Won't stay idling

mk15mr2 · 11-18-2009, 08:13 PM

So my car won't idle below 1500rpm. was sitting for years, Sometimes it will idle that high and stay for a while then it will slowly drop and die. I can give it a little gas to keep it running. It starts great cold but dies faster. Starts harder hot but idles longer. This is what I did so far:

NEW egr valve, egr modulator, idle air control valve, exhaust manifold gasket, throttle body gasket, cap, rotor, plugs, wires, injectors, fuel filter, o2 sensor, air filter, throttle body cleaned, replaced every vacuum line i could find in the engine bay (compared to diagram) turned idle screw either direction does almost nothing or makes it die. new starter, wires to starter, cable ends, battery, alternator, radiator, two oil changes to clean out gunk.
PLANNED:
check for intake leaks with little propane torch leaking out some gas. replace exhaust manifold due to crack on 4 bank.

ANYTHING else you guys can think of that cause this?

masagsxr · 11-18-2009, 08:15 PM

Check timing. Maybe its a little advanced.

mk15mr2 · 11-18-2009, 08:20 PM

yeah good idea will do. I wanted to do that but the exhaust leak is so bad it burns my eyes looking down there. the flange leaks cause it is bent. so i guess exhaust system fixed THEN timing. I'll keep this updated if it fixes it.

mr2tim · 11-30-2009, 09:43 PM

Clogged intake screen on the in tank fuel filter mesh attached to the fuel pump?
(not mentioned on your list?)

mr.asian.m2 · 12-01-2009, 04:14 AM

mine was doing that also. end up to be a vacuum leak.

dirocyn · 12-01-2009, 10:30 AM

Could be nothing more than the exhaust leak. That'll throw off your o2 sensor, so your fuel mix will be wrong. Fix what you know is broken first, see if the problem goes away.

mk15mr2 · 12-01-2009, 09:27 PM

So received the manifold from LITHIA. It does indeed run better without a exhaust leak and proper timing. As far as the clogged screen..no doubt. I have a spare tank I'm going to clean and re-seal. The tank in the car sat with gas in it for hmm..probably 2 years? It did evaporate eventually but who knows how bad it is in there. As far as everything else on the list, It was ALL actually bad. I'm doing a full restoration. Thanks.

11-18-2009, 08:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
mk15mr2 Some Skills Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Arizona Posts: 72 Thanks: 18 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Won't stay idling So my car won't idle below 1500rpm. was sitting for years, Sometimes it will idle that high and stay for a while then it will slowly drop and die. I can give it a little gas to keep it running. It starts great cold but dies faster. Starts harder hot but idles longer. This is what I did so far: NEW egr valve, egr modulator, idle air control valve, exhaust manifold gasket, throttle body gasket, cap, rotor, plugs, wires, injectors, fuel filter, o2 sensor, air filter, throttle body cleaned, replaced every vacuum line i could find in the engine bay (compared to diagram) turned idle screw either direction does almost nothing or makes it die. new starter, wires to starter, cable ends, battery, alternator, radiator, two oil changes to clean out gunk. PLANNED: check for intake leaks with little propane torch leaking out some gas. replace exhaust manifold due to crack on 4 bank. ANYTHING else you guys can think of that cause this?

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11-18-2009, 08:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
masagsxr Cage Fighter Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Norwalk, CA Posts: 3,534 Thanks: 1 Thanked 81 Times in 81 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Check timing. Maybe its a little advanced.

11-18-2009, 08:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
mk15mr2 Some Skills Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Arizona Posts: 72 Thanks: 18 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	yeah good idea will do. I wanted to do that but the exhaust leak is so bad it burns my eyes looking down there. the flange leaks cause it is bent. so i guess exhaust system fixed THEN timing. I'll keep this updated if it fixes it.

11-30-2009, 09:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
mr2tim SUPERcharZed ToyZ RacZer Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,789 Thanks: 8 Thanked 118 Times in 111 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (6/100% )	Clogged intake screen on the in tank fuel filter mesh attached to the fuel pump? (not mentioned on your list?)

12-01-2009, 04:14 AM	#5 (permalink)
mr.asian.m2 SoCal/houston's mr2 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: houston texas Posts: 2,660 Thanks: 55 Thanked 72 Times in 68 Posts iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	mine was doing that also. end up to be a vacuum leak.

12-01-2009, 10:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
dirocyn Cage Fighter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Posts: 1,178 Thanks: 14 Thanked 110 Times in 108 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Could be nothing more than the exhaust leak. That'll throw off your o2 sensor, so your fuel mix will be wrong. Fix what you know is broken first, see if the problem goes away.

12-01-2009, 09:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
mk15mr2 Some Skills Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Arizona Posts: 72 Thanks: 18 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	So received the manifold from LITHIA. It does indeed run better without a exhaust leak and proper timing. As far as the clogged screen..no doubt. I have a spare tank I'm going to clean and re-seal. The tank in the car sat with gas in it for hmm..probably 2 years? It did evaporate eventually but who knows how bad it is in there. As far as everything else on the list, It was ALL actually bad. I'm doing a full restoration. Thanks.