I can't seem to figure this one out - can someone help?

My idle is running rough (I can hear what seems to be misfire coming from the exhaust), but I don't think I have any power loss when I get the car rolling - and it doesn't vibrate during driving. I've changed the wires, but I haven't looked at the cap/rotor/plugs just yet. It almost feels like I'm going to stall, but not, and the trouble is I have a 97 DX (just turned 90K miles!) so there's no tach to tell me if my car is surging or not...anyone help?

I've heard all sorts of issues, like a vaccum leak, or a fuel sensor going bad...I'd like to figure this one out before I have to go to a shop that'll charge me for just figuring this out...thanks!

T-X

 

Possible issues:

Distributor Cap
Distributor Rotor
Spark Plugs
Vaccum Leak
Clogged Air Filter
Fuel Filter
Carbon Build Up (search for "Seafoam" for fixes)
Throttle Cable Needs To Be Adjusted

There are many other things that can cause this, but that's where I would start. You 90K maintenence will include a number of those.

 

also obd2 scan tools that you can borrow or use from places like AutoZone display rpm information as well as a bunch of other things. just go up there and hook one up to your car

 

I did just that despite the fact that there's no CEL - I got I think it was 1399: Glow Plug high side, high output or something like that. Then I played around with the filter on my intake and got a CEL: 1 - but I don't think the O2 censor is related to what's going on with my car...

I know that when I swapped out the wires, the #1 wire lead that goes into the distributor was heavily corroded (looked lime green). I'm not sure if that could be the problem or what considering all this happened after one car ride and the car sitting around for like 2 hours.

Someone also mentioned water in the distributor, but there doesn't appear to be any leaks that would cause that to foul - it had been raining the day the issues started to happen, but I don't see how water could've gotten in...

 

bump - please help!

 

Try what I suggested first. If it doesn't work then reply that it hasn't. There's no reason to go into advanced trouble shooting if you haven't knocked out all the simple potential problems first. Most of the stuff I listed needs to be done for your 90K maintenece anyhow, so it's not a waste to do it even if it doesn't fix your problem.

Once you complete it, disconnect the negative battery terminal and pull the 80 amp fuse out of the fuse box under your hood. After about 15 mins, put the fuse back in, reconnect the negative battery cable, and then turn the car on. Make sure the AC and radio are off and let the car idle for about 10 mins. Do not hit the gas, just let it sit idling for the 10 mins. The ECU is "reprograming" itself during this time. After 10 mins, turn the car off, wait a min, then turn it back on.

If you get a CEL after all the maintenence is done and the ECU is reset, you may have a bigger issue. But this very well may resolve the issue.

 

change your plugs, cap and rotor. then call me in the morning...lol

most likely if your plug wire was corroded you need to also change your plugs, cap and rotor since it sounds like you dont change them often. oh and when a y7 surges you can hear it, you wont need a tach to detect it, trust me...its obvious.

 

Like they said, try resetting the ECU first. I agree that it would have something to do with your spark other than that. If not that....then it could be the IACV, but from what you said, I doubt it.

 

I'll be checking the basics tomorrow - I'll get back to this thread with my findings though :-) Thanks!

 

mine chugs, almosts dies, eats gas and low of power until i get rolling( all this happen some of the time) i traced it down to the MAP sensor on mine.