This car had the timing belt changed in November 2009 by shop mechanic. Medical condition kept me from being able to bend like one needs to to tinker around, so I'm just getting my legs back. Car hadn't been driven 100 miles before it had to be parked. Car cranks fine, but does not want to idle without assistance from gas pedal. With pedal pressed almost halfway to the floor, car idles as it used to with no gas at all. Put it in gear and it has hardly enough power to move on its own. No water coming from exhaust, no fluids leaking. Same gas in car that was in it in November 2009, however it has been in my garage since 11/09. Had new distributor and timing belt done within a month of each other but car has sat since that time. Are these symptoms of a (relatively new) timing belt that needs further adjustment, or may have skipped a tooth? Also, what's a convenient way of draining the old gas. Would you recommend I change plugs (old ones had about 10K). Thanks. I'm just a newbie tinkerer in an old body . This car reminds me how little I know about cars... but they're fun to work on.

Draining the gas is really not a very safe thing to do but I would recommend ruling that out first. The timing belt may be off a tooth or two but you need to take the accessory belts off and cover to check. If the crank pulley has slipped then the mechanic may have set the timing to the wrong spot. Get the engine at TDC and see if the pulley mark matches. If it doesn't then the pulley has slipped which makes it very difficult to properly set the timing. You could try rotating the distributor while running to see what happens.

Did it run right after the new distributor?

I'd verify spark at each plug and make sure the wires are OK.

Check for vacuum leaks.

Bill

It could have been caused by a poor job in either the timing belt installation or the distributor. Cheapest first, check the timing with a timing light and see if it's the distributor. Then look at timing belt/pulley locations. Whether you or your mechanic do it that's how I'd go about it anyway.

I.m.h.o., Best way to get rid of old gas is drive. Run some Chevron Techron or BG 44K if you've got issues.