What’s up with the Idle?

Over the years since I bought the Brick I’ve become more and more sensitive to the odd noise from the hood or strange feel from the gas pedal. I don’t always act on these things, but at least I’m becoming more aware of the quirks and problems before they get much bigger.

Right now I’ve got some weird idle issues. A couple times its idled high, a couple times it’s idled low enough that it threatened to stall. I know I have an oil leak somewhere in the front of the block, but it’s not draining too much oil. Maybe 1/2 a quart a month. I’m wondering though if that oil is draining into the timing belt. The belts squeal when it’s cold.

Or do I have an air intake/ vacuum problem? The trouble shooting guides point to the air mass meter, air filter, throttle body, etc. As I have a clean throttle body and a new air filter I wonder if there’s a leak somewhere in the line, or if I need a new AMM. Whatever it is, it’s another, new issue after just finishing the tranny problems. What a PITA.

UPDATE: After digging around under the hood, everything is back to normal.

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5 thoughts on “What’s up with the Idle?

  1. Alden

    How’s your flame trap? Honestly the front seals on the redblock aren’t too bad to do. Idle issue? I have no idea. I have one on my 740, I think it relates to having bad plug wires which cause a miss at low speed.

    The almost stall could be caused by a vacuum leak.

  2. Z

    Idle issues (random thoughts) – could be vacuum hose or accordion hose leaks, could be throttle body or manifold gaskets, could be rubber o-rings around the injectors, bad MAF, dirty IAC… a few options to getting started.

    How is the idle generally – good, except for when it’s weird, or generally a bit high/low all the time?

  3. DoctorJay Post author

    In general it idles fine. But sometimes when I pull up to a light and stop it stays at about 1k rpm for about a 1/2 minute, instead of kicking down to 750 immediately.

    Or sometimes when I pull to a light it’ll feel like it’s just about to stall, but never does. I had stalling issues about a year ago and replaced all the plugs, wires, rotor, distributor cap. I also cleaned the throttle body at that time.

    I have run out of gas a few times, maybe 3 or 4. It’s because I don’t have a fuel gauge and rely on the odometer to know about the time I need to get gas. Usually I’m coasting into a gas station when it happens, but once I caused a big traffic jam on the Garden State Parkway.

    I know that running out of gas can cause a bunch of junk to be kicked up through the fuel system. I wonder if that has caused clogs in the injectors.

  4. Pingback: My Black Brick » Archives » Idle goes bad, but now it’s fixed

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