

need help with a 91 olds cutlass supreme sl. so far, all i have to throw at you is i drive it to work. It starts every time. But, dont sound smooth at all, (sounds like its struggling to keep rpms up). And idles till it warms up. Then it stalls. If i'm driving it. it tries to stall under 40 mph sometimes. And always coming to a stop. Also, if from a stop. I throw it into reverse. It stalls every time. When it is warmed, and the rpm falls under 1000, it stalls. If its in park, it can hold an idle sometimes. Things I tried out: i opened the hood. And revved it, by hand. And it revs strong. And when i did that. If i do it inside with the gas pedal. It has a cutoff point. LIke its reached its limit at about 4 thousand rpm. Thank you for any help. When i revved it under the hood a few times at high rpms. The idle changed to close to normal. this part is edited
thank you for any help

[fluxuatingcars]

Originally Posted by fluxuatingcars

need help with a 91 olds cutlass supreme sl. so far, all i have to throw at you is i drive it to work. It starts every time. But, dont sound smooth at all, (sounds like its struggling to keep rpms up). And idles till it warms up. Then it stalls. If i'm driving it. it tries to stall under 40 mph sometimes. And always coming to a stop. Also, if from a stop. I throw it into reverse. It stalls every time. When it is warmed, and the rpm falls under 1000, it stalls. If its in park, it can hold an idle sometimes. Things I tried out: i opened the hood. And revved it, by hand. And it revs strong. And when i did that. If i do it inside with the gas pedal. It has a cutoff point. LIke its reached its limit at about 4 thousand rpm. Thank you for any help. When i revved it under the hood a few times at high rpms. The idle changed to close to normal. this part is edited
thank you for any help

just so you know, i dont know what the hell i'm doing

[Ian Szgatti]

1. tell us what engine you have.. tell us the milage, and in detail the last service done to the vehicle and when.

2. Do you know how to check your oil? Do so and wipe the dip stick on some white paper towel. Tell us hat it looks like and if it smells alot like gas.

3. Are yoo loosing coolant at all?

4. Any check engine lights on?

[Mrbizness1]

Originally Posted by fluxuatingcars

just so you know, i dont know what the hell i'm doing

Sounds like a bad egr valve, start the motor and and raise and lower the idle while watching the egr diaphragm, it should not move, if it does you can try and clean it out with compressed air.

[fluxuatingcars]

engine is 3.1 multi-port FI, The oils been changed so has the oil filter, i replaced the air filter. it has 151,741 miles on it. yes its losing some coolant. And, yes just about always the check engine light comes on. oil smelling like gas? smells like oil to me. gonna try and clean out the throttle body like someone told me online. also, i read in this forum somewhere it might be as simple as sparkplug wires which i haven't messed with in years? hehah gonna check them too, if anything else to add from what i'm posting here, please do tell. i'm starting to pick things up pretty good.

[Ian Szgatti]

Originally Posted by fluxuatingcars

engine is 3.1 multi-port FI, The oils been changed so has the oil filter, i replaced the air filter. it has 151,741 miles on it. yes its losing some coolant. And, yes just about always the check engine light comes on. oil smelling like gas? smells like oil to me. gonna try and clean out the throttle body like someone told me online. also, i read in this forum somewhere it might be as simple as sparkplug wires which i haven't messed with in years? hehah gonna check them too, if anything else to add from what i'm posting here, please do tell. i'm starting to pick things up pretty good.

MrBiznes made a good suggestion. As far as spark plugs and wires... if its been years... for the love of god change them.. i think you'll be ok then...
add a bottle of stop leak to your radiator when its cold and you just start the car... dont put it in the over-flow, put it in the rad.. that should stop your leak. Do you see the coolant leak and drip on the ground, or is it leaking internally? Either way.. get some stop leak for the cooling system... ask at a parts store, they'll hook you up