My car idles at about 1000 RPM or so when in park, but when I shift into gear or when I'm sitting at a stop light or in gear stopped the engine idles drops to about 500RPM and jumps around. Sometimes it wants to almost die.

I have knoticed that my alt guage sits at about 13 or less sometimes, esp when I have the fan on. And it bounces when I have the blinker on. But the alt is puting out about 15 amps. Probibly unrelated to the tranny prob.

Anyone have any ideas on these 2 problems. Mainly the idle problem? Thanks

 

does your rpm stick go up and down frantically also? You definitely should let it warm up, I would also say check your battery and plugs. When you stall, does the engine turn over and after a while will start up?

 

Should your idle be that high? I thought it should be around 450 - 550? Maybe you need to set it right because it sounds like it is way too high. I have a bigger than stock cam and my idle is about 900. Is it a stock EPROM? Have you checked the IAC and the TPS lately? Have you set the idle? Have you cleaned the IAC?

 

it's normal for the idle to drop when you put it in gear, but I agree, 1000 is a bit high in park. I think mine idles 700-800 in park and about 500-600 in gear. (not sure exactly).

The bouncing idle MIGHT be caused by the EGR valve sticking open. it's only supposed to be open while cruzing I think. are you getting any codes? (EGR/o2 is code 32 I think).

the EGR is supposed to circulate a bit of exhaust back into the intake at cruzing speeds to help with emissions/MPG (not sure which, probably both), but if it's stuck open at idle, it might choak the engine and stall out.

 

Sounds to me like normal Idle. My Z idles at about 1000rpm out of gear, and idles about 5-700 rpm in gear.

 

TPI is a little different from an LG4 motor tho. I think the idle is lower. I believe the base idle is set at around 450 - 550 and the ECM takes it up to 750 or so.

 

I took it by autozone to see if any codes have been thrown, and the guy there said unless the check engine light had come on it won't throw any codes. I think he may be full of it, but thats just me. The car is all stock, except for the Shift kit in the tranny. Really high shifts.

Normally the 1000 idle in park is when it is cold. It is more around 800 or so when it is warm. I'll check the codes and see what it says, and I'll check the egr. This is my first Chevy, I'm use to ford rangers, and I know that these two companies are like compairing apples and oranges. Nothing is alike.

The car starts right up with no problems, and the battery is brand new. I just bought some plugs, wires, and a cap and rotar that I'll be putting on soon.

I also fixed a problem I had a while back where after the car heated up and when I shifted into gear it would die. It was a temperture senser. The car was running hot and would stall. But it hasn't been running hot lately either. So I'll check for codes.

 

BS. You could have a SES light come on and then go off without you noticing it. The error code will still be stored. It will be revealed when it is scanned. Just because the SES light is not on a present doesn't mean that a fault is not present.

 

Oh snap.. your right.. I never even thought that my car is Carbureted, and his is Fuel Injected.. didn't catch that one!