I was checking out a VE max today, and I noticed that while in drive and holding the brakes, the idle was rough to say the least. It never died but kept heading that direction. It would hover about 500-600 and drop occasionally down to 200 or so but it always recovered. I was thinking distributor, but I remembered there was no distributor. Are the plugs beneath those rubber caps with the wiring harnesses? I think it may have poor plugs or something. They said they had not done any tune-ups recently and I belive it is the plugs. Other than at idle the engine runs well and smoothly.

I am quite mechanically inclined, but I haven't ever seen a VE up close. I was thrown off by the apparent lack of high voltage plug wires.

 

Yup yup, distributorless ignition.

Could be a few things, bad spark plugs, bad/cracked/old coil packs, fuel injectors...

 

hmm

Looks like I'll take advantage of my credit union's leniency. If I buy the car they allow up to 80% of the blue book retail value.
Apparently I can finance the work in with the car as long as it isn't more than 80%.

I know a mechanic who can do a full examination on the car and submit a multi-page report to me for 40 bucks.

 

Chances are the IACV (idle air control valve) needs to be cleaned. Along with the throttle body.