Random Weird idle

**Cla** · 01-04-2018 06:09 PM

Hello,

Have a 06 euro auto (130k kms). I noticed yesterday that the idle of the car was off. It was normal then at random intervals it seems to miss a beat (can see tacho dial drops slightly and go back to normal). Guessing 650rpm.

I notice a bit of a splutter between 1k-2k.

Nothing has been changed lately on the car, fuel economy is normal.

Spark plugs replaced a year ago and fuel filter replaced/valve inspected 4.5 years ago.

Had a blown coil a while ago and it’s not that. Not a tractor sound, just sounds like a drop beat.

Happy for any ideas before taking it to mechanic if I can’t sort it.

Cheers!

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**Cla** · 04-04-2018 06:07 AM

It seems like a random misfire but none detected on computer when scanning.

Physically visually inspected spark plugs and coils. Didn’t check spark plug gap (only 10k 1.5 years old).

The only thing I can think of that has happened lately is I left the car idling for 90 mins which may have heated something up but I never recalled the idle issue after that drive.

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**Fredoops** · 12-04-2018 10:29 AM

random missing a beat..

can you do a load test on the alternator and battery? see if it's a electricity supply issue?

**Cla** · 12-04-2018 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by Fredoops

random missing a beat..

can you do a load test on the alternator and battery? see if it's a electricity supply issue?

The battery is only 8 months old (nrma) and the alternator is about 4 years old. Though, it’s an aftermarket one.

Haven’t really had any issues with the charging system. Can’t load test it at the moment.

I had my mechanic out yesterday, he said the brake booster was leaking and there was a noticeable hiss (under the bonnet) when turning the car off.

Clamped the vacuum hose and the idle
Picked up abit.

So going to replace the booster and see what happens. Hopefully that’s it

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**Cla** · 20-09-2018 06:02 PM

Completed the following:
Replaced Brake booster
Fuel filter
Service + filters
Upper engine cleaner + TB clean

After all this the car went good for a day or so and then went back to normal idle issue.

It has now dropping random missfire CEL which goes away if I keep on driving it. CEL only appears to happen when driving around at low speed/low load.

Jumpy idle is noticeable in the cabin.

I cleaned the intake manifold (and the metal gasket) and the car runs good for 1-2 days and then goes back to normal and progressively gets worse.

Wits end... thinking with it going well after a Upper engine clean it must be either something blocked that gets temporarily unblocked or there is a temporary performance boost from the cleaner.

**Kodak** · 02-10-2018 10:45 PM

I gather the car does quite low k's. Try a tank of premium and some injector cleaner to clean out fuel system

**Cla** · 04-10-2018 06:43 AM

The Km's are ~136k and probably been on-going for 10K or so. It comes and goes, so have not been actively working on a fix.
Only appeared to start after a long idle one day, next step may be the IAC off the TB giving it a good clean as definitely when the motor gets upper engine clean it works way better for a period of time.

Car only runs on PUMP and have put a few injector cleaners in over the time.

Currently have a CEL, will review again but normally it's random misfire.

**Fredoops** · 05-10-2018 12:34 PM

Sounds like a dead/dying ignition coil.

Check the CEL and move ignition coil around, if cel move with specific coils, then you will know which coil had gone bad.

**Cla** · 05-10-2018 08:29 PM

Originally Posted by Fredoops

Sounds like a dead/dying ignition coil.

Check the CEL and move ignition coil around, if cel move with specific coils, then you will know which coil had gone bad.

Thanks yeah... I was thinking that actually..... I checked all the coils and they appeared fine. I've had a dud coil before after going through a storm and flooded highway... it sounded like a tractor, swapped around coils and found it.
This time it does not sound like that or feel like that, I have fiddled with the coils and even pulled out the plugs out and shuffled them again, didn't make a difference really.

Only happens at idle really, I suppose it could be a coil but the weirdness is when I put the upper engine through it... it improves for 1-2 days

I think it's time to remove the TB and check out the IAC.

**Fredoops** · 06-10-2018 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by Cla

I think it's time to remove the TB and check out the IAC.

there is no idle air control in this car. it's drive-by-wire

check it anyuway tho, just in case it's gunk build up on the throttle plate.

**Cla** · 06-10-2018 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by Fredoops

there is no idle air control in this car. it's drive-by-wire

check it anyuway tho, just in case it's gunk build up on the throttle plate.

HAHA thanks! You saved me getting my tools out to take off a part that doesn't exist... though that's annoying as everything else has already had a good clean but something must be up around that as when its clean its good for a while so it might be really gunked up to go back to weird after a few days.