I have a '84 245 dl that has a rough idle problem. It started after I took the air mass meter off during a minor service. My wife asked to use the car to go to the local store ( 2 miles round trip) I didn't know that could hurt anything. Upon returning I correctly installed the the airbox, AMM & the duct work carefully and tight. Imediatly started but with a rough idle. The car runs great like always from 5mph to 75mph , but now has a rough idle. Idle goes up then down ( I'd say that it flucuates about 5 r's. ) Then smooths right out with just a little gas. Does anyone have a good place to start a diagnois? I'd greatly appreciate any imput. THANKS, MAX e-mail me at mwm@ bendcable.com or reply on this forum, THANKS!

It sounds like a problem I had when the connection to my mass air meter was full of crud. I took it off, disconected the battery, brushed the connections with a small brass brush on the battery and the wiring connector. I sprayed all of it to clean it off with wd-40 and hooked it all back up. That seemed to do the trick. One other thing you might want to do is to clean the throat on the intake manifold where the accelarator switch is located. There are three bolts that have to be taken off and you can save the gasket if you're careful. Take some carb cleaner and clean all the carbon that has built up around the opening. Pay special attention to two tiny orifices that are in the throat. Blow them out or clean them out, the generally have filled with crud that's been drawn up from the crankcase. Also make sure the accelarator switch just clicks on when you turn it. I had a very high idle when I adjusted it and that fixed it. I you have a "Haynes" manual or equivilent it will give you the exact steps for adjusting the accelarator switch. I hope these work.

Bill

Given what you've described it's most likely a vacume leak. Mine does the same. When sun and warmth get back to this part of the country I'll replace all the vacume hoses.
Maybe you could double check where ever you open the vacume/air intake system.