89 Beretta

[The Hitman 2007]

My dad just got an 1989 beretta at an auction, it was started up there and ran good, when we go to leave we start it up to find that the idle is very high, as if pushing on the gas when not. A guy there said that it could be a vaccum leak, the car is also on empty, could that also effect it? The car drives but then dies after about 5 seconds. What do you think? If it is just a vaccum leak, how much would say it would cost to fix something like that?

THANKS VERY MUCH!

[jsgold]

Most of the time a vacuum leak is an easy, cheap fix as a hose may have simply fell off or maybe someone was working on it and never finished it. My son had an 89, with a 4 cylinder motor. We had a leak like yours but not horrible. Simply had to replace a rotten rubber hose. Should not cost much, maybe 5-10 bucks to replace a couple of lines. Might be hard to trace though as there are several hoses to check. Might even be your IAC valve, as they get dirty and could be sticking, although this usually causes a miss. I would get gas in it ASAP, as you will burn up your fuel pump if you run it low. I wonder what is causing the car to stall though, but you need to be sure it has fuel first, and then see if it runs in idle OK and go from there.

[The Hitman 2007]

Well, put some gas in it, started and it still idles high. Taped up the vaccum hoses, started, still idles high. Get it on the road and after about 5 minutes it started to run like normal Will start it again after it cools off to see if it still idles.

[jsgold]

The IAC valve might be dirty or maybe someone worked on the car recently and never ran it so the computer could re learn the idle speed. If it keeps acting up remove the battey, remove the IAC, clean it carefully and the area it sits in, and replace any hoses you can get at. Then hook up and let it idle for a while. There is a more proper idle relearn procedure but if you run it the computer eventually adjusts it Ok.

[The Hitman 2007]

Yeah it is probably the IAC that is just dirty, but im not so sure where it is at, and am afraid to take off the wrong thing. I looked around google and couldnt find any pics of where it is located on an 89 beretta. I think I have an idea of where it might be, but I could be wrong.

[jsgold]

It is always near the throttle body, has two screw, is round, and has a connector running to it.

[Blue Bowtie]

The '89 should be a speed/density system. A sticking IAC should not cause a misfire or rough idle, so long as all the other sensors are reporting properly. And IAC does not affect mixture, since the ECM will administer fuel based on RPM and load value (LV8).

The IAC should be mounted on the throttle body. You'll need to remove it, disassemble it, clean it, lightly lubricate the rack gear on the pintle shaft, and assemble it. Make sure the pintle is fully retracted against the spring before installing it to prevent damage.

[The Hitman 2007]

Thanks guys.