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Rough idle 99 M6

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Old Jul 12, 2010 | 03:38 PM
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Default Rough idle 99 M6

Bought my first C5 (99 6speed) a little over a month ago (moved up from a 94 A4). Has 57,XXX miles on it. Runs fine but in my opinion the idle seems a little rough. It doesn't miss, just seems a bit rough to me. Is this normal?
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Old Jul 12, 2010 | 04:25 PM
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Originally Posted by dcandel
Bought my first C5 (99 6speed) a little over a month ago (moved up from a 94 A4). Has 57,XXX miles on it. Runs fine but in my opinion the idle seems a little rough. It doesn't miss, just seems a bit rough to me. Is this normal?
No, it's not. The first thing I do when I buy a used car is establish a baseline for all future maintenance....by changing the following:

Plugs/wires
fuel/air filter
belts/hoses as required
Fluids
PCV valve+plus full inspection of all vacuum lines

It's a few hundred up front, but it gives you a starting point for everything.

Last edited by lucky131969; Jul 12, 2010 at 11:33 PM.
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Old Jul 12, 2010 | 06:28 PM
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Maybe it has a cam.
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Old Jul 12, 2010 | 08:45 PM
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Originally Posted by coanan
Maybe it has a cam.
nooooooo

going from the L98, with even firing order, You may view the LS1, with the odd firing order as Rough Idle
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Old Jul 12, 2010 | 09:19 PM
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Start by cleaning the air filter...if it has a Blackwing it's probably plugged with dirt/dust. You will be amazed at the difference this makes...everyone seems to overlook this simple step, but it is vital to getting air into the engine and giving back hp and idle smoothness. If that doesn't help, get back to me...there are other things you can do.
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Old Jul 12, 2010 | 10:54 PM
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Originally Posted by $$$frumnuttin'
Start by cleaning the air filter...if it has a Blackwing it's probably plugged with dirt/dust. You will be amazed at the difference this makes...everyone seems to overlook this simple step, but it is vital to getting air into the engine and giving back hp and idle smoothness. If that doesn't help, get back to me...there are other things you can do.
A new air filter along with an oil change was the first thing I did after I got the car in May.
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Old Jul 13, 2010 | 01:14 PM
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Originally Posted by dcandel
A new air filter along with an oil change was the first thing I did after I got the car in May.
Ok, next you should look into cleaning your MAF screen and the fragile little wires inside. Get a can of CRC MAF cleaner, take everything apart, and follow the directions on the can. Crud on the wires will cause incorrect readings and the computer will not perform properly...it doesn't take much to cause a problem.
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Old Jul 13, 2010 | 04:04 PM
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Originally Posted by $$$frumnuttin'
Ok, next you should look into cleaning your MAF screen and the fragile little wires inside. Get a can of CRC MAF cleaner, take everything apart, and follow the directions on the can. Crud on the wires will cause incorrect readings and the computer will not perform properly...it doesn't take much to cause a problem.
THanks, I'll try that.
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Old Jul 13, 2010 | 08:41 PM
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A slight rough idle is normal for the early LS1 engines. I have had a 2000 from day one and it has a slight rough idle and every 1997 to 2001 I have had listened to had a slight bump in the idle. When the engine went to 350 hp, the idle was smoothed out quite a bit. Anyway, from what you describe, I say it is a normal idle.
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Old Jul 13, 2010 | 09:26 PM
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Originally Posted by $$$frumnuttin'
Ok, next you should look into cleaning your MAF screen and the fragile little wires inside. Get a can of CRC MAF cleaner, take everything apart, and follow the directions on the can. Crud on the wires will cause incorrect readings and the computer will not perform properly...it doesn't take much to cause a problem.
this thread seems to consist of the blind leading the dumb

if the MAF sensor is contaminated, there will be a " lean bank one, lean bank 2 '
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Old Jul 13, 2010 | 10:17 PM
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Originally Posted by dcandel
THanks, I'll try that.
I became a believer when this stuff solved my rough idle. Here's a video that is a bit commercial, but informative. For us corvette guys it makes some good points to think about, especially the deposit of air filter oils onto the wires. All I know is when I cleaned the maf with this stuff the car ran like a jackrabbit and idled smooth as hell...hope this helps you. If not you can look into other areas too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPT8rL0noYg
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