Idle problem
Idle problem
Ok before you guys say search I've looked and have been for the past 3 days. My problem is when I leave it in park or put it in neutral my car starts surging. It even does it if I let of the gas going down the road. Now if I'm at a stop and it's in gear it dont surge or if I'm getting on the throttle. I have cleaned the idle control valve and cleaned the throttle body so far what else can be done?
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Joined: Dec 2011
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From: Midwest. Aiming about mid-chest
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Re: Idle problem
SWAG: It's idling too fast for some reason. Figure out why.
I have no clue what your engine is equipped with, so here's a few ideas
IACV hot with coolant flow? FICV hot? (I have seen them not get hot because of junk clogging the coolant hoses and fittings, this lets them run in cold engine mode--high idle.)
Either one leaking air?
ECT sensor accurate?
Vacuum leaks?
I have no clue what your engine is equipped with, so here's a few ideas
IACV hot with coolant flow? FICV hot? (I have seen them not get hot because of junk clogging the coolant hoses and fittings, this lets them run in cold engine mode--high idle.)
Either one leaking air?
ECT sensor accurate?
Vacuum leaks?
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 32,017
Likes: 256
From: Midwest. Aiming about mid-chest
Rep Power: 518 










Re: Idle problem
FICV (fast idle control valve) operation depends on having hot coolant flowing through it as the engine warms up so it can control the fast idle speed. If there is no hot coolant flowing through it, it thinks the engine is cold and keeps the speed up accordingly.
You can plug the air passage in the throttle body neck with your fingers to see if the idle speed drops, that indicates the valve is open.
A clog or restriction can happen dang near anywhere along the routing of those small hoses. It doesn't take much to screw up the works.
Last time I had one like that, the clog was inside the steel nipple that sticks out of the cylinder head. Used a drill bit to clean it out, and it looked like a mix of rust and stop-leak that came out of it......
You have to take apart the hoses and stuff so you can figure out what part has blocked flow.
I disconnect one of the small hoses from a fitting (doesn't matter where, but only one), cork one end with a finger, and squeeze the radiator hose.
If coolant squirts out of the open end, that side has flow. Cork that side and squeeze again, there probably won't be a squirt.
Continue this process until the clog area is narrowed down and located.
HTH
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