Even carburetors will eventually start to leak there. Problem is steel shaft rotating in a softer metal. Mine sucks a little, but not enough yet to cause real problems. Will watch as car ages. Re: throttle plates not springing closed 1) clean and lubricate spring on shaft and spring on throttle spool. 2) can tighten throttle spool spring by moving straight tail to next groove. See what I mean Re: carb cleaner to diagnose vacuum leaks? Best misuse of a product ever. To reach really inaccessible places, simply slip a piece of that really small vacuum hose over straw. I used an extension to ensure everything OK under intake manifold (Dave Swingle's pics of broken through corrosion got me scared). Don't forget to test WHOLE engine. Unlike old domestics, PRV can suck air EVERYWHERE. Order your new injector seals from a proper DeLo vendor. Are actually WAY cheaper than a parts house. Don't forget new clips too. How did water get into spark plug well? Make sure umbrella boots are fully seated. If boot isn't water tight, order a new set of wires. Bill Robertson #5939 >--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Phil Priestley <phil@xxxx> wrote: > > It turns out my problem was both fuel and ignition. Last week I took > the car to the carwash and carefully (i thought) pressure washed the > goo off the engine. I didn't realize that the sparkplug well on cyl 3 > had filled with water. The cleaning also removed the coating of goo > that was keeping the fuel injector seal on #3 from sucking wind. When > I hit the fuel injector with carb cleaner the rpms went wild. No wonder > the car was missing bad and had no power. No spark and huge vacuum leak > on the same cyl. > As a temporary fix until I can get my hands on new injectors and seals > I gave it a good wrap with teflon tape and stopped the vacuum leak for > now. For the first time ever my car idles at 750 rpms and is relatively > smooth. Cant wait to see how it is with new injectors and seals. > > I found another vacuum leak at the shaft for the throttle plate. I can > also feel the throttle plates sticking and they don't want to return > all they way to a closed position. They're not sticking way open, just > enough to make it idle at 1200-1500 unless you tap the gas to make it > come back to rest. I verified that its the plates and not the cable > that is sticking. Any Ideas here? > > I want to thank John Hervey for his help on the phone yesterday.I think > the CPR might be ok after all. > > > Phil Priestley > Alessandros 120 > (503)370-9951