Fast idle, hard start (sometimes no hot start at all)

Thanks again.

Thank you for all your help and good tips. Just for future reference and if it might help anyone else (I've seen several other inquiries on these cars regarding high idle, some that have claimed to have changed just about all related sensors without correcting the problem) After changing the coil, rotor, cap, control module, but not the pick up coil, the car is now starting reliably and running very smoothly. Curiously, the idle seems to have have come back down to or close to normal. Has the system perhaps been trying to compensate for weak or unreliable spark by forcing the engine to idle too high? Prior to the high idle problem, I had to set the idle higher to prevent stalling, then lower it again because it began idling too high. I haven't had the old parts tested yet so I can't be sure which one(s) were failing.

Before changing out the sensors on one of these, it might be wise to test distributor components in high idle situations or if the car is do for a tune up, just do a complete tune up (because it has to be done anyway) before buying new sensors. Unless one has had extensive experience with these systems, it's hard to ascertain what component(s) is/are causing the problem. The systems seem to be so complex it's hard to know if the computer, trying to do its job of keeping the combustion cycle as efficient as possible, is masking the real problem by causing another problem, in this case a high idle.

Just a thought. Best wishes, 88