Low Idle, What to Check?

[mr.Hand]

Have a low idle on a 95 metro manual with 178,000 miles. The tachometer puts it like around 1/2 way between 0 and 1. I think that is a little low. Should be around 850rpm.

What do I check first?

I have heard of the PCV and EGR. Any suggestions?

[Woodie83]

I'd check compression. 178K miles almost certainly needs valves, assuming it's a three cylinder. If it's a four, keep on driving, it's just getting broken in.

[mr.Hand]

how would go about checking the intake hoses for leaks?

would this be detailed in the Haynes manual?

I think I will check the pcv valve for proper operation, would this help?

what do you mean woodie when you say valves?

when I start the car, the engine idles around 2000 rpm, then after about 1 minute it idles down to around 500 rpm

i pump the gas a little, the engine will rev up, then kinda dip below 500 rpm, then go back up to 500 rpm

[dwendt1978]

If you had any type of leak you'd know it. As for the PCV valve, it's always a good idea to check. But it will mainly smooth out an idle instead of raise it.

When valves go bad in your cylinder head, they allow cylinder pressure to leak by and intake gasses and exhaust gasses. Really destroying the performance of your car.

I'd do what woodie says he's pretty dang smart when it comes to metro's and a compression test is not that hard to do.

If your replaced your cylinder head or had it rebuilt, your looking at about 200 bucks but a car that runs almost as if it were new.

[mr.Hand]

i'd like to replace the pcv valve to see if that helps. My Haynes manual doesn't really say how to take it out and install it, but I know where it is. A

Can someone help?

[dwendt1978]

Look directly behind your valve cover. The valve cover is the one with your oil filler cap on it.

There will be a bolt on it holding a bracket to the thickest hose going to your air cleaner housing. It's under that.

[mr.Hand]

so does it just pull out of the engine? the valve assembly? and you put the new one in? should i clean the hole where I take the old one out and put the new one in?

[dwendt1978]

It pulls right out and put the new one in. No worry about hurting anything. If you've changed your own oil, this is 10 times easier. Takes longer to get out your 10mm socket and rachet than it does to change.

[leonbentz]

I would check the TPS also. If your TPS is out of adjustment, then that could have some affects on your idle.

Set your throttle stop screw first to obtain the correct idle speed, then adjust the TPS from there.

I hope this helps

[mr.Hand]

Originally Posted by leonbentz

I would check the TPS also. If your TPS is out of adjustment, then that could have some affects on your idle.

Set your throttle stop screw first to obtain the correct idle speed, then adjust the TPS from there.

I hope this helps

where is this on the car and how do I check? I looked it up in the Haynes Manual but the index does not list a TPS sensor.

[mr.Hand]

HELP, i cant' get the screws out that hold the PCV valve in place. WHat should I do, they are stripped badly.

[serenity]

If you have a dremmel drill tool availble you can cut a straight cut in the head of the screw and use a straight screw driver on it. or if there is room you could try cutting a slot with a hack saw blade. It all depends if there is room to get a blade in there. a dremmel drill with a cutting wheel would work best however. good luck.

[mr.Hand]

hey, thanks for that tip, those screws came out after i filed a flat in them.

but they gave me the wrong PCV valve at western auto!

i gave them the specs and everything

the one they gave me was a fram that was too big!

now i gotta go back up there and see if they have one that will fit.

[mr.Hand]

they would have to special order it.

im gonna see if i really need to replace this.

when i pulled the hose off it, it looked like it was coated with some oil.

i can blow through the valve.

i think ill do the test recommended in the haynes manual to check if the valve is operating properly.

[mr.Hand]

ok, so i disconnected the hose with the engine idling, and there was suction at the valve, so it looks like it is ok.

so i guess ill start to look at other things, maybe the EGR valves?

i just got my drivers side cv joint replaced. WOW what a difference in the ride. So much smoother, and it feels like the car drives a little faster. The boot had been split on it for about 5 months, and I had this feeling the tire was about to fly off.

Any more suggestions are welcome. I'm thinking about changing the oil tonight. It needs to be changed anyway.