idle problems (could be fixed, I hope)

L

lavaman

envision whirled peas
Re: idle problems (guess not fixed)

Re: idle problems (guess not fixed)

About a year and a half ago I had a similar problem, I swapped in new plugs, wires, 130 AMP alternator(old 100 AMP idled better/swapped it back in), cap, rotor, fuel pump, fuel filter, O2 sensor, and none helped with the idle. :roll: Finally took it to a friend's shop where he plugged in his $25,000 Snap-On scanner and he found that my original distributor's pulsewidth signal to the injectors was low. Maybe I could've gotten away with changing the distributor's ignition module but the ring/internals was totally corroded. I had a new MSD distributor laying around so we put it in, fired it up and it finally idled. It idled better after doing the IAC/T-body reset too. :tup: .....well, I shoulda known.....HTH.

Terry
 
Syclone#892

Syclone#892

Member
Re: idle problems (guess not fixed)

Re: idle problems (guess not fixed)

Well a couple things I would say, defiantly try a new battery, if that one is not holding a charge it could be a problem. Also alternators are meant to maintain a charge to a battery they should not be used for charging a battery so a bad battery will hurt your alt. Higher amp alts put out less amps at idle, everyone seems to want 200 amp stuff but that is only at the high end at idle it probably puts out 40. I usually go to 140 and thats it.

When my sy actually drove I know it did this same thing, I would say check for vacuum leaks and make sure everything looks good and just take it for a little spin around the block and see how it acts.
Have you adjusted the valves with the engine running or just when you put everything back together?
I have always been told that you have to adjust them when its running, just loosen each rocker one by one a little bit and you will hear some clatter then stop and tighten slowly till noise goes away. Once noise is gone (can't ever remember) go 1/2 turn or it might be 1 turn more and that one is done and go to next. You will be amazed at how mucj better it will run after doing that if they were set wrong. I usually take a crappy old valve cover and cut a slot in it and put it on truck to keep oil from getting everywhere.
Warning very messy and possible fire hazard if you do this with out any valve cover on.

Another thing, yes the stuff you did may be the 'cause of the problem, it could be a bad intake gasket etc but most of the stuff is real common sense so I would guess that you put it together right just some other part is bad now.

Sorry for the long post, I really hope you get this thing running real good since the truck looks real nice.
Good Luck
 
gjp

gjp

another post whore
Re: idle problems (guess not fixed)

Re: idle problems (guess not fixed)

ok, heres the deal. first I removed the tb,fuel rail, map bracket. torqued the lower to 35lbs and upper to 17lbs. I torqued them before because I write down the torque and number of bolts on a notebook. 80% of them turned a little 1/4 turn about. put a new gasket on the egr, and TB. Re-checked everything. Started up and...Ran better but still died. I have a new battery in the suburban. top of the line duralast. Hooked it up and nothing. re-checked timming.... 0*....
Ok then i started to lower the FP. It was set on 45lbs. noticed in my notes I had it set to 35 before build because it was running real ritch. 11.2 at idle. At 45 I am running high 13's. droped it to 38 and can you ****ing beleave it, runs so much better. Idle still at 13.6-14.1 but its smooth. Ran for 6 min with no problems. Turn on the light and it stumbles but runs. The voltage drops when the lights go on. DOES NOT STUMBLE WITH THE BURBAN BATT ONLY REDTOP ONE. either the redtop is bad or it just wont charge good sitting at ilde??
Well I am of to a weekend party so i will try again monday. Knock on wood its fixed. Thing is why would a high fp do that. It was cutting out and going lean?? any ideas??

And is it ok to run at 38lbs as long as it does not go lean?
Bad FP? FP was instaled by previous owner. its a 255 walbro or so he said. might be worth to swap it anyways huh?
 
W

wantingasy

Active member
Re: idle problems (guess not fixed)

Re: idle problems (guess not fixed)

Sounds like you still got some electrical gremlins to take care of! Especially if the voltage drops when you just turn on your lights. Bring that redtop back!!! Buy something different, I've heard of a lot of bad things about the optimas.

P.S.- Don't think about selling her because it's frustrating. Just hang in there, pretty much any car is going to have stuff to work out after a build like you've done. Gunna take a while to get things right, but just wait until you get everything perfect :tup: I foresee mid to low 11's!!!
 
gjp

gjp

another post whore
Re: idle problems (guess not fixed)

Re: idle problems (guess not fixed)

12's.... thats all I want, well maybe one 11.8 so I can say i am faster then Jeremy. LOL
battery is going back. soon.
 
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