I was just wondering if anybody knows if there is an idle problem with V6 f-bodys, i have a 92 Firebird 3.1 and when the engine warms up, it starts to idle bad and dies alot. nobody can figure out what the problem is. i need help!

 

I'm not sure if theres a problem with fbodys
V6 motors idle,but my 85 SC never did this.
My moms 88 dodge dynasty does this however, shes taken it to 8 or 9 different garages and they say the timing is perfect,there appears to be no problems.I think the motors just going bad,gots 139,842 miles on the hevaily hot roded V6.

 

There isn't an inherant design flaw that causes the idle not to stay steady if thats what you mean.
If you have an idle problem its probably a bad IAC valve or a fuel delivery problem. Check for error codes.

 

Yes, that is an weird problem with our cars. But with my scantool I determined, that my MAT sensor was bad (it shows sometimes very weird numbers and then again all was OK). Replacing MAT improves situation a little, but somethings is still wrong, I work on that. Maybe is problem somewhere else, that IAC closes too much (check my IAC topic).


[This message has been edited by max87Camaro (edited July 30, 2001).]

 

my 1991 has 170,000 miles on it and it never just dies out.......it doesn't always start quickly....i have to feed it a little gas while turning the key


maybe there's a short in the electrical system? did you have anyone check your cylinder compression?

 

I have a '91 3.1. No problems with idling or starting since I got the car. Sorry I can't tell you whats wrong with yours ... but something is.

 

You know, I have a 92 rs and it sometimes has a rough idle. It's wierd though, it's only sometimes. Usually my car idles at about 750 rpms. But when it starts doing the wierd idling thing it drops to around the 500 mark and on some occasions it dies if I don't rev the engine at stops. Really wierd. If you find out what's wrong with your car, keep us informed, maybe it's the same thing that's wrong with mine. Oh, I've been told it could be the EGR or a vacuum line. Just some things to check out.

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1992 RS 3.1L Bone Stock

"Yeah, it's a V6 SO WHAT!?"

 

The IAC (idle air control) passageway and IAC motor's pintle is probably gunked up with carbon... the message on cleaning it is here: https://www.thirdgen.org/messgboard/...ML/001539.html


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-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!

 

Problem also might have to do with temp, look at your temp gauge when it starts running bad, I bet it is at 220 F thats part of the probem, on the 3.1L engines the emission equipment likes to LEAN out the fuel at idle for pollution and MPG goals so when it gets real hot, MISSING is what causes the car to run ruff, also you will notice if you put a load on the engine like A/C at idle the engine runs smooth but the RPM goes up, this is because more fuel is added and the one fan kicks in for cooler temps.

Fixes, have good HOT ignition system, meaning a good coil, plugs, module, rotor, new cap, proper timing set, wire up a fan switch so the fan kicks in by you turning it on, or better yet, like I did, wire in your own thermal switch to the same side as the ECM grounding wire to the fan relay so the ECM can ground the relay for A/C and the thermal switch can ground the relay for engine temp being 200 and thus turning on the fan.

last but not least, check the IAC like everybody else, I replaced mine and it fixed the dying problem that I had, when I pulled off my IAC, it fell apart in my hands, IT WAS junk, and it never set a code.

 

Ryan: What thermal switch did you use. What was part number & where did you get it?

 

i too had an idle problem. I bought some throttle body cleaner and cleaned out the Throttle body and IAC. My idle got steady and actually rose from around 500 to 750. Havent had a problem since. Might not work for you, but its just a suggestion.

Chris