Questions and Answers

Geo Metro Questions Q. Hai, My name is Torry. It's nice that there's some one there willing to help us online. Here is my question: I just bought a 1992 Geo Metro HB. It has 3 cylinder, 993cc, 5 speed manual, no A/C, no P/S and 117,000 miles on it. The previous owner abandoned it for three months or so because she got a new Chevy Cavalier that fit her family need.

Since the first time I bought it, it has a hard start, you have to push the accelerator pedal to the floor until it start to hum. I have to keep the pedal pushed a little bit until the engine warm enough and then it give you a rough idle. At an emission test station it turn out to be around 1200-1400 rpm and still a little bit rough ( compared to my 1989 Mazda 323 HB ), a higher rpm suppose to feel smoother, right?

I noticed that if you jump start it with other car battery then the early start will be easier and then the warm idle will be smoother. Once you unplug the jump start cable and the idle will go rough again. It get worse if the radiator fan turned on to cool the engine. Then after the fan turned off the idle will be back as before.

At the emission test, it failed the HC emission both at the idle ( 1576 vs 0220) and at the cruise/2500rpm ( 1475 vs 0220 ). Other test ( CO, CO+CO2 ) pass quite satisfactory.

The previous owner just putted a set of new spark plugs. At that time, the first time I started it, it was awful hard. I had to open the spark plug and lessen the gap than recommended to help the start and idle easier ( I did it just trial and error ).

Do you know what happen and what kind of repair and replacement that I should take, I really like the car shape and want to keep it. I might be wrong but I suspect a battery, alternator, or ignition coil problem.

That's all. Thank you very much, sorry about the grammar, English is not my first language. Waiting for your reply.

Sincerely,
Torry

A. I would first look at the alternator output voltage and make sure it's charging. If not, you found your problem. These little cars depend on the alternator and the ECM is always looking at it and adjusting idle to compensate for low voltage.

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