Few questions

cutelilcntrygrl · 07-25-2006, 01:57 PM

Got a few questions for you all. When I'm coming up on a stop light, I usually just throw it in neutral instead of down shifting, unless I know I'm not going to come to a complete stop, then I'll down shift. But here lately, when I put it in neutral, it'll idle around 2500-3000 thus resulting in terrible gas milage. I drive about 60 miles a day and it uses a quarter of a tank. That's not even normal. Even when I start the car, after it feels like the motor is going to fall out on the ground, it idles around 2500. It'll drop down to around 1,500 after it sits for a couple of minutes. And of course, the SES light comes on too. It's been shifting harder than too. It's hard to get it into gear sometimes. Is this related to the high idle problem? I'm going to be taking it to the shop one day next week but I'm just wanting to get an idea of what's wrong and how much to expect it to cost. Ideas?

jackal2000 · 07-25-2006, 05:35 PM

dirty maf?

battistoni21 · 07-26-2006, 12:36 AM

2.4s dont have a maf..... try the AIT sensor, or your o2s?

thats some crazy stuff

07-26-2006, 01:24 AM

yea it sounds like the hard shifting into drive is linked to the high idle. borrow a code scanner, and in the meantime check the ignition system, O2 sensors, hell even a clogged to hell air filter?

sburke · 07-26-2006, 02:00 AM

I have no idea about the clutch, but the horrible gas mileage could be a result of a bad catalytic converter, especially if you smell sulfur (smells like bad eggs). When your windows are down and the car is stopped you will catch wiffs of that smell.

battistoni21 · 07-26-2006, 02:33 AM

maybe take it to a tranny shop and have them check out your transmission....

battistoni21 · 07-26-2006, 02:33 AM

damn i had a repost sorry

cutelilcntrygrl · 07-26-2006, 08:34 AM

I'm going to take it to the shop next week. Forgot to mention that the dummy shift light will come on when I'm stopped at a light with the car in neutral. Sburke, I had that sulfer smell on my last car and would recognize it anywhere.. haven't had that problem with this car. I broke the idle record with 3,500 this morning after the car was running for about 20 minutes.

sburke · 07-26-2006, 10:35 PM

Check the rubber hose that is on your throttle body, if it gets disconnected it will set of all the warning lights and the car will idle horribly. I don't guess it would be something that simple but it's worth a look.

Oldsman · 07-26-2006, 11:14 PM

maybe a bad fuel injector.

cutelilcntrygrl · 07-27-2006, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sburke

Check the rubber hose that is on your throttle body, if it gets disconnected it will set of all the warning lights and the car will idle horribly. I don't guess it would be something that simple but it's worth a look.

I have no idea where to find that but I'll tell the hubby tonight and see if he can look at it for me. Thanks. My Dad suggested it was the injectors too. We've used the fuel injectors cleaner and all that but didn't seem to help any. I'm assuming that if it's so far gone, it wouldn't help. If that's what it is, what's the going price for repairs?

battistoni21 · 07-27-2006, 03:40 PM

the rubber hose is the thing connected to your air box.... that connects right in front of the "twin cam" cover.....

cutelilcntrygrl · 07-28-2006, 08:57 AM

^ Checked it out and it was fine.

sburke · 07-30-2006, 01:50 AM

The vacuum tube I am talking about is located on the front of the throttle body and it appears to be slightly underneath it. I've attached a picture to help with the location. It is hiding underneath a lot of other wires.

MixtapeMessiah · 07-30-2006, 02:01 AM

ur high idle might be caused by a vacuum leak, my friends toyota p/u was the same way,make sure all the vacuum lines are hooked up or have holes in them, other than that I dont think o2 sensors would do it, they would make the idle run lower than perferred idle speed. Hook it up to the GM Tech II scan tool, i did on my 2.4l and its fabulous

Oldsman · 07-30-2006, 02:38 AM

what EGR system??????????? they got rid of EGR very early 99.

sburke · 07-30-2006, 04:03 PM

^^^vacuum tube for the MAP Sensor system. I typed the wrong thing, BIG WOOP.

Oldsman · 07-30-2006, 09:38 PM

it could be everything from a vacuum line to a sensor like TPS, idle control, O2 to even a bad injector.

if it is a vacuum line when the car is running and hood open you will hear a sucking sound that is noticable.

cutelilcntrygrl · 07-31-2006, 09:03 AM

It's not the vacuum line. We tested all the wires and plugs this weekend. The spark plugs are bad so I have to pick up new ones today and that might make a little difference. We're pretty much betting it's the injectors.

AnderbrA · 07-31-2006, 12:54 PM

I would doublecheck all hoses on the TB....there are a few hiding underneith the rest. Vacuum leak will for sure make it Idle high. I would bet if it was ignition or fuel related it would be running rough. Same for Cat.