Beretta.net

I own a 91 Chevy Beretta GT with the 3.1. My problem statred while driving home with my two girls in the car. It ran fine until I got to a stop light and it just started to shake really bad and miss really bad. I took it to a shop and had plugs and wires replaced thinking that was the problem, but it wasn't. I spent 80 bucks on that visit with no luck. I found that the coil for cylinder's 1 and 4 was bad, replaced that, still no luck. It burns alot of gas and when it's sitting at an idle you can smell the gas that is not being used. I am stumped on what to do now, local parts store suggested that once i get it running again, (right now my idler arm pully is broke) to take some carb spray and spray around intake to see if the car sounds different as I do it. I love my car and have alot of money stuck into it. I don't want to junk it because before this happened it ran very very quiet. any suggestions would be of great help. I was told it would be my intake gasket or the ignition control module. Please help as right now I am forced to borrow my brothers pickup to get to work and back.

I would try the control module first, I'd bet that's what it is. The intake gasket will make the engine run bad, but will not keep the fuel from burning.

No MIL light? does the MIL light turn on in the run position without the engine on?
sometimes those pop and you won't know you have codes, happened to me and my friend.
also, did you replace your battery recently? you may need your idle relearned if you did.
does it happen as soon as you start the car or after it's warm?
also, you may want to check the vacuum lines that go into the throttle body. I'm not sure which it is, but one of the small vacuum lines goes to the fuel pressure regulator. anyway you'll want to see if there is any gas in the hose, if there is you need a new Fuel pressure regulator.

I dont know exactly what the MIL light is and what replacing the battery has anything to do with this problem. I've owned the car for two years and never replaced the battery as it was brand new when I bought the car. Please keep in mind that the car was running and stopped at a red light when this happened. I will try the ICM second, I'm going to spray some carb spray around the intake first, that is how the parts store suggested. I just don't know what is wrong and I'm usually really good detecting problems with the car and getting them fixed right away but this one has me stumped. But once again thanks for all the help and info.

Did you replace the ignition control module(it's under the coils)? When the ECM goes out the car will go into "limp home mode", I had this happen. I lost the speedo and a few other things and the car wouldn't start after I shut it off. I still think it's the ignition control module that's bad.

Ok, seems like everyone is jumping to the hard conclusions here. Did you test your fuel pressure? Check the wires leading to your injectors for shorts/breaks? When's the last time you changed your fuel filter? Are you getting consistent spark?
The battery has absolutely zilch to do with your car idling. I dunno why that was suggested. It's sounding like a fuel problem to me. I would look into bad fuel injectors or , since you found a bad coil pack already, test to make sure the others are good and your getting consistent spark. GL.

If the battery dies the ECM looses IAC position. once started again it'll run fine until it is warmed up and driving on the highway but at stops the car will run like crap and stall. happened to me and a buddy of mine with a '93 sunbird. if this is the case you have to have your idle re-learned.
the MIL is the check engine light.
Check your O2 sensor, if the insulation on the wire has rubbed through on some metal the signal will never reach the computer, instead it'll ground out. (this also happened to me.)
the vacuum line on the throttle body that is closest to the front of the car operates your fuel pressure regulator, pull it out of the grommet  and smell/look for gas in it.
If the wires for the injectors were shorted the engine would run lean, not rich like it sounds. it could be a seeping or stuck open injector though.
Money Pit: what year is your car?

My car was a 90Gt. I had everything fixed but the idle.I changed all the sensors and the idle wasn't as bad. I bought a vapor canstor and never had a chance to put it on. My post was not clear I guess, I was trying to help speedchild. Sorry, I need to watch how I word things.

(scberetta3800 @ Mar. 19 2008,14:46)QUOTEIf the battery dies the ECM looses IAC position. once started again it'll run fine until it is warmed up and driving on the highway but at stops the car will run like crap and stall. happened to me and a buddy of mine with a '93 sunbird. if this is the case you have to have your idle re-learned....
While I have heard of Idle needing to be relearned , it's usually in cases where TPS or ECU have been replaced. I have been doing mechanic work for over 15 years and have NEVER seen a car need the idle relearned because of a dead battery or alternator or had it happen to any of my cars. And I've seen a crap load of dead batteries and alts. So this would be news to me. Anyways...back on topic, did you figure it out yet Speedchild  or is it still giving you fits?

Ok, But I know that it happens to 3.1 OBDI engines, personal experience.
even the c/k trucks of 2000-2006 have to have their idle relearned if the battery is replaced.
anycase, yeah, hows it going speedchild?

I didnt thoroughly read all the posts but my bet is on it being an 02 sensor, cps, or ignition module.  I have seen these problems caused by each of these.

Off Topic: Sorry for this,but I just noticed you live in BRF , WI. I used to live there! Been a long time though,like 13 years,lol. I actually miss that town. Wonder if they still serve the inmates up there McDonalds 3 times daily since it's right next door,lol. That's what I heard when I lived up there anyhow. Anyway, sorry for the OT post, just couldn't believe it when I saw where you were from!

Speed child, when you pull the Fuel pressure regulator hose, cover the Vacuum end with your thumb or have someone help you do this, start the car and see if it runs any different. if it does run different, then the fuel pressure reg is bad, if it doesn't, make sure that the line you are working with isn't plugged at all and check to make sure you have engine vacuum at that port.