Oldsmobile/Buick Repair: Re: 1986 Buick Century idles high, buick century, washers

Question
Sorry, the link for a follow up question disappeared.

Thanks for your suggestion. Nothing was rubbing but we discovered that the choke flap is opening but the high idle cam isn't moving.

We can manually push down the high idle cam, but it won't stay. What controls this?  

Answer
Gravity.

Hi Tracey,
The fast idle cam is pulled up by the choke when it closes.
Then the fast idle screw sits on it and...idles fast.
During that time, the choke is warming up, and opening, but the friction of the fast idle screw on the plastic cam continues to hold it in the same position....until the gas pedal is pressed, which lifts the screw off the cam, allowing the heavy end of the cam to drop, thus moving the stairstepped section out from under the screw.
Unless someone got it put on incorrectly during some work, they can usually be loosened up with some carb/PCV valve cleaner.
Make sure someone didn't put some washers on the screw that the cam is mounted on, or none of the linkage rods are bent wrong, and binding in the cam slot.
When the choke is open, that cam should just flop around freely as you flick it with a finger.

Van