I think my car idles too high at start-up.
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Member
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 120
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I think my car idles too high at start-up.
When i used to have my V6 Firebird, when i started the car in the mornings the engine would be hard pressed to stay above 1100 RPM while in park.
Now i have a '91 RS V8, and when i start the car in the morning it sits around 1600 RPM for quite a bit and I've never seen it go below 1200 even after warming it for a minute or two. But it dives down to about 800 (normal) when i shift into drive.
Is this normal? Would this hurt my car in any way?
Now i have a '91 RS V8, and when i start the car in the morning it sits around 1600 RPM for quite a bit and I've never seen it go below 1200 even after warming it for a minute or two. But it dives down to about 800 (normal) when i shift into drive.
Is this normal? Would this hurt my car in any way?
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 914
Likes: 0
From: Hampton Roads. VA
1600 sounds pretty high. My 91 runs at about 1100 when warming up. Obviously it will put undo stress on the engine but if you dont let it run till it overheats you shouldnt hurt anything.
Member
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 429
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
Car: 1994 Trans Am
Engine: 5.7L LT1
Transmission: 6-speed
Yeah, 1600rpm sounds too high. My IROC idles at around 1000rpm on the day's first startup.
Adjust your timing, IAC and TPS when the car is at operating temperature. The proper procedure is in the tech articles. Hopefully things should return to normal.
------------------
'88 IROC 305 TPI
Crappy 700R4 slushbox
Gutted airboxes
180 degree T-stat
Advanced base TPS voltage
Relocated IAT sensor
Momo steering wheel (gotta luv it)
Ram-air setup coming soon
Flowmaster muffler (puke)
Taylor SpiroPro wires
Accel cap and rotor
Ported plenum
Kills: '94 Z28, Olds Aurora V8, bunch of Mustangs, T-birds, ricers, and others who assumed a 12 year-old car would be too slow.
Adjust your timing, IAC and TPS when the car is at operating temperature. The proper procedure is in the tech articles. Hopefully things should return to normal.
------------------
'88 IROC 305 TPI
Crappy 700R4 slushbox
Gutted airboxes
180 degree T-stat
Advanced base TPS voltage
Relocated IAT sensor
Momo steering wheel (gotta luv it)
Ram-air setup coming soon
Flowmaster muffler (puke)
Taylor SpiroPro wires
Accel cap and rotor
Ported plenum
Kills: '94 Z28, Olds Aurora V8, bunch of Mustangs, T-birds, ricers, and others who assumed a 12 year-old car would be too slow.
Supreme Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 7,164
Likes: 1
From: Someone owes me 10,000 posts
Car: 99 Formula
Engine: LS1
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 342
On a morning start up my car idles around 1500 but when drop to 1000 after 5 mins or so.
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'86 IROC
T-TOPS, TINTED WINDOWS, BRAKE LIGHT BLACKOUTS
GM GOODWRENCH 350
EDELBROCK TES HEADERS
FLOWMASTER
EDELBROCK 600CFM CARB.
KN AIRFILTER
UNDERDRIVE PULLEY
ACCEL HEI DISTRIBUTOR
2:73 GEARS
------------------
'86 IROC
T-TOPS, TINTED WINDOWS, BRAKE LIGHT BLACKOUTS
GM GOODWRENCH 350
EDELBROCK TES HEADERS
FLOWMASTER
EDELBROCK 600CFM CARB.
KN AIRFILTER
UNDERDRIVE PULLEY
ACCEL HEI DISTRIBUTOR
2:73 GEARS
Member
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
From: Storrs, CT
That could be a perfectly reasonable number. Just because your V6 idled differently has nothing to do with it. You must find out specifically what a 91 305 TBI engine should be set to idle at before you tinker with it to fix a problem that may not exist. 1600RPM really isn;t that high anyway. My 87 LG4 is set to idle at 2000 RPM and it is correct, but that's because it's a carbed engine. You can't assume your idle is off simply because someone else's car runs at a different RPM on cold startup. Maybe a look into Chilton's would give you the info you're looking for. Also, on my car there is a sticker on the underside of the hood that tells what idle speeds the car should be at, warm or cold, manual or auto (yes that makes a difference too).
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