Idle issues

[jsheftal]

I have an '85 CJ7 with a AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l , auto Transmission , CA emissions. the problem I'm having is when I put it in gear it acts like the timing is way off and it sputters and dies. In neutral and park it idles beautifully and there is no hesitation with throttle. Some days it will run perfect and others will not run at all. I have replaced just about everything electronic minus the ECM.the EGR is working, new pcv etc. Could this be caused by a faulty fuel vapor recovery canister? It runs better inthe upper rpm ranges. I have checked for vacuum leaks with no real problems. It has 98,000 original miles and up until now has run great. I love my CJ and am very frustrated. fuel injection is in my future. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Old Dog]

I don't know anything about Ca. emissions so I'll let someone else answer your carb problem.
As for going fuel injection, you will love it.

 

[crscrkcj]

Intermittent like that sounds more like electrical than fuel. Is problem worse on humid moist days? If so could be bad wiring. Check wiring and grounds.

 

[hagar]

I would check the Pulse Air check valves/hoses under the air cleaner base.
The valves are threaded onto tubes but the hoses attach to the underside of the base.
If one or both of these check valves are bad, you are pumping exhaust gas into the air cleaner.
You can check by removing just the lid and driving, plugging them, or simply removing one or both hoses from the nipples on the air cleaner base.
The nipples can corrode and break off/rust out from condensation, so be gentle.

 

[jsheftal]

Moisture doesn't seem to make a difference. I'll look into the pulse air at the air cleaner. The thing that baffles me is how it runs perfect one day and missing and sputtering the next. If it was persistent it would be easier to diagnose. Thanks for the help