Car shuts off / bad idle

[DSMoverJDM]

ok so i have a 97 rs with about 97k miles. i have this problem that my car would shut off on idle but not too often, but when it happens once, it happens about 5 more times within the next 10 near stops i come to. my usual idle is at about 1.1-1.2k rpms. at times it would stoop to 700 rpms and climb back to 1.2k. i can avoid my car shutting off if i rev it while its in neutral keeping it atleast above 1.5k rpms.

on rare occasion my car will completely shutoff and start back up on its own. if im driving at around 2k+ rpms my dash lights will flash as if my car turned off but it turns right back on as im driving.

recently ive had my fuel pump replaced, and one of my sensors my mechanic said was "burnt out'. he called and asked if it kept shutting off i told him it did and he says it could be my alarm but i really doubt my alarm could be doing this.

if anybody can help me out with this id really appreciate it. i heard to check for a vaccuum leak? how would i come across doing this?

thanks in advanced for your help

 

[cisco818]

Sounds like your intake hose isn't well connected (sometimes it gets loose) check every connection and make sure everything is tight and no air is escaping. If that doesn't work check your spark plugs. If that doesn't work try checking your battery connections (but I doubt that's the problem) itsmore likely to be an.air leak. Easy fix

 

[RickyM95GST]

Does your car run strong otherwise? Under acceleration? If so try replacing your idle speed sensor.

 

[DSMoverJDM]

yes under acceleration my car wont shut off or anything. only when idle or between 1-1.5k rpms

 

[RickyM95GST]

Try replacing the idle speed sensor then,I got mine at the junk yard for under 10 bucks

 

[DSMoverJDM]

where is this part located on? and also can i pull one off a 2g turbo or would mine have to be from a 95-99 n/a eclipse?

 

[RickyM95GST]

That I'm not sure of but it's located right next to your throttle body

 

[bullettdsm]

Try replacing the idle speed sensor then,I got mine at the junk yard for under 10 bucks

where is this part located on? and also can i pull one off a 2g turbo or would mine have to be from a 95-99 n/a eclipse?

That I'm not sure of but it's located right next to your throttle body

Really? How's about a pic of that?

Op, what you have for your idle set-up is an IAC. It basically works by adjusting the air within a special channel in the throttlebody. It works electronically and mechanically, so yes, there's a chance that this could be part of the problem.

But, I believe you have a couple of problems going on; from your description you probably have a vac leak (your idle should be lower). The best way to find it is do a boost leak test (that can be found on a search here). You are basically putting air into your intake system. Use the throttlebody as the inlet, and listening for air leaks. You can do this other ways (spray carb and choke over intake areas and listen for changes, use smoke in the intake while its running and see if some gets sucked in, they even have special tools for checking vac leaks. But I have found the best/easiest/cheapest/most accurate way is the BLT via the throttlebody).

As far as random shut offs (with the dash lights going off etc.) and then coming back on by itself, that seems to be an electronic problem. So your mechanic pointing to an alarm is not all that far fetched.

Now if you have no air leaks, then we can look at your IAC (it is located on the back side of your throttlebody. Go to this link http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-engine-fuel/100294-2gnt-engine-bay-tutorial.html and look at post 12. The IAC is located just below the TPS. The link in that post can also help you understand idle and how the IAC works). There are ways to check it (if you got an ohmeter and a Chilton's you can test it out. Probably can find the test procedure through a search also). Oftentimes, people just replace it to check (or put in a "known good"). Either way, if you don't change it, be sure to clean off the pintle.

There is also the possibility that the "channel" the air is going through for idle, is gunked up. To clean that you want to take off your throttlebody and and clean the channel that the idle air runs through. But this channel being clogged up usually results in a lower idle.

MB

 

[DSMoverJDM]

Will definitely do a boost leak test then to see if I have a vac leak. Then to clean the throttle body and I might as well clean my MAF right?
And thank you so much for all the info sure appreciate it

 

[98awdtalon]

i had a similar issue with my old one when i got it, my air intake came loose and vac lines were a mess and had to be redone

 

[bullettdsm]

Will definitely do a boost leak test then to see if I have a vac leak. Then to clean the throttle body and I might as well clean my MAF right?
And thank you so much for all the info sure appreciate it

You don't have a MAF (Mass Air Flow sensor), you have a MAP (Manifold Absolute Pressure sensor). While you are welcome to pull it out and clean it, there is no reason from your symptoms to clean it.

MB