Surging & missing fixed

[geojim]

About a month ago I notice a little engine surging at idle and a little missing while running. MPG was still in the low 40's, so I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to it as I knew it was time for it's annual tune-up anyway. I did the normal stuff: air filter, PCV, plugs, distributor cap, rotor and cleaned the EGR. Spark plug wires were fairly new and oil change was not due.

After the tune-up, the surging and missing were still there. I went out to take another look today since the Sun finally decided to come out. I found that a vacuum line had popped off of its throttle body connection, but was still resting against the body. If you looked at it from one direction it looked as if it was still connected. The vacuum line was hard from age. A piece of new vacuum line was put on and the engine is now running better.

If you are having surging or missing problems, a check of all vacuum lines might be in order. Replace any line that is hard, brittle, or shows cracking lines.