car dies when i come to a stop

[DARKTALONTSI]

ok lately my car keeps trying to die everytime i come to a stop sign or light for some reason.....could it be the alternator ive noticed at night the lights are dim but once i give it gas they brithen up again and when i put on a turn signal the dash dims with it????

 

[1997hciv]

Yes it sounds like the alt.

 

[dragonforce]

It could also be idle control motor or its passage may be dirty.

 

[skyrone]

mine used to do it then i got dsmlink and turned the idle up

 

[z24frank]

Mine was idle .

 

[xsboost]

A quick "fix" would be to adjust the BISS but it's really not a fix. It's just a cover up for the real problem. You can however temporarily adjust it to allow more air flow just to see if the problem stops. If it stops them the problem is your idle and you can go from there.

 

[z24frank]

When I was having problems even adjusting the BISS didnt really help that muchn though.

 

[xsboost]

Advance Auto Parts and Autozone used to check the alternator for free. Don't know if they still do but it's worth a try.

 

[z24frank]

Autozone here still does it!Good call.

 

[cali]

so it ALMOST dies but doesn't right?

could be a number of things...

could be the idle like most people say, could be a dirty TB...etc..

you aren't venting your BOV are you?

 

[meliketoball]

I'd check my ISC, the BISS screw, the throttle body plate, the intercooler pipes for a leak, and the alternator. Worse case scenario is pulling the alternator off and getting it tested, but pulling the alternator's not bad. Have fun.

 

[schroder]

What blow off valve do you have? Is it vented or recirculated?

 

[DARKTALONTSI]

i have the stock bov not vented....i adjust the biss but i either have a good idle in park and low in drive or really high in park but good in drive.....and yeah it dies all the way if i dont give it gas but after driving like 5 minutes the problem goes away.....i know i have to change the alternator...but i just want to know if it has happened to any of you to see how you guys fixed it

 

[Jimmer307]

I had the same problem, every time i would come to a stop it would die out on me. ISC Idle Speed Controller, that is most likely your culprit. I changed mine and wham, my car runs like a dream.

 

[mattdev]

I've got the same problem here...

Word on the street is it's the FIAV. It goes by many names around here, but you'll pull up some results using that name. It's basically an ISC for cold starts/closed loop/not-fully-warmed-up...

Alot of guys get a blockoff plate and are done w/ it, instead of buying a new controller.

 

[DARKTALONTSI]

really...yeah i didnt think it was the alternator since it would do it more often and throw lights and stuff.....so how hard is it to replace the Idle Speed Controller....and can i get one at autozone? how much was it?

 

[dsm03]

Whats this block off plate all about?? Im pretty sure my ISC is bad, braking or clutching in the rpm needle drops all the way to the bottom but recovers after...

 

[mattdev]

Alot of guys get a blockoff plate and are done w/ it, instead of buying a new controller.

Again, this is all hear-say. Apparently the FIAV is pretty rare. Autozone/Napa/Etc. tend not to carry it. It's located on the throttle body and has coolant lines going to it. It's just a sensor to adjust idle when cold. It's nothing serious really, just a PITA.

I would just wait until the next time you have the TB off (thats what I'm waiting for), and just block it off with a JMF Block-off plate. (or make your own if you feel talented).

 

[dsm03]

How do you block it off, is it safe?? How is the overall performance after, and why wouldn't everyone just do this instead of replacing their ISC

 

[DARKTALONTSI]

i did some quick searching and found out that the best thing to do is just a fiav bypass plate and keep the isc that way your car doesnt idle as high on cold start ups and idles perfectly at whatever your biss screw is set at.....but will this fix my problem or should i replace my isc also

 

[mattdev]

Good use of the search button... (Unlike some other members...)

I would take it step by step. As long as your car idles fine after warm-up, I wouldn't change out the ISC, unless you have some extra cash for insurance.

Up to you.

 

[Jimmer307]

As for the ISC: At autozone I think they are like $100-$200 i dont remember. Through the dealership its $400 (HAHAHAHA). You can find some used ones for 10-20 bucks on ebay or here. And install is a piece of cake.
Some times new is not the best way to go. When my TPS went out i went and spent $140 on a new one, and returned it when i found out i could buy 7 used ones for that price. Just some food for thought