idling problem

sx_turbo

sx_turbo

Lifer
right my lovely car

idles fine when driven from cold and once its warm.

but

if i put the lights on when it idles cold fine, but as soon as its warm it idles at about 500rpm.

when i turn the lights off it still idles at 500rpm.

i turn the car off leave it 5 mins its still idles at 500 rpm.

turn the air con on, it idles at 1100rpm which is right.

leve the car to go fully cold, and start it it idles fine.

really odd.

it does sometimes do it when the lghts arent on or havnt been put on but very rarely

could it be the alternator sticking or something? i checked its charging voltage, and it sits at 14.5v at all times.

when the car is off and i check the battery voltage its 12.97v.

so everything seems fine to me, except for this low idling. anyone any thoughts?
 
G

gorgeous1083

Fresh Recruit
hiya mate, the easiest thing i can think of is to adjust the throttle position.
On the intake manifold there is an arm which the accelerator cable connects to, you should also see a small screw with a nut on it, you simple adjust this to you required idle revs.
Make sure you do this when the engine has warmed and the revs have dropped off then adjust and check on your rev counter.

then see how it reacts to the lights being turned on etc, thats all i did and it works fine.
 
Dave.

Dave.

Member +
Personally, I wouldn't worry too much mate, thats only minor and I've seen a few starlets do similar. My own idles high all the time, from when I first bought it. Sits at around 900-950 rpm idle warm, and well over 1000rpm cold, with air con on, it'll reach 1500rpm easily enough sometimes :p

Still goes like stink and has done for the last 20,000+ km's I've done in it...

Probably something silly like the tps or the idle screw? Mibbe a leaking manifold/exhaust giving false readings to the sensor in the exhaust?

Dave
 
NDR008

NDR008

Fresh Recruit
You have a solenoid that let's air by-pass the throttle for when the engine is still cold.
You have another solenoid that raises the idle in the same way for when lights are on.
You have another solenoid that raises the idle in the same way for when the aircon is on.

The way your car is idling sounds right, except the 500 seems on the low side. But that sounds like the base idling. You can adjust that by turning a screw. let me find the picture for it.

idleadjust.jpg


Warm up the engine that it idles at 500, and turn this screw such as to raise it to about 600 perhaps.

PS If you have a top mount intercooler, I think you have to remove it to get to this.

Oh Yeah, one (or both, memory not as good as it used to be), the idle solenoid of the air con and/or lighting can be adjusted if I am not mistaken.
 
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sx_turbo

sx_turbo

Lifer
cool cheers guys, i was a little worried it might have been something majour, thanks for your help, i'll try the things mentioned.

i dont suppose you know where the solenoid is for the lights you have mentioned.
 
tucka

tucka

Member +
mine was doing the exact same thing, be fine when it was cold but soon as it warmed up and i turned my lights on it would drop to 500rpm, and it got worse it even started to cut out every now and again. so i warmed my car up got my mate to sit init,while i was under the hood, and told him to turn on everything, lights, window wipers, fogs, rear window heater ect ect, and i then adjusted the idle control valve to about 800rpm. not had a problem since. hope this helps a lil man
 
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Sheldon

Sheldon

Malta Area Rep.
yeah but as soon as you turn off everything it goes to about 1100? would be good if there was a setting for the idle when you turn on your lights
 
Big_Daddy

Big_Daddy

Member +
Ive have simmiler issue, once warm it idles at 1100 but then drops to around 800-900, but now it hardly goes under 1100.
Ive orderd a earthing kit as it may help, the stanard ground wire are just so thin!
 
S

Sigma

Member +
A high idle is nothing at all to worry about.. :)

Low idle is obviously a bad thing, as oil pressure can reduce.

Mine's now set to about 1350 when warm, and 2k cold.

Sounds great and it's running amazingly well!

Tommy

:quadgt:
 
Sheldon

Sheldon

Malta Area Rep.
played with the idle screw and vacum valve and looks all good now. 1100/1000 warm and with lights on almost 1000
 
Nwimie

Nwimie

Member +
gonna have a play with mine when i get home :D mines always been a bit on the low side and shakes the car somewhat on idle lol.
 
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