Car won't idle
11-28-2010, 02:18 PM
#1
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Car won't idle
Yesterday I was coming home from a football game when my car started losing power and running very rough. It got so bad I had to pull over and it died. I had to get it towed home and this morning I've been working on it. I took my intake out, cleaned the filter as well as the maf sensor and reassembled it. I got in the car and reset my ecu using the brake pump method. Then I tried starting my car. It started up perfectly but was having a very rough idle. I went inside to get a drink and when I got back to my car it had died and now won't start. Anyone got any ideas?
My mods are:
Bhr midpipe
Revi intake and duct
Greddy se exhaust
My mods are:
Bhr midpipe
Revi intake and duct
Greddy se exhaust
11-28-2010, 03:51 PM
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Please give us some more info...model,year,miles,etc... What service and parts has the car had?. How many miles on plugs,coils,wires? What other mods have you got?...How long have you had it?... Have you ever done a de-carbon cleaner?
11-28-2010, 04:19 PM
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2004 GT with 115k (5k on rebuilt motor and plugs/wires/coils)
Mods:
Greddy se exhaust
Bhr midpipe
Bhr fuel pump
Revi intake and duct
Oil change about 2000 miles ago. I've owned the car for about a year and a half now
And no I've never used a decarbon cleaner
Mods:
Greddy se exhaust
Bhr midpipe
Bhr fuel pump
Revi intake and duct
Oil change about 2000 miles ago. I've owned the car for about a year and a half now
And no I've never used a decarbon cleaner
11-28-2010, 04:26 PM
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Ok thanks charles. I'm trying to remember when I got the fuel pump exactly. I'm thinking like maybe middle of september or late august. I just remember when my OEM fuel pump started messing up, It didnt' affect idle and made it run a little rough, but the car would start and run well for the most part. Now it wont' run period.
Are there any other suggestions? I was wondering if just my MAF sensor was bad and I needed to replace it.
Are there any other suggestions? I was wondering if just my MAF sensor was bad and I needed to replace it.
11-28-2010, 04:27 PM
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Do you have power in your car? When I first bought my second 8, it had problems dying while idling because it had a bad battery. I had the dealer replace the battery and I didn't have any problems. Is the car still cranking and it just won't start?
11-28-2010, 04:30 PM
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Yeah I have power. My gauges all work and light up and the radio will work.
11-28-2010, 04:34 PM
#8
try cleaning your maf sensor before you buy a new one
post # 2 https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/congratulations-you-got-8-a-202548/#post3666147
post # 2 https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/congratulations-you-got-8-a-202548/#post3666147
11-28-2010, 04:38 PM
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I cleaned my MAF sensor, seeing as I didn't when I first installed the revi intake a few weeks ago. I reset the ECU using the break pump method and tried starting my car. It allowed my car to start quite well the first time I tried firing it up, idled for a few minutes while the engine was revving all over the place at idle then died. I got it started another time but it was very weak. Now it won't start at all
11-28-2010, 04:45 PM
#10
You sure you didn't flood it?
If it's a MT...get someone to pull it for a block or so and see if it starts.....might as well start there
Or pull the plugs and see if they are wet
Could be lots of things...Start with the things that you just messed with first...IE the MAF sensor
After that check the fuel supply, spark, maybe the ESS to make sure it hasn't picked up crap
If it's a MT...get someone to pull it for a block or so and see if it starts.....might as well start there
Or pull the plugs and see if they are wet
Could be lots of things...Start with the things that you just messed with first...IE the MAF sensor
After that check the fuel supply, spark, maybe the ESS to make sure it hasn't picked up crap
11-28-2010, 05:10 PM
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I don't think I flooded it, but I will check.
That reminded me of something, The car died while driving yesterday. I was slowing down coming to a redlight and I put the car and neutral and it just died. I put it in gear and let out the clutch and the car started back up. I completely forgot about that until now. Maybe that will help with the diagnosis.
That reminded me of something, The car died while driving yesterday. I was slowing down coming to a redlight and I put the car and neutral and it just died. I put it in gear and let out the clutch and the car started back up. I completely forgot about that until now. Maybe that will help with the diagnosis.
11-28-2010, 10:51 PM
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Ok what about this...maf sensor was dirty and causing my afr to be high (on the AP it was reading anywhere from 15 to 20.3 at cruising when normally it's about 14.6 cruising). This caused my car to put too much fuel into my engine causing it to flood therefore wetting the plugs and not allowing spark when I try to start it? It would be a huge coincidence I know but my car has had every issue an 04 has been recorded of having
11-29-2010, 11:27 AM
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14.7:1 is the target A/F and it is neither rich nor lean. (BTW, the Walbro fuel pump motors have a 1-year warranty on them.)
I recently had, in my own car, somewhat similar symptoms involving random rich situations (11:1-type stuff) while cruising on the freeway with frequent stalling on deceleration when I came to stops. I also had crazy misfires during cold starts. After thinking it HAD to be a bad front O2 sensor (because my PCM was indicating a bad front O2 sensor heater circuit), I replaced the O2 sensor.
The problem remained.
I also cleaned the MAF sensor as I thought early on that was the intial problem.
Once I replaced my MAF sensor with a known good unit, the car has now returned to running like a dream.
I recently had, in my own car, somewhat similar symptoms involving random rich situations (11:1-type stuff) while cruising on the freeway with frequent stalling on deceleration when I came to stops. I also had crazy misfires during cold starts. After thinking it HAD to be a bad front O2 sensor (because my PCM was indicating a bad front O2 sensor heater circuit), I replaced the O2 sensor.
The problem remained.
I also cleaned the MAF sensor as I thought early on that was the intial problem.
Once I replaced my MAF sensor with a known good unit, the car has now returned to running like a dream.
11-29-2010, 12:51 PM
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I assume that you had your battery unplugged during cleaning your intake, filter, maf etc. The idle after you unplug the battery gets rough since the ECU is learning your air fuel ratios again. If you started the car cold and you let it die, the car is flooded.
11-29-2010, 01:21 PM
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I didn't unplug the battery. I simply reset the ecu using the brake pump method and then tried to start it. I knew it would have to "relearn" the maf parameters but didn't think it would flood by doing that
11-29-2010, 01:49 PM
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Ok tried deflooding it. It sounded like it was gonna start but then didn't. I tried cranking 10 seconds with pedal to the floor. Then pause for 30 seconds and tried cranking again and repeated a 3rd time. Last time I tried cranking my lights began flickering and battery died. Now I've got my battery charging. Damn this is pissing me off
11-29-2010, 02:00 PM
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The easiest way to deflood the car is to have somebody pushing you and once you get on some speed (something around 10 mph) shift it in 2nd gear. The other methods may take hours.
11-29-2010, 02:22 PM
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I'm not sure where i'd do the push start method though. I don't really have anyone who could push me and no hills. I may be able to get some speed up on my driveway and start. So just put it in second gear when I get enough speed and start it. Then just stay on the gas for a while so it wont die?
11-29-2010, 02:25 PM
#22
I'm not sure where i'd do the push start method though. I don't really have anyone who could push me and no hills. I may be able to get some speed up on my driveway and start. So just put it in second gear when I get enough speed and start it. Then just stay on the gas for a while so it wont die?
11-29-2010, 02:28 PM
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11-29-2010, 02:33 PM
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Yes just drive it around a bit and do not let it die until it is warmed up. Once it is warmed up you need to drive it and complete three to four driving cycles so the ECU learns the fuel ratios again. A complete driving cycle = start the car, drive it around, turn off the car
After three-four driving cycles your idle should be stable. Further, after you deflood it and complete the driving cycles you need to inspect your plugs. It is possible that your plugs are wet due to flooding and need to be cleaned.
After three-four driving cycles your idle should be stable. Further, after you deflood it and complete the driving cycles you need to inspect your plugs. It is possible that your plugs are wet due to flooding and need to be cleaned.
11-29-2010, 03:25 PM
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Yes just drive it around a bit and do not let it die until it is warmed up. Once it is warmed up you need to drive it and complete three to four driving cycles so the ECU learns the fuel ratios again. A complete driving cycle = start the car, drive it around, turn off the car
After three-four driving cycles your idle should be stable. Further, after you deflood it and complete the driving cycles you need to inspect your plugs. It is possible that your plugs are wet due to flooding and need to be cleaned.
After three-four driving cycles your idle should be stable. Further, after you deflood it and complete the driving cycles you need to inspect your plugs. It is possible that your plugs are wet due to flooding and need to be cleaned.