ROUGH Idle, Attempted tuning,but must be going wrong Options

[eanderson]

Alright, I am just a home mechanic. I have rebuilt the head on this DSM (1993 Eclipse GS w/ 2.0 non-t) a few years ago after a timing belt disaster, had the head resurfaced, etc. I can swap out most any part, but the fine tuning is not my fortay.

I need help.

This is stock. The vehicle was having an idle surge. Cleaned the Throttle Plate and it seemed okay for awhile. All was running well until winter, where it was stalling. Stupid me, I messed with the BISS screw and got it to idle at about 1300 for winter.

Summer came and I messed with the timing and BISS, and it was running rich.

Today, I found the tutorial for timing, and tried it right. I shorted the wire on the frewall for the ignition timing adjustment plug. Then I checked the timing light (off the plug wire closest to the front of the vehicle), and set it to halfway between the T and the 10BTC (I assume to be 5 BTC, as speced). The best I could get was about 900RPM

Then, inside the vehicle, at the diagnostic plug, I shorted the third plug up (it was NOT a pink wire) and the idle changed. I assume this to be the ground. I adjusted the BISS to where the idle was again, around 900.

When I reved the engine, it was misfiring bad. I reconnected everything (removed shorting wires), and it ran worse than when I guessed the timing and BSS, and my eyes stung from the excess CO.

I am guessing I am missing something obvious. WHAT IS THE DEAL?

[eanderson]

The Belt: If it is off by one tooth, it is really hard to check unless you rip everything off the driver's side of the car. At that point, it might as well be replaced. I have contemplated that. Pulling off the top cover, the Cams look right. (Of course, in my opinion, getting the cams in the right spot is the most confusing part of timing on these, cuz one tooth off and all the other marks can look good, and if you look hard enough, it looks level across all 4 marks on the Cams)

BISS O-Ring. Have not checked recently. Will do that tonight.