Idle Problem

[Jacie]

My car idles fine when it's warmed up but when it's cold the rpm jumps around and sometimes it stals, what can be the problem?

 

[tunernewb92]

I know on ours it was a completely wrecked intake manifold gasket. Sounds like a bad boost/vacuum leak to me.

Mine would do the same thing....turn your a/c off and see if it will atleast stay cranked and idle bad. I know mines a 92 but its the same principal I think.

Do a boost test, or if you get it warm atleast listen and see if you hear a sorta hissing sound. But deff do a boost test.

 

[blackFLawd]

+1 sounds like a vacuum leak to me

 

[Jacie]

Alright, how would I go about fixing or looking for a vacume leak and or a boost test? (Im New to DSMs)

 

[3tcpower]

Do a search for "boost leak test"

 

[ClevelandDSM]

If you have a CEL, take it up to autozone\advance and have them scan it for you ( if you dont own a logger\scanner ) If the CEL is on, it could be a O2 sensor. Other then that, check for small vacuum leaks, then build yourself a cheep boost leak tester.

 

[Boosted_out]

I had the same problem. It was a boost/vacuum leak. Found it fixed and no more problem.

 

[tunernewb92]

Alright, how would I go about fixing or looking for a vacume leak and or a boost test? (Im New to DSMs)

1. How mechanically enclined are you? That is, how good are you under the hood?
- It shouldn't matter for a vacuum/boost test, but its good to know what you know
2. Basic nutshell, either buy your own tester or build one.
3. To check for vacuum, you have a couple of options:
- Crank the car and get it running, stick your head under the hood and follow all the small rubber hoses you can find, listen for a hissing sound or try and feel some cool air blowing or sucking.
- You can spray some carb cleaner/brake cleaner/water on all the hoses (if water use a spray bottle). When your car starts to shake even worse, then youve found out were the approx area of the leak is. *I take no responsibility if you manage to spray to much of the above stuff on the engine and somehow manage to kill it, break it, or otherwise damage it, do that at your OWN risk*

 

[scoby41]

It sounds like a similar problem to my '06 subaru impreza. It's fine all summer, but as soon as it starts getting cold, the idle drops and then kicks back up when (for example) I come up to a stop and engage the clutch to go into neutral.

I've had the injectors cleaned and the ecu reflashed... nothing. Sorry to jack, but this crap is annoying

 

[Jacie]

Ah, I can't find it. Does anyone live in the area that can help me? I will even pay to fix this. I need to pass e-check

 

[Jacie]

The idle is just gettign worse, it just keeps jumping around everywhere.

 

[djordan97]

I had that problem and changed my isc and that fixed it

 

[mcarruthers]

My idle would constantly "bounce" twice a second, every second, from 1200-1500rpm or something like that. I found resistance in my ISC motor and was about to order a new one, but before I did, I changed the o-ring on my BISS screw. It was hard an birtel and practicly broke off when I inspected it. It seemed to cure my problem right away, I just had to adjust the screw to set my idle. It sounds more like a vacuum leak but don't rule anything out until you've tested it. Try this page http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/downs/7678/dsmtests.html
Good Luck

 

[wises4057]

it sounds like it's a boost leak. or idle surge control. I would say, run a boost leak test...easy, and doesn't take very long to do the test.

I would think that doing the boost leak test would tell you if the biss is leaking or not, but may be wrong...I don't think I've ever had mine leak

 

[UrN2nd]

vacuum leak or idle air controller. but easiest way to biuld the boost tester.
1. buy a pvc cap about the same size as the turbo inlet or TB inlet.
2. drill a hole in the end.
3. install an air valve stem. like a bike tire air valve.
4. use a IC boot to connect the cap to the TB
5. use an air compressor with a tire chuck and air up your motor.
6. seek and destroy

youll here any leaks... really check the intake manifold gasket. if all else fails find a fellow dsm and swap TBs.... good luck