The yellow light in the upper left by the dripping dipstick is the low oil
level warning light. It may be activating when you start the engine with
the car on an incline. It should not be related to the poor running problem.
If your tach needle is dropping abruptly, faster than the engine itself can
slow due to mechanical inertia, the problem may be in the magnetic pickup in
the ignition distributer. If the tach needle tracks the engine speed, it is
more likely a mixture or secondary ignition problem.
What does it do if you hold the throttle open just enough to open the
microswitch? Do you hear any clicking of a relay on the passenger
fenderwell? If you have a timing light, check to see if your timing is
varying. If you have a vacuum gauge, watch it too.
The auxilliary air device, on the valve cover at the rear, is supposed to
close gradually over about five minutes as the engine warms up.
Brian
At 03:56 PM 9/28/97 -0400, Tamara Saarinen wrote:
>many thanks for suggestions offered....
>
>we have interviewed the spark plug wires et. al...
>
>in fact, while it is running rough, it is running on all 4 cylinders.
>
>we have disconnected the oxy sensor- makes absolutely no difference.
>
>removal of the cable to the cold start injector makes no difference.
>(we have not yet cut off the fuel supply to the cold start injector or
>removed the cold-start injector from the manifold)
>
>
>a refinement of the symptoms-as of today...
>
>car starts well, it runs fine for (exactly) 1 minute, 25 seconds....then
>commences to run rough.
>
>what does "rough " mean?
>
>in the space of approx. 2 seconds... the car will either
>
>normal-drop-surge
> or
>
>normal-drop.....
>
>this is random...no percievable regularity.
>
>all of this activity is within 100 rpm....you can watch the tach "twitch"
>up and down.
>
>sometimes, there are no instrument panel indicator lights signalling warning,
>
>sometimes. the light way up in the left corner on the instrument panel will
>flash in an even pattern (once a second) other times, it doesn't flash at
>all,
>
>no other indicator activity at all...
>
>I should note that, ever since we've had this car (on the road since July),
>this
>
>indicator up in the left corner has flashed from start up (even signal,
>once a second) on occaision.. The resolution was to shut off the car and
>restart...and it would stay out. This happened once or twice every 300
>miles or so.. I was
>
>a) well-aware that these lights flash, and that shutting the car down to
>reset them works...
>
>b) too busy to note any increase in regularity..but wouldn't swear that it
>didn't happen.
>
>I am very careful about fuel, I always use 93 octane, and buy fuel from one
>of two quality sources. Our other cars have no symptoms..and I fuel them
>in the same places.
>
>We have ordered facotry manuals from Alex Voss....
>
>Ray suggested a Digital Multi-meter (Fluke Model 77) anyone out ther sell 'em?
>
>locally, Sunpro digital is $30...the Fluke is $80...
>
>
>again thaks to everyone for suggestions....
>
>its not solved yet, though...
>
>heavy sigh..
>
>tamara
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Brian Holm, Peugeotholm
Supplying parts for Peugeots only, since 1969
Plainfield, VT 802.454.7132 Fax 454.1310