won't accelerate from idle

[bobpilot]

I have a '95 2.2 4 cyl automatic that I put in a timing belt 6 months ago, and has been running fine since. Recently, the car has been running like it wants to stall from idle. It won't take the gas pedal, but it doesn't stall either. I've done a tune up by replacing the cap, rotor, plugs, air and fuel filter. Runs a little better, but still not picking up from idle like it should. I'm thinking fuel pump? but have no way to test. Am I on the right track? Thanks.

[hill8570]

If it only has trouble coming off of idle, and doesn't bog during other hard acceleration, it's unlikely to be the fuel pump.

I assume the "tune up" stuff came after the idle problem and not before, yes?

Couple of possiblities:

1) When's the last time you cleaned the throttle body and Idle Air Control valve? These engines have a tendency to get the TB and IAC gummed up over time. Head on over to the list of DIYs at Comprehensive List of Gen 3/4 INFO and DIY and search for "IAC" or "throttle body" -- there are three pretty decent DIY threads, some simple, some a bit more involved.

2) How old are the plug wires? While I generally wouldn't consider an idle problem to be plug wires, I thought it strange you left the wires out of your tune-up.

[Stillrunning]

Originally Posted by bobpilot

It won't take the gas pedal, but it doesn't stall either.

If you slowly press the gas pedal will it come up to speed in proportion to pedal position? Do you get any speed above idle?

[Yuko]

If the problem occur suddenly, then there is a small chance that the timing belt could have skipped a tooth or two. It's very likely since the T-belt on these enignes are held on with a manual tensionor.