Author Topic: bad idle (Read 12034 times)

Jimmy Lewis · « **Reply #30 on:** June 24, 2008, 07:53:45 PM »

Quote from: BMWManiac;51622

It seems when i read a thread, I develop those problems! The car ran beautifully until on my way home, the engine sputters like misfiring and then will kick in fine...my idle bounces now....I just replaced the plugs, replaced the intake elbow, replaced the fuel filter, and did all kinds of maintenance....I guess I'll try cleaning the ICV

I recommend that you do the same "pull the plug wires while running test" to check whether or not you have a dead wire. I had the same issue, where the car ran like crap but would clean up every now and then, and I had a dead cylinder 3 due to a bad wire. Worth a try.

BMWManiac · « **Reply #31 on:** June 24, 2008, 08:26:20 PM »

Mine turned out to be a hold in the coil boot....the metal ring that makes contact with the spark plug was arcing against the valve cover....plugged the hole with JB weld, electrical tape and engine runs like a champ....

ClodKing · « **Reply #32 on:** June 30, 2008, 12:23:53 PM »

So I was reading some articles on here, and came across a nice little idbit of information.

Your supposed to remove something from the spark plugs before installation?? I don't know what part I am supposed to remove, and i didn't remove anything.

Can somebody clarify this for me??

ClodKing · « **Reply #33 on:** July 01, 2008, 09:44:48 PM »

Okay so I changed the O2 sensor today. What a job that was...

I also reset the ECM by disconnecting the battery.

When the car first started up it ran better then it did before. The rpm's went up to 4000 and little higher, but it was still sluggish.

After a while the throttle felt squishy, and eventually if I floored the go pedal, the engine would just die. It would idle fine, and i could get the rpms up to 4000, but it took time, and I had to do it with lots of restraint.

That sounds like a dying/dead fuel pump don't it?? The fuel lines are pretty bad too granted. The brake lines burst the second time I applied the brakes, so maybe the fuel lines are allowing gas to trickle out, and I am loosing pressure.

What do you guys think??

Oh, and while I was under there I found out the large cat has a large hole in it... so now I need one of those too...

ClodKing · « **Reply #34 on:** July 05, 2008, 02:22:44 PM »

My ICV scores 8.6 ohms between the two prongs...

adam12hicks · « **Reply #35 on:** July 05, 2008, 02:42:00 PM »

I believe my ICV was much higher, like 12.7 or something... not sure of the ideal range.

Also, the part about removing something on the spark plug wires, I've never seen anything that needs removing. Only the little cardboard surrounds on the spark plugs

So I don't think you missed anything on the plugs that would cause a problem.

shutter · « **Reply #36 on:** July 07, 2008, 03:04:27 PM »

ICV should read @ 20 Ohms

EN318isPDX · « **Reply #37 on:** July 07, 2008, 03:41:11 PM »

my M42 had horrible issues when it came to going "flat out" as they say on top gear. It turned out i had a dirty ICV that failed (car stop idling), my TPS would dropped to 0 ohms at 75% or higher throttle, my fuel injectors were all covered in carbon. But all that didnt fix my issue of not being able to go "flat out" it turned out my car had been smart enough to learn how to run on 13 psi of fuel pressure. All that and my fuel pump was the source.

All those others odds and ends i replaced helped to make my car alot nicer once it no longer had running issues. Replacing the hoses and ICV made it idle but it wouldnt go fast until i replaced the fuel system

ClodKing · « **Reply #38 on:** July 07, 2008, 04:11:16 PM »

I didn't want to start ordering parts again without some guidence... It feels like I am just throwing money at my car, and it's happily gobbling it up without any paybacks.

The fuel line are getting replaced the same time as the brake lines, so the fuel pump might aswell get changed too.

So I'll order an ICV, a fuel pump, and maybe a TPS if I can find one.

Thanks guys. I am trying to get my car road worthy so I can race my buddy's passat on the local track... Nothing serious it'll be just for fun.

Birdman16 · « **Reply #39 on:** July 14, 2008, 12:00:09 PM »

Will a fuel pump really fix a bad idle problem. My car started having some of these problems again and guess what .... it is making a ticking sound too.. My dad thinks it could be the fuel pump which is getting replaced this weekend but I'm not sure. It will rev happily all day but starts like clodking's did.. wtf!

ClodKing · « **Reply #40 on:** July 26, 2008, 06:58:34 PM »

So I got my mustang injectors today, and during the installation I noticed the little something that made my engine run like crap...

You guys will probably never believe this but I left the rags I used to stuff the intake ports IN THE INTAKE PORTS!!!!

I noticed some fuzz in the intake runners, and thought, huh? And then I saw a wad of towel in each port. Just balled up, and sitting in there...

I took them out, cleaned up the runners, installed the injectors, and the car shoots up to six grand again like it did before.

I am suprised the car ran, let alone idle on it's own... I swear I took those out, but I geuss I didn't.

The car still bogs a little if I shoot it up from idle, but I still have a new fuel pump to get installed. Hopefully that will fix all my running woes, and I'll have a nice happy car when it's on the road.

Thanks fellas for all the help.