I was sitting at a light coming out of school today and noticed a somewhat rough idle. Any ideas on what could cause this. Only thing I can think of that I need is a new O2 sensor (see other post). Could this be a problem?

------------------
1986 Berlinetta, 2.8L, newly rebuilt 700R4, 3.42 Posi. 130K miles and counting, K&N air filters.
Wins:
1996 Mustang
1994ish Olds Acheiva
1994ish Saturn SC1
Losses:
1999 Grand Am SE
1996ish Honda Accord (twice)
1990ish Vette (never should have been dumb enough to race a vette in the V6)
Late model ZX2, five speed (3 friggin stoplights in a row)

 

When was your last tune up?

 

I put in new spark plugs a little over a year ago. They have a little over 15k miles on them. In that category that's about it. Oil has been changed regularly, but it is getting close to time to to that again.

 

2.8s inherently have a very rough idle. Mine has since new...a new O2 sensor can help, but I wouldn't expect a miracle.

If your 2.8 idled smooth to this point, you were lucky!!

------------------
Jason E
'89 Camaro RS 2.8
Hypertech chip/K&N filters/Accel 8.8 wires/RapidFires
Eclipse CD and 100x4 amp/Boston plates and 6x9s
Alpine Alarm w/ Keyless entry
IROC tailights/tinted windows

 

I wouldn't say mines had a super smooth idle either. It was just rougher than usual the other day. It must have just been a bad day or something b/c it's back to normal now!!

 

My idle's always been a bit rough.. shakes the inside of the car a bit. I like it, it seems as though I've got some wild camshaft in there. (In reality, it's probably a worn-down camshaft, but I won't think about that. )


------------------
-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

TomP about that rattling, before I got my exhaust clamp, mine rattled really bad. When I took a friend home, he thought it was a big V8, and that it had rumble packs on it!

 

You wrote that you put new plugs in, but did you do the wires at the same time? I've noticed mine running rough in the colder weather. I was due for new wires anyway, so I changed them. It helped a lot, I was very surprised.

Alex

 

Didn't change the plug wires along w/ the plugs. Looking back I wish I did, but it's something I'll prb do w/in the next couple months. Heck, maybe if I save the money I'll do MSD ignition as well.

 

Yeah, people always took the rough idle in my car to mean it had a cam or something. 9 out of 10 people think I have an 8 before I pop the hood (GOTTA stop doing that!! )

It used to have a bad stalling problem when it was new, and for the 1st 9 years of its life actually. My mom used to ride around with either the A/C or the defroster on all the time to bump the idle up enough so it wouldn't stall.

Since I got it, its stalled twice in 2 1/2 years. What can I say...I got the skills

My mom still bitches about the damn thing....