rough idle, hard start

[1984 CJ7]

So, I had a mechanic get my Jeep to pass DEQ. He did just that, and it passed. But, now my Jeep runs like S#@t! It's hard to start and once it does start I have to give it gas to keep it alive. Once it gets warm enough it will idle on it's own but the idle is rought and lumpy. I think he leaned it out to pass DEQ test possibly and reduced the idle RPM?

I don't want to take it back there becasue I am not 100% confident in him anymore so is there something I can do to bring it back to where it was prior to taking it to him?

Thanks!

 

[bondo258]

Why aren't you confident in the mechanic?

He adjusted it to pass emissions testing I presume? I also presume it would have failed had it been running "properly" which by your definition was a good contender for a "fail" grade.

Most mechanics today can't do that without having you fork over 3-6 hundred dollars, and replacing tons of parts.

He did what you asked. Whatever he did was probably around an hours labor, maybe or maybe not hooked up to an exhaust analyzer.

My guess is this mechanic is more than capable of adjusting your Jeep to it's previous running state.

Passing the test and functioning satisfactorily aren't necessarily the same thing. Your guy sounds like a Wiz with old school stuff. He knows what he had to do, I'm sure he'll remember what to connect,disconnect, or adjust.

If you want to tackle it yourself...

Set the baseline specs for your carb, Adjust timing to spec. Connect or disconnect all the vacuum lines and or wires to where they were before you brought it in.

 

[1984 CJ7]

I guess my reason for saying that is that he had my Jeep for 5 days and $600 bill. Granted, he fixed my fuel sender aswell but said he would have it done in a day. Then no communication for 4 more days.

Not saying that he doesn't know what he is doing, just leery about the whole situation. that's all.

 

[bondo258]

Six hundred bucks for a fuel sender and a "tune (down) up"?

Did he replace any parts beside the fuel sender?

Do you have any recollection of what was connected underhood?

Do you have a Haynes, Chilton's, or FSM book? If not I think you need to spend some time acquainting yourself with them.

What do you have access to as far as tools go?