whats the deal with fluctuating idle

[ianwells100]

this is probably a stupid question, but:

when i first start my car, drive it out of the parkin' lot at work, then hit the red light (crossing, not hookers), my car's idle (rpm) dives down, jumps up (not too much just to 1400 or so), and fluctuates a bit, is this totally normal, and is it just the computer finding the best air/fuel ratio, and does the fact that my AIR line is disconnected from the air intake affect this at all

thanks for the help
ian

[anthony gorman]

it might. all i know is that there are like 12 sensors that control the idle. it could be a lot of stuff.

[bu-bye]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by ianwells100:
is it just the computer finding the best air/fuel ratio,<hr></blockquote>

Bingo

and does the fact that my AIR line is disconnected from the air intake affect this at all[/QUOTE]

What AIR line are you talking about and why did you disconnect it anyway?

[ July 03, 2003: Message edited by: bu-bye ]</p>

[ianwells100]

the AIR line brings filtered air to the air pump that pumps air through the cat, helps with emissions and stuff on start up, but no, that isnt the problem, as it still sucks air when i start her up (and i have since put a filter over the end of the line... dont ask)

i took out my idle air control sensor, from atop the throttle body, and it was all black and cacked with crap so i cleaned it up, and its running 10 times better now... but i wonder what made it so dirty, maybe time i guess

to answer the other question, the AIR pump line was removed, as i've made myself a 3" PVC cold air induction (that goes down into the fender wall, and sucks a lot of air), all the way to the elbow, so no place for the line to reconnect back up

[ianwells100]

sorry to double post, but are there other sensors in that area that i should take apart and clean up, which would help with the whole air/fuel ratio being bang on

thanks
ian

[hockeyman]

I'll bet it's the IAC Sensor. Strangs idle problems almost always narrow down to that sensor. Cleaning it works sometimes, but mine needed to be replaced because the erratic idle kept getting worse.

-Marc

[ July 03, 2003: Message edited by: hockeyman ]</p>

[FireFighter]

MAF screen

[ianwells100]

no MAF screen here, i've got a 3.4L... thanks for the idea, though