87 lesabre runs rough, stalls

I just got my 87 lesabre running after sitting for 3 years. It ended up being a bad cam sensor. The engine fires right up, but runs really rough and stalls. If you give it gas it runs better, but there is a noticable amount of vibration, and once you let off the gas, it runs rough again. I checked the plugs with one of this inline lights and all the cylinders are firing. There are no check engine codes. What could it be.

Lots of issues here after 3 years, check for dried up or chewed wiring to the injectors, disconnect the maf see what happens, no quick answer here, this will take some onsite diagnosis.

In addition to the above, was any of the 3-year old gas still in the tank? If so, this could be one of the problems and you can use some "Heet" to help dilute the moisture.

I checked the wires, the ignition wires and wires to the injectors look good. Does anyone know the correct wiring for the plugs? I want to verify that they are on right because I tried switching the ICM a while back. Ill add the dry gas tonight and see what happens. Also, in testing today I have a loud clanging sound coming from the passenger side of the engine. If I remove the belt and run it, the sound is gone. Any guesses as to what can make that sound? Thanks!

I also tried disconnecting the MAF, engine completly dies when I do that (that was replaced about a year before the car died). I am going to replace the plugs and wires in the next couple of days and see if that helps. Here are 2 videos of the car running, first one is when I got it started, you can kind of hear the engine running a bit rough, and the second is later when the clanging noise started.

First run: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPEB8zaRKZU

Engine Noise: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpzGdvoWAbA

Does anyone know the correct wiring for the plugs? Not sure what system you have, so I will show both!

Delco Type II ignition

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/3264/distype11firingorderps9.gif


Magnavox Type I ignition

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/2218/magnovoxtypeiyi3.jpg
Also, in testing today I have a loud clanging sound coming from the passenger side of the engine. If I remove the belt and run it, the sound is gone. Any guesses as to what can make that sound?

Water pump, alternator, PS pump, A/C compressor clutch? :dunno:

Thanks for the diagram. I found that the clanging is the harmonic balancer, the outer part of it turns a little by hand then stops. I ordered a new one. Could that by any chance cause the car to run as bad as it does?

Interesting, the Haynes book shows numbers 3 and 6 on the coils being reversed from this diagram.

If #3 & 6 are reversed, #2 & 5 should be also. This is another option, it could one or the other in 87. The outer ring on the balancer should not have anything to do with how the engine runs.

I replaced the plugs and wires and it seem better. It still runs a but rough at low idle but doesnt stall anymore. Is there an adjustment for the idle mixture?

No. it's controlled by the ECM, all you can really do is pull the IAC, clean and check/set the pintle depth (1&1/8").

I'd check all the vacuum hoses over and huck a bottle of quality in tank injector cleaner. :2cents:

Oh, finally got it. Installed the new harmonic balancer, got rid of the noises. I found that removing the wires from cylinders 1&2 made no difference in engine idle. It ended up being 2 complely clogged injectors. I installed 2 new ones, and the car runs great, no shakes or stalls. All that needs to be done is replace 2 rotted brake lines, replace a wire on the MAT sensor (mouse chewed it) and it will be good to go. Thanks for everyone's help.