Car "racing" noise

[55plus]

What is the noise that sounds like a car is racing when turned on? Mine has started doing that. It feels like it wants to jump ahead even when I put the brake on.

[Rainagain]

What make? How old?

[55plus]

The car is a 1982 Chevrolet Caprice. It was pretty much babied since it had only one owner and she didn't drive a whole lot. I don't drive on freeways much at all. The only thing different recently that happend is the water pump and water fan were replaced. 55plus

[Rainagain]

I have never been in touch with this type of vehicle. By "racing" I assume you mean it's idling too fast and being an automatic you have to hold the brake on and it's fighting against it? I'd check some basic stuff first like the throttle cable tension - is it holding the throttle open at the carb. I'm assuming its a carburrettor model. Try disconnecting it to see if it makes any difference to the idle speed. If not you may be looking at a carb fault. Any vacuum hoses come adrift? Is it the same cold and hot? An air leak to the inlet manifold wiil cause a high idle speed, check for drawing air.

[55plus]

I'll take this to my mechanic since I don't know how to do all these things. I just hope it is OK to drive till I can get there.

[Rainagain]

Let me know the outcome if it's not too much trouble.

[55plus]

I'll be happy to. It actually drives fine, just jumpy. Only car I could afford though. The senior citizens at church love it though, since it is so big!

[Kev_UK]

I have 3 american cars, my daily driver being a 1984 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 with a 305 cubic inch (5 litre) V8 engine and auto transmission. It has the standard Rochester quadrajet 4bbl carb, but has a manual choke kit fitted (I rarely use choke). On a cpl of rare occasions I have had high revs, once I turned the ignition off and starte the car again and it was ok, another time I drove the car and after a while it cleared itself. I believe the 1982 caprice has the same 5 litre engine (chevy short block) but I'm not sure if it will be crossfire injection as fited to the camaros in '82. The wife drives a 1984 Camaro 2.8 litre V6 with auto choke, that revs highish until warm.. pressing on the gas pedal with a quick rev or two can knock the auto choke off and normal idling will resume. Rainagain has provided some good answers.. In addition, it could be the throttle position sensor or a air idle control sensor. If the revs are racing up and down (known as "hunting") it could be your timing is out. I know where to get spares and a good mechanic if you need any help. Good Luck !!

[55plus]

Guess what! It was time to put more gas in the tank and just 5 gallons meant the difference. For some reason it stopped racing. Once a month I put RXP in a full tank, but this time I divided it since I had some gas already in the tank. Next time I do that, I'll wait till the tank if close to being empty since using RXP hasn't affected the drive like this before. All this came to me this morning just before getting gas. We really have to watch what we put in gas tanks, and I really think RXP helps when used properly. Thanks. It's a good birthday present for me. Today I'm 59 !!! God bless,

[Kev_UK]

I don't know what that RXP stuff is.. Is it like Redex? It sounds expensive to keep mixing stuff wit the fuel, they drink enough fuel as it is. What it needs is a good run every now and then. I put some stuff in mine that is only available to the trade (not found in shops) you mix it with the fuel and it will clean all the valves, carb, etc... and you only need to do it once a year.