Low idle problem

[SDG]

Ok so now after replacing two alternators within a week I have super low idle. The last alternator that went bad after just a week caused super high idle..now I am getting low idle so it almost stalls at a light.

Now what could be the problem? This car is driving me nuts!

 

[KZL_99ES]

how many miles are on the car?/how old?

...it might not be your alternator, thats why.

 

[bgibb68]

clean your egr valve or replace it.....look in the how tos....it's really easy and works

 

[SDG]

its an 02 with just over 100k miles. I have had no problems with idle until last night when I replaced the alternator and as I said, when I replaced the alternator last week it was idling high not low like it is now. So it would seem it was something to do with the alternator.

The 1st one worked for about a week then died. This one seems ok but does have that high pitched whine...someone else posted saying they had the exact same issues with alternators..having to replace one after another and they had the same whine.

I don't have the money to dump into the EGR if I'm not sure its the problem. Isn't it like 400 bucks to do? I could try cleaning it..seems easy enough. It idles fine when I just start it up and let it sit..but when I drive and am sitting at a light it drops really low to like 800 or so. Hasn't stalled but seems like it wants to.

 

[flash75]

800 rpm is about normal. On my last inspection printout mine was 752 rpm. I don't see how the alternator could change your idle speed.

Clifton

 

[bgibb68]

not the alt....and you can just pull the egr yourself and clean with carb cleaner...takes like 2 hours

 

[SDG]

it must be lower then...its just above stalling. Not normal at all. Maybe I hit a vacuum hose while working on the alternator?

 

[el_Don]

Even though it didn't work for me, the egr fix might work. You should try it.

 

[bgibb68]

that's always posible there is a vac hose on that side that goes to the egr sensor

 

[KZL_99ES]

what Clifton said, 750rpm is normal, that's what you want!

unfortunately, having a low or high idle could be many things, egr, MAF, timing belt, fuel pump, vac hoses, etc... it's best to start with the easy things first.

now b/c your car has just over 100k miles, it's prob going to be things in order from easiest to difficult to repair and from cheapest to most expensive to repair:

egr, fuel pump, or timing belt.

have you had any of those replaced at all, or do have any records of it being done?

 

[JDMJNKY]

yea I have no problems as of yet but going to clean egr soon replace my fuel pump and get new timing belt also.

 

[KZL_99ES]

yea I have no problems as of yet but going to clean egr soon replace my fuel pump and get new timing belt also.

har-har

...don't forget the full-body scan!

 

[JDMJNKY]

har-har

...don't forget the full-body scan!

um yea ok

 

[P.O.E.T.]

it must be lower then...its just above stalling. Not normal at all. Maybe I hit a vacuum hose while working on the alternator?

did you pulled the alternator from above?
did you had any trouble pulling it out that you had to force it out?

if you did, most likely you damaged a vacuum hose or by accident you pulled it out with the alternator... check both the vics and vtcs vacuum line hose or the one just under the vics and vtcs

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

Now what could be the problem? This car is driving me nuts!

Coincidence has a funny way of injecting nonrelated happenstance at critical junctures generating confusion at the most inopportune moments of our lives...embrace it.

 

[P-Funk!]

Pulling that alt out/in may have broken or loosened up a vacuum line.

 

[subsonicman]

i broke one of the Vics vacuum hoses, where can i find a replacement, or can i remove the sensor thing?

 

[bgibb68]

i broke one of the Vics vacuum hoses, where can i find a replacement, or can i remove the sensor thing?

you want that and need it....just take the hose into autozone and match up the size of the hose...and then attach it

 

[idrift4wd]

heres my idle


yes... its stable. weird|

SRY FOR THE HUGE PIC, : / i thought it would be smaller

 

[KZL_99ES]

it looks like you're around 675, which is right around normal...

is this supposed to be a reference pic?