Rough Idle
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,597
Likes: 1
From: Columbus, OH
Rough Idle
My 2001 idles fairly rough (at about 700 rpm) and the car shimmies. When I bring the rpm's up just a little it is very smooth. I replaced the spark plugs and wires a few months ago and it helped a tiny bit. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.
Mike
Mike
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,295
Likes: 35
From: Brampton Ontario
Originally Posted by indy300
My 2001 idles fairly rough (at about 700 rpm) and the car shimmies. When I bring the rpm's up just a little it is very smooth. I replaced the spark plugs and wires a few months ago and it helped a tiny bit. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.
Mike
Mike
You could try a Fuel Injector Service, or better yet, run a can of CLEENS through your engine and clean it out. Another name for CLEENS is seafoam. Just go to your chev dealer and ask for 2 bottles of CLEENS. Read the directions. Have someone maintain Idle while you pour it into your intake. (There are several area's you can do this). Let the car sit for awhile then start it back up. It will run rough for a minute or two, but stand back and watch all the white smoke pouring from your exhaust. This is all the carbon build and crap being blown out!
Jason
Last edited by 99Red&White; Dec 28, 2005 at 02:58 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 28,753
Likes: 9
From: San Jose/Bear Valley CA
CA Events Coordinator
Use an inductive pick up light (timing light) to check the coils... we have learned over time the coils can be marginal (not hitting all the time) and yet not throw a problem code in the computer. SO when you hookup the inductive unit, what you are looking for is a steady strobe on each coil. IF one hits with an irregular beat... you have found a bad coil.
VR
VR
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 1
From: Foresters Falls(near Ottawa) Ont
Originally Posted by vetterdstr
Use an inductive pick up light (timing light) to check the coils... we have learned over time the coils can be marginal (not hitting all the time) and yet not throw a problem code in the computer. SO when you hookup the inductive unit, what you are looking for is a steady strobe on each coil. IF one hits with an irregular beat... you have found a bad coil.
VR
VR
RonJ ... TY ...
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Mine shakes at idle some, but I have a fidanza aluminum flywheel with less weight to dampen the motor. I'd try the basic tune up stuff.
1. Clean MAF wires with alcohol (something that evaporates)
2. Check/swap spart plugs.
3. Check wires with OHM meter to make sure all are good. I believe factory spec says under 700 is good.
4. Do what vetrdstr says and check the coil packs to see if they're working right.
If you putz in your car try to sea foam setup to break up any carbon deposits.
1. Clean MAF wires with alcohol (something that evaporates)
2. Check/swap spart plugs.
3. Check wires with OHM meter to make sure all are good. I believe factory spec says under 700 is good.
4. Do what vetrdstr says and check the coil packs to see if they're working right.
If you putz in your car try to sea foam setup to break up any carbon deposits.
Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,328
Likes: 3
From: Las Vegas Nevada
Originally Posted by vetterdstr
Use an inductive pick up light (timing light) to check the coils... we have learned over time the coils can be marginal (not hitting all the time) and yet not throw a problem code in the computer. SO when you hookup the inductive unit, what you are looking for is a steady strobe on each coil. IF one hits with an irregular beat... you have found a bad coil.
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 28,753
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From: San Jose/Bear Valley CA
CA Events Coordinator
Originally Posted by mrtoner
I had put a pick up light on mine a few months ago, and saw irregular flashes on several coils - I thought my light was bad. Now I will look closer....might be why my O2 sensors are black and sooty...
let us know how it works out for you!! VR
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 19,329
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From: Saint Augustine, FL
Mid-TN Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Mine has always had a slight shake. When I questioned it a few months ago with the rest of the forum, it was the consensus that some shake is normal.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Midland GA
Has anybody looked into an engine grounding kit to smooth the rough idle?
I have one on the Nissan 350z I bought for my wife and it idles and revs MUCH smoother than other 350z's we tried.
I did a search here on "grounding kit" and got zero results. The Z forums are crawling with talk on this. It's very popular with that crowd.
It's supposed to somehow make the signals the ECU reads much cleaner, thus the better decisions by said ECU.
Claims made by grounding kit makers:
- increased throttle response
- a cleaner spark
- a cleaner ECU signal
- an improved idle
Can any of you senior guys comment on this idea?
thanks,
Rich
I have one on the Nissan 350z I bought for my wife and it idles and revs MUCH smoother than other 350z's we tried.
I did a search here on "grounding kit" and got zero results. The Z forums are crawling with talk on this. It's very popular with that crowd.
It's supposed to somehow make the signals the ECU reads much cleaner, thus the better decisions by said ECU.
Claims made by grounding kit makers:
- increased throttle response
- a cleaner spark
- a cleaner ECU signal
- an improved idle
Can any of you senior guys comment on this idea?
thanks,
Rich
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 822
Likes: 0
From: Grafton Ohio
Originally Posted by indy300
My 2001 idles fairly rough (at about 700 rpm) and the car shimmies. When I bring the rpm's up just a little it is very smooth. I replaced the spark plugs and wires a few months ago and it helped a tiny bit. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.
Mike
Mike