Need help with a '95 Hyundai Elantra. How do I check idle speed?

Hi. I have a '95 Hyundai Elantra withan automatic transmission. It
doesn't have a tachometer (the instrument that measure engine speed).
The problem is that when the car is going from one gear to the next,
sometimes the car feels like it's going to turn off. How would I go
about checking the engine speed on idle if the car has no tachometer? I
have a multi-meter by the way. Is there anywhere that I could connect my
meter in order to measure the engine speed? Would I have to measure the
idle speed with the transmission is Park or with it selected in Drive?
Need help bad. Thanks

 

You can check it with an inductive tach. If you don't have a setting for
distribtorless ignition, you'll need to divide the results by two.

If this occurs when the accelerator is not applied, check the idle switch.
This switch is to be closed when the throttle is closed and is to open
when the throttle just begins to open. Some people try to adjust the idle
by adjusting the throttle cable or throttle stop to hold the throttle open
more. This just confuses the computer because the idle switch remains
open all the time and it thus never tries to keep the engine idling. If
the throttle cable has no slack, give it some. If the car still does not
idle correctly, check the idle actuator. It has three rows of pins. The
resistance from the center to each of the outer pins in each row should be
about 30 Ohms. Anything much more or less and the idle actuator is bad
and should be replaced. If you can remove the actuator, take it out and
inspect for coolant leaking onto it. The gasket between the halves of the
throttle body can leak coolant and cause an open or short in the idle
actuator. If coolant is leaking onto it or it is shorted, fix it pronto.
A shorted idle actuator WILL fry the computer.

There are many details and better descriptions on this at
www.hmaservice.com. Select "Shop" for the shop manual and then select
your vehicle. The items you're looking for will be in the fuel section.
Unfortunately, a scan tool is necessary for some of the adjustments.