Sucky Vacuum Hose

["Jeff Goldberg" <jeffgold@erols.com>]

Hey Guys,

While searching for a vacuum leak / shaky idle cause (86 4KCSQ) some strange
things happened. Cleaned ISV, removed the  Y shaped  hose from ISV / Intake,
etc. There was a wire spring inside the hose which I removed. Cleaned air
flow sensor plate with carb cleaner after removing rubber boot &
reassembled. All was well with no appreciable improvement in perceived idle
quality.
Over the next few days I started to smell unburned fuel from exhaust
(terrible gas mileage too). Searched for a fuel leak for days until I
noticed the vacuum hose from ISV / Intake previously mentioned was sucking
closed at idle and releasing at acceleration. Now I know why PO put that
wire spring in there. Replaced the spring the next day & fuel smell
subsided. Decided to replace this hose with a new one ($27) and my long
searched for vacuum leak had been eliminated. Upshift indicator functions
properly for the first time since I own this car. Also the long awaited ISV
Duty Cycle  now appears properly on the dwell meter. Time for some fine
tuning but this is the break I have been searching for since March 1999.

Any comments, suggestions??? All will be greatly appreciated.

TIA,

Jeff
86 4KCSQ Daily Driver
86 4KS      Spare