'89 colt needs help please

hello
<X-posted>
1989 mitsubishi colt (4 cyl; 1.5 L; fuel injected) runs VERY WELL on the
highWay
however,
was *tuned up* (spark plus; spark plug wires; air filter. pcv; ignition
rotor) last month
last week the mechanic (???technician???) cleaned out(?)
ALL_of_the_vacuum hoses to correct a rough idle and hesitation. (should
they be cleaned or repl'd?)
however, now on startUp XS STRONG SMELL of fuel (esp from tailPipe) and
using > usual.
i found the fuel filter which is rusted and o.l.d.
(and should be rpl'd every year at its age.)
just wonder since now again it hesitates and sporadically has rough idle
whether this could be due to a very O.L.D. fuel filter? which the
nonChrysler place doesn't want to rpl
also supposedly the ignition wires are the original and i wanted them
rpl'd but was told not necessary.....
could that cause the hesitation?
finally: when i turn on the a/c which (afaik) never worked, the idle
goes down (according to manual idle should increase w/ the a/c) (from
700 rpm to 400) A.N.D. turning on the lights, the idle tanks and the
dash lights and clock dim (to nonExistant (despite the dimmer switch))
and w/ the wipers it really slows.
although the alternator light does_not_come_on, how reliable is this if
it's part of the electrical and if the alt is insufficient/dying, it's
not going to send extra power to the panel lights is it?
i thank you VERY MUCH in advance




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If hiway running is OK, fuel filter would not cause bad idle. Replace
it anyway.

Above, you said spark plug wires were replaced. Ignition wires = spark
plug wires (plus coil wire). If they weren't replaced, replace them -
they're due and can cause engine behavior problems. You didn't mention
distributor cap - if not replaced, replace it now.

Get the electrical problem diagnosed and fixed - it's probably a bad
ground or bad alternator causing poor voltage regulation. In either
case, it should be repaired/replaced. When you turn on the a.c. and
lights, there's extra load that the alternator is not compensating for.
May or may not be related to the engine behavior issues, but get that
fixed first and see if the other problems don't clear up.

If not, then at least you know that's not it and you can pursue other
potential causes. But the electrical problem has to be fixed unless you
want to get stranded at some random time and place not of your choosing
(usually in the rain on the way to a very important job interview). 8^)

Bill Putney
(to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with "x")

 

hello Bill,
thanks very much for the reply!
[...below...]


upDate... now there is visible exhaust that smells like fuel... no leaks......

i really do appreciate the clarification about the wires
sorry -- the distributor cap and ignition rotor (but it does not mention the
coil wire) were rpl'd

will follow your advice
thanks again!
sincerely
Tanya

 

You're welcome!

After you get the electrical problem (alternator?) fixed, post back with
the results. If you still have rich exhaust, others here can help with
that - maybe an O2 sensor if it doesn't clear up with the electrical
fix, but others can offer better advice than I can on that.

Bill Putney
(to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with "x")