Can anyone tell me the process for idle relearn in my 91 camaro rs with the 3.1 5-speed trans

All you have to do is start the car, everytime you unhook the battery the computer has to relearn the compression ratios and the idle rpm's etc. It does this just by running and "figuring" it out.

i have read somewhere before the process that would relearn it quicker then just driving it. I have a loose connection at my battery and every once in a while i will lose the connection. Then the rpms drop around 3-400 and spike to 1700 sometimes. when im driving and stop at a light or stop sign the rpms will dip down so much it will stall sometimes and it acts like this for about a week or so. so anything to speed up this process would be helpful

um.. what?



Unhook the battery for a few minutes then hook it back up, start the car and it will probably stall, re-start it and it should idle way up then slowly back down.


The idle re-learn is just so the ECM can figure out the position of the IAC stepper motor.

you really dont have to do anything, mine was unhooked forever just fire it up it will learn on its own the so called process is bull

so theres nothing i can really do to speed up this process? other then driving it

It should figure it out within minutes.. you might be boggy when it's cold right after you start it up, and it might pull out funny at the first two stops you make.

After that, it's a continual fine tune process it goes through.

everytime i do this, the car starts right back up and idles properly immediately. never any stall, low idle, sputtering or anything.

You do have to make sure the steering wheel is centered and dont touch the brake, so as to not add any load to the engine to affect the idle learn

everytime my battery has been disconnected it has taken 4-7 days to completely run like normal. it really pisses me off sometimes to. at start up sometimes it will start normal and go right to the correct rpm but then sometimes it will surge at start up. it drives absolutely fine but when i come to a stop the rpms drop to about 3-400 then jump back up to 7-800 where it usually is.

that could be a vacuum leak too

There is no idle relearn for the manual cars... Autos have it because of the added strain on the engine caused by the trans internals at a full stop (that manuals don't have). The car just has to be driven for a few days for the ECM to learn to compensate for atmospheric pressures, fuel grading and additives, possible system problems, and driving habits.

It shouldnt take any more than a couple minutes for everything to return to normal, a vacuum leak is a definite possiblilty

For a '90 through '92 with a manual tranny, it is rather easy. Or, at least easier then doing it on a auto tranny car.

For a full idle learn, disconnect the battery for about 10 seconds (or more). Then re-connect.

Start the car and just let it idle. The important items are to not touch the steering wheel (no pressure), and to have all accessories off (A/C, back light heater, and so on).

Wait until the engine cooling fan turns on, then off again.

Done, shut off the engine for at least 10 seconds. Then drive it.

As others have mentioned the idle learn on a stick car isn't that important. But if the ECM keeps losing battery power, it can be a pain.

OTOH, if it isn't battery being lost, there may be an issue with a sensor such as the TPS. Or an actuator such as the IAC.

RBob.

this is 100% incorrect.

I wouldn't worry about idle re-learn. You want the computer to learn the car again. Whenever I've reconnected the battery, I go for a 1/2 hour drive "away" on the highway, then I have to come 1/2 hour "back home". Total drive time = 1 hour, and I consider it my test-drive. If I reconnect the battery and don't do that, the car will act strange around town for a few days.

I agree though that your car has another problem; it could be a vacuum leak, sticking EGR valve, bad ignition timing, dirty IAC passageway, etc. Oh and get that loose battery connection fixed!