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#1 |
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Registered User
Age: 22
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 955
Location: Peck, MI User is: OffLine |
Weird Idle?
Ok, So my Truck sat from January till about June 15th. The fuel filter was clogged, I didn't need to drive it, so I let it sit.
I go to fix it, get the filter taken care of, change the battery, and It takes a while to get it started. Roughly 5 seconds. Once I get it started, it will idle, almost die, then rev back up, and go back to an idle. I go to drive it, and the engine gets really really rough, going 5-10 MPH down the road and back. The service engine soon light will randomly pop on, and when I'm driving it, sometimes it will flash, so I park it immediately. I can't get it to autozone or a shop nearby, becauseI don't know it if it will make it all the way there in its current condition. I'm changing the gas out today or tomorrow because I'm assuming there's water in the tank, and putting fresh gas in. Anyone have any ideas on what the culprit could be? |
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#2 |
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94 2.2, feel the power?
Age: 19
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,138
Location: Houston, TX User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
Check your fuel pressure. A clogged fuel filter puts more strain on the pump causing them to wear out prematurely. Also run some fuel injector cleaner through it.
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#3 |
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Registered User
Age: 30
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 170
Location: Bohnam Tx User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
Check your plug wires,,, heck check all the wires under the hood. It set for a while mice and rats love to eat the wires. There is a good chance something has been chomping on a plug wire or more. While your under there look around for a nest.
Mike |
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#4 |
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Registered User
Age: 22
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 955
Location: Peck, MI User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
Here's a video of what its doing, and what happens when I give it some gas. ![]() |
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#5 |
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Registered User
Age: 30
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 170
Location: Bohnam Tx User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
video is great. I cant hear it at work. No speakers. What motor do you have and what year model truck?
Mike |
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#6 |
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Registered User
Age: 22
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 955
Location: Peck, MI User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
4.3 V6 and its a 97.
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#7 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 267
Location: Issaquah, WA User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
Sounds like clogged fuel injectors to me. Try running some potent fuel injector cleaner through it.
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#8 |
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Registered User
Age: 22
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 955
Location: Peck, MI User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
I just ran some through. I put 3/4 of a bottle in a 1/4 tank of gas. I think I might put a couple more gallons in, and another bottle.
It ran great when It started up. I backed it up, and took it down the road for a bit, and turned around, got up to about 20 mph.. Its running better then it was, but still not as good as before this all happened. The check Engine light came off though. I wasn't able to check the fuel pressure since we don't have a gauge, and my unemployment checks don't really give me that much extra. I'm going to see if I can get it up to the shop down the road and see if they can diagnose the problem for me, since they can get hands on with it. Any more ideas will help though. My Mass air flow sensor has been needing to be replaced for a while now, so I'm going to pull the one off my uncles jimmy and test it out to see if that helps out at all. Since my truck is 12 years old, and has 190k on it (I just need to have it run for 6 + months. After 6 months Ill be within walking distance of most places, and be in a better financial position, but if its the fuel pump, would it be possible to just chop a hole in the bed and replace it through there? |
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#9 |
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Registered User
Age: 22
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 955
Location: Peck, MI User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
I just got some diagnostics ran on the truck, and its coming up as a mis-fire. Guy told me to change the spark plugs, and it should be fine. Does that sound right?
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#10 |
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Registered User
Age: 30
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 170
Location: Bohnam Tx User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
Is it saying random multiple cylinder miss fire. Or is it saying miss fire on ??? cylinder?
Plugs could be the problem,, but cap, rotor, wires, and other could also be the problem. Who run the test? Was it autozone or orileys. When a scanner reads a miss fire all that it is saying is that the crank took longer in this part of the rotation then it did in others. This can be caused by a large number of things. All to ofter people see misfire and asume that means the plug is not firing. That is not always true. Could very well be the injector is not fireing. Plugs are cheap and easy if it has been in a while it sure couldn't hurt. I would at least pull the plugs out and see if the they are burnt up. You can see if the motor is running rich or lean by looking at the plugs and that can be a good indacation as to what is going on. If the scaner did say it was a couple of cylinder's then those would be the first I pulled out. Mike Last edited by cars4fun2004 : 06-30-2009 at 05:00 PM. |
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#11 |
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Registered User
Age: 22
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 955
Location: Peck, MI User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
I had it done by a mechanic down the road from my house with a code reader. He had this neat Snap-On one with a big lcd screen and what not. It said in the last 50 cycles it didn't do a miss fire, so it wouldn't show cylinder it was on. I suggested starting up the truck, and revving it up, so it would miss, but he played Mr. Mechanic I know what I'm doing line. So I took his word.
I was able to get one plug out before it started to rain, and the top had some oil on it and I could smell gas on it. |
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#12 |
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Registered User
Age: 30
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 170
Location: Bohnam Tx User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
can you post a photo of the plug you pulled? was it wet with fuel when you pulled it out? Where was the oil, you said on top but what are you calling the top of the plug. where the boot goes on or the end in the head. man this kinda stuff is hard when your not there with your hands on it.
mike |
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#13 |
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Registered User
Age: 22
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 955
Location: Peck, MI User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
Heres some pictures. The rest of the plugs are frozen on. I hit them with some PB blaster, and tomorrow morning I'll give it another go. My uncles bringing over his jack and breaker bar within the next few days and I should be able to get them off then..
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#14 |
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Registered User
Age: 30
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 170
Location: Bohnam Tx User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
Yea those plugs are pretty fuel fouled. I have never had any good results with bosch plugs. The platinum +4 plugs gave me the worse results. They just cost more. I would go back with some ac delco's. everyone's mileage very 's so there may be some guys on here that swear buy them but for me they are a no go. One thng is for sure those are not going to be fireing right. They may not be the route cuse but they are not helping. Be very curefull with that braker bar. I have had to fix more then a couple of heads people of broke the plugs off in.
Mike |
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#15 |
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Oh shit....
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 33
Location: The Moon User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
Here is what I would do:
-wait til dark then open the hood and look for visable arcing of the plug wires(my old truck had the same problem as yours, and this was the problem one time. Replaced them all, all better) -check the TPS -check MAP |
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#16 |
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Registered User
Age: 22
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 955
Location: Peck, MI User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
I hit them with PB blaster, and in the morning I'll try it out. Any other tips to free them loose? I read to let the truck run for a little bit, then carefully get them out. Since the engine will expand and the plugs will stay the same. I'll borrow the TPS and MAP of my uncles jimmy and see if that helps. |
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#17 |
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Registered User
Age: 22
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 955
Location: Peck, MI User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
The Oil Dipstick tube managed to get dislodged from the tab that holds it, and I can't get access to one of the plugs. I tried put it back into the holster thing, but it won't budge. Any ideas?
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#18 |
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Registered User
Age: 30
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 170
Location: Bohnam Tx User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
If I understand what you are saying about the dip stick right there is not a lot you can do. It is held into the saddle with a spot weld. Odds are it will not give you any trouble. If the plug you can get to is on the passenger side at the back try going through the wheel well with a long extension and a swivel.
Mike |
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#19 |
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I'm Back!!
Age: 21
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,954
Location: Somewhere, OK User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
My buddy had a chevy astro van (has the 4.3 in it) and his was doing something similar. after i did a tuneup the problem went away.
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#20 |
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Registered User
Age: 22
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 955
Location: Peck, MI User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
I picked up two more sockets, a few more extensions, and a breaker bar. Hopefully i can get the rest out tomorrow. |
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#21 |
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Registered User
Age: 22
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 955
Location: Peck, MI User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
Well, I got the plugs changed, Cleaned the Cap and rotor.. And now it won't even start now. It cranks, but won't turn over. I've got the EGR pulled, and getting ready to clean it.
Any ideas? |
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#22 |
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Registered User
Age: 30
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 170
Location: Bohnam Tx User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
hold on........ changed the plugs and now it will not start. was there anything else done. Did you unplug the coil, did you get the rotor back in right? are you getting fire to the plugs? is popping out the intake or the egxust? Did you mess with the tps or mass air flow??????? is the fuel pump coming on. details the answer is in the details.
Mike |
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#23 |
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Marc
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 10,558
Location: Sacramento,Ca. User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
has to be something w/ cap and rotor
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#24 |
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Registered User
Age: 22
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 955
Location: Peck, MI User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
Checked the wallet, Went up and got a new rotor. Cap and new wires will come next week. I install it, after a few turns, it'll start up, shaking horribly, making a sound like air flowing. It gets up to about 600 RPMs, then a huge clunk, and it dies. I'm checking everything out, and grabbing lines making sure they are connected. I run into a vacuum line thats been cut, It connects from that big ball on the hood to the engine. Here are the pictures. Do you think this might have anything to do with it? And a picture of the rotor for sh!ts and giggles. Last edited by Timmay : 07-02-2009 at 08:43 PM. |
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#25 |
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I'm Back!!
Age: 21
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,954
Location: Somewhere, OK User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
stupid question but did you gap the plugs correctly? if it ran before (but poorly) and now it wont start at all you must have done something to cause it whether it be the wires are in the wrong firing order or something else.
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#26 |
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Registered User
Age: 22
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 955
Location: Peck, MI User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
I gapped them to .60.
I hope that was the proper gap size lol. The research I came across showed that as the proper one. |
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#27 |
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Oh shit....
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 33
Location: The Moon User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
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#28 |
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Registered User
Age: 22
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 955
Location: Peck, MI User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
I have to wait till my uncle brings up his jimmy to check those sensors, I was just going to swap them out.
Is there another way to check them to see if they work? |
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#29 |
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Oh shit....
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 33
Location: The Moon User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
an ohm meter. I'm not sure when the readings are supposed to be without lookin in my Chilton's though....which has vanished for some reason.
The TPS, I have found, can be checked by taking it off, ans seeing if the insides spin freely. If they do, its busted. If they dont, i.e. spring loaded and resets to a pre-set position, then it shoud be good |
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#30 |
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Registered User
Age: 22
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 955
Location: Peck, MI User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
I just checked my Haynes, and I found out how to check it. MAP will be a few days until I get a hold of a new multimeter (Mine had a tragic accident with a taser.. sad day.)
I'll check the TPS tomorrow. Would that vacuum line cause anything? I'm going to pick up a new one tomorrow to replace it. I know its not good having that cut in there. |
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#31 |
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I'm Back!!
Age: 21
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,954
Location: Somewhere, OK User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
K just throwing ideas out there just in case you might have overlooked something. (lol about the ohm meter and taser) |
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#32 |
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Oh shit....
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 33
Location: The Moon User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
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#33 |
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Registered User
Age: 22
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 955
Location: Peck, MI User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
My mom realized we were drunk, and like noon, asked to see the taser, so we let her. She took it in the house, hit it with a hammer and brought it back to us. I knew a thing or two about electronics, So i bust out my soldering iron and fix the connections. We got it arcing again. We were so excited. We called some people over to help us fix it. As I was testing it to make sure it was working, my bro decided to use my multimeter and touch it to the connections. It went pop. All fuses blown. Replaced them and the batterys and it still don't work. The taser also quit working after that too.. We said screw it, went to the bar to drown our sorrows. I don't know whats sadder.. Me (22), and my brother (27), excited becuase we found a taser, or sad because our mom broke it and we couldn't fix it.. Back on topic - The vacuum line could explain why my MAF would show up when i got my codes read. And after I stole one of a jimmy and had it still come up occasionally. So tomorrow, i'll check the TPS. I'll see if I can get my hands on a new multimeter and check the MAP and crank sensor, or I'll grab the ones off the jimmy and see if that helps. I'll try the Rotor cap off it too. Thanks for all the help so far guys. I'll keep you posted. If anyone has anything else i could check let me know. I'm open for anything. I'm about to get a rain stick and dance around my truck, perform an exorcism (I'm a legally ordained minister), Call up some african warlords, pull some harry potter spell crap, or some other random thing and maybe the greek gods will strike lighting upon my truck and get it running for me. |
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#34 |
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Registered User
Age: 30
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 170
Location: Bohnam Tx User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
Did you pull the pastic upper plenum off. If so I have seen the o ring around where the injectors hook up slip down when it is reinstalled and cause a major vacuum leak. Both of them did the same thing. May want to look at it real close and see if it looks funny. In both cases I ran into it just didnt look right. Mike |
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#35 |
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Registered User
Age: 22
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 955
Location: Peck, MI User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
I went out this morning, started it up. Truck fired right on up. Ran great. Ran really good actually.
I'm pulling the TPS and MAP off in a few days. I'm taking a slight break on the truck lol. |
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#36 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 6
Location: User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
How does it run with out the EGR? I think thats my problem I did alottt of crap with the same thing happening. lol I replaced the fuel pump, filter, had the injectors checked, replaced the plugs, wires, cap n rotor. cut the cat off too! lol it runs great until it starts bogging down
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#37 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 31
Location: User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
is ur firing order still correct?
is the coil connected? is the intake leak free? I changed my cap and messed up the firing order once and it sounded like gunfire. |
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#38 |
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Registered User
Age: 22
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 955
Location: Peck, MI User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
Sorry guys, I forgot to update you. The Head Gasket blew a few days after all this.. I got rid of the truck.
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#39 |
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I'm Back!!
Age: 21
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,954
Location: Somewhere, OK User is: OffLine |
Re: Weird Idle?
Sucks to hear
was it just a beater or your main s10? |
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