Idle surge

Tiny
GJKRISTI
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 105,000 MILES
As soon as the engine is warmed up the idle will go up and down from 1000 rpm to 500 rpm a couple of times then will return to 800 and stay there. The idle is smooth the whole time. Replaced spark plugs and gm replaced the cat because of prior issues. If the air is on it seems to be worse. If I come to a stop real slow it will come down to 800 rpm and act ok. It happens when I stop normal or a quick stop that the rpm surges. Also there are no check engines on.
Wednesday, September 24th, 2008 AT 6:35 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
If a vehicle idles erratically and surges (idle speed is not steady and increases and decreases), the problem may be a buildup of carbon or fuel varnish deposits in the idle speed control valve (also called the idle air control valve or IAC valve). The cure for this condition is to clean the valve with some aerosol throttle cleaner or engine top cleaner.

Here's how to clean the IAC valve:

Disconnect the air intake ductwork from the throttle body.

Start the engine, then increase and hold the idle speed to 1,000 to 1,500 rpm.

Spray the throttle cleaner or engine cleaner into the throat of the throttle body, aiming for the idle air bypass port (usually located on the side or top of the throttle body opening). Give this area a good dose of cleaner (about 10 second's worth).

Turn the engine off to allow the cleaner to soak into the IAC passageway.

Wait about three minutes.

Restart the engine, rev and hold at 1,000 to 1,500 rpm, and repeat the cleaning process again.

Turn the engine off again, and reattach the air intake ductwork to the throttle body.

Start the engine and rev and hold to 1,500 to 2,000 rpm until no white smoke is coming out of the exhaust pipe.

If this fails to make any difference, you can remove the IAC valve from the throttle body and spray cleaner directly on the tip of the valve and/or into the ports in the throttle body. Let the cleaner soak awhile, repeat as needed, then reinstall the IAC valve, start the engine and run it at 1,500 to 2,000 rpm as before until no white smoke is seen in the exahust.

Here are a couple guides to read, they will help

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/idle-air-control-valve-service

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/throttle-actuator-service

If the idle speed still surges after this, the IAC valve is defective and needs to be replaced
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Thursday, September 25th, 2008 AT 6:30 AM
Tiny
LUMPYIDLE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,000 MILES
The engine runs fine at speed but it lopes at idle. I thought the timing chain was bad and replaced it. The guides were broken. It runs much better now, but it still does the same thing. Only when you start it from cold does it sound almost normal. I put it on a scanner and all live data looks normal. Except the trailing O2 sensor was stuck around 0.8 v. Any ideas what this could be?
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Monday, August 12th, 2019 AT 7:26 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BLACKOP555
  • MECHANIC
  • 10,371 POSTS
Does it lope when cold idling or warm idling?

Try cleaning out the IAC module and throttle body. Also check for vaccum leaks.
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Monday, August 12th, 2019 AT 7:26 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LUMPYIDLE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I have done those things can't find any vacuum leaks. It pretty much does it all the time except when you first start it. Thanks for the help.
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Monday, August 12th, 2019 AT 7:26 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BLACKOP555
  • MECHANIC
  • 10,371 POSTS
Disconnect your o2 sensors and run vehicle. Doeds it run better all the time now? If so then the 02 sensors are faulty or you have an exhaust leak before them.
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Monday, August 12th, 2019 AT 7:26 PM (Merged)

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