When the car is totally cold, it starts after one or two cranks (good) and revs up to 1500rpm or so (good), then immediately drops to 500rpm or less and almost dies. It runs there for a few seconds, then revs back up to about 800rpm and there it sits.

It idles pretty rough, even after it is warmed up. It also has a bad hesitation off idle. It has new plugs and wires, and the cap and rotor are not very old (Accel). I searched for a vacuum leak but can't find anything obvious (don't have a vacuum gauge). There are no codes. Any ideas?

 

EGR valve stuck open?
Any vacuum leaks (less likely if it idles too low)

Is your check engine light on?

 

Don't think I have any vacuum leaks. I was also suspecting the EGR - how do you test it? It's awfully hard to get at under the plenum, so I would like to avoid pulling it unless I am going to replace the EGR.

No codes. No SES light.

 

You can use a vacuum to try to open/close the EGR valve

 

Hmmm..... So how would I know if it is opening/closing? Could I just suck on the vacuum line to make it go? Pretty hard to hook up a vaccum to a little hose.

 

Yea if you suspect its the EGR the bottom line is you're probably going to need access to it to investigate. If you determin it bad you can then replace it, if it works then you know its obviously something else. There have been many posts on EGR testing with a vaccum, unfortunatly I dont have the details since my car has nothign it doesn't need, and it certainly didn't need egr

 

Hey TPI_ROC, how do you get rid of the EGR system? Do you have any more detailed info as I'd like to deep-6 mine as well.

 

A blockoff plate and a burnt prom

 

maybe a flywheel problem??

 

Where do I get a blockoff plate?

 

Make one

 

TPIS sells block off plates but your gonna get a SES light if you dont remove the EGR from the chip like stated above. The cost of a new chip is over$100