I've had some wiring problems with this car. Now it won't idle at all. It starts up if i give it gas, otherwise it will just keep turning over. It will not idle at all. i have to hold the throttle just a bit to keep it alive when i stop, and if i take too long shifting it will die. It run's fine though. Any ideas?

 

What do you mean here, "and if i take too long shifting it will die"?

Have you tried unplugging your MAF? Or I should say speed density. It's just before the throttle body. See if it will idle if it's unplugged.

Are you getting any codes?

 

Had a very similar problem just recently; most prob the air idle control valve. A shop cost with labor is around $300, 100-120 for the part; cheaper to do yourself.

 

[QUOTE=1987IROC350;5196276]What do you mean here, "and if i take too long shifting it will die"?QUOTE]

I mean if i let off the throttle while i have the clutch in. the rpms just fall immediately to nothing.

 

IAC? maybe, is it tbi?

 

'89 is MAF, it'd be nice if you had a scan tool to see MAF data.
MAF or IAC valve or massive vacuum leak..my guess.

 

Clean your IAC and check to see if your MAF is tip top. Have you modded your MAF housing??? Possible one of the wires broke inside due to some small trash getting in without the MAF screen. Sounds like IAC though...My Contour SVT did this to me (idle down out of gear at stop) and it was a bad IAC.

Later