Dadman

Hey guys, Been playing with it some more. I think you're right about the cluster, Speedo cable has been clicking anyway. I was just setting the timing to 5 degrees and I tried giving it a rev. The timing notch goes way off past 20 degrees with and without the vacuum hose blocked. Surely this isn't right is it?

You are right, there is still a electrical problem, It just seems there was more that one problem. Tacho is still just as erratic, no surprise there. After just getting stuck in a drive-thru I can say it still gets problematic (as above) at higher temps. The stalling issue seems to be fixed its running better, but by no means perfect. The ignition coil is on the other side of the engine to all the other bits. So to summarize- Most of the original issues still exist as written but it doesn't run anywhere near as rough. I will do the oil change and some other bits and pieces tomorrow if weather allows.

Important Update: Got a replacement fuel filter. Upon removing the old one it rattled, I thought 'that's not right'. Went ahead and cracked it open to see what I expected. The filter element had come unstuck from the roof of the casing, Essentially changing it from a filter to a place for fuel to pass through and get dirtied up. Great huh. Needless to say its much better with a new filter, Did about 60k's city driving today and didn't stall once. Its not perfect but I am sure playing with the timing and finishing a service will certainly help. robax wins the prize of some crap off my desk, I knew it was something simple. When the weather clears up I will finish the service but I am feeling much relief today. Thanks guys.

Hey guys, Thanks for all the input. I got myself a timing light ($1 at a festival thingo yay). Played with the timing, experimented from 0 to 10 degrees and at all positions it was terrible. Checked a handful of vacuum hoses in the process, all either sucked or changed the engine sound if I sucked on them. I gave got a new dizzy cap and cleaned the rotor. Today I will get an Oil filter and a Fuel filter. I don't pretend to know much about engines, its why I am here for help, so thanks everyone for your ideas I will be sure to post results.

Problem has been there for the whole time I've had the car, 6 months or so. I am pretty sure it doesn't miss all the time, it will run down the street at 1,500rpm in second smooth as silk when cold, but when its warm its awful. I got to get my hands on a timing light to make sure the timing is spot on, but it has been adjusted and its at the point where it runs the best. It is like the timing is getting thrown way out of whack somehow. No it doesn't get really hot, Thermo fans kick in at 1/2 way up the gauge and it never gets higher, Also no signs of white on the plugs. Does not go through any fluids at all.

Hey guys, I have been on here for a while reading but never posted. I have an 1985 AE82 with a 4A-C and it has a problem that although very annoying is hard to describe so I will try to be an concise as I can. When the engine is cool it runs well, but as it warms it gets worse. The first sign is the tacho becomes erratic, Even at idle the tacho is reporting 1,500-2,000RPM, If I lightly press the accelerator and raise the revs the tacho will become slightly more accurate, coming down to around 1,000RPM. While driving at below around 3,500RPM it will miss, ping and have next to no acceleration with the problem worsening as more throttle is applied, Tacho reports jumps of up to 2,000RPM above reality. So the timing is going all crazy and at idle sitting at lights it will even stall. I thought it would be the TFI module so I got a couple of replacements from a wreckers and it made no difference. Any help would be appreciated.