rough idle

Scorpio1118_2000

Scorpio1118_2000

Dedicated LVC Member
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My 98 LSC has a some what rough idle and I was told that it could be a dirty Maf. What I was wondering is, do you have to use some special cleaner? But first Im going to change out my spark plugs this weekend, which plugs are the best for the money and please dont say bosch. I just want to make sure that I have all the easy stuff done befor I have to spend the big bucks.
 
Yeah, a can of MAF element cleaner is a couple bucks at your local parts retailer. Or any aerosol electronic parts cleaner *should* work, places like Radio Shack etc should have that.

I've had good luck with Autolite AR34s but nowhere stocks them because they're a "racing" plug, most people here will probably recommend the Autolite 103s.
 
What's wrong with the factory recomended platinum plug? My car had over 100k on it before it's first tune up and the plugs still looked great.
 
I'm using Autolite 103 1 step colder Platinum's because I have a chip.
 
Autolite 764 all the way. Life is 15k but you will get the best economy, performance. Platinum is great for longevity, not so great for performance.

Physics 101: Copper is the best conductor of electricity, by FAR, that can withstand the engine environment/stresses.
 
unity said:
Autolite 764 all the way. Life is 15k but you will get the best economy, performance. Platinum is great for longevity, not so great for performance.

Physics 101: Copper is the best conductor of electricity, by FAR, that can withstand the engine environment/stresses.
Click to expand...

OK, So will changing from autolite 764 platinums to auto 764 copper core do anything for performance that you can actually feel? I know that almost everyone recomends 764 copper core, but the platinums do last for 100,000 miles and with all the talk of the plug hole threads stripping out I would thing that fewer plug changes would be the way to go. As far as performance goes, any difference in what you can actually feel?
 
Yes, copper is a better conductor than platinum. No you will not be able to tell the difference when driving the car.
 
Ok I cleaned the Maf, changed the plugs, and changed the pcv valve. Its still doing it what else can it be? I dont have the money to put it on the diagnostic machine right now, does anyone have any Ideas? For now Im just going to keep on replacing the small stuff, she has 111k so its not like she cant use them.
 
Run it for a little bit and see if you smell gas. I've had a small fuel leak on my car before and it had a HORRIBLE idle, but wouldn't stall out. Also do you get an intermittent CE light on the highway? or does it sputter at idle like it's missing...?.... also check upstream O2's... solved another idle problem as well for me.
 
I used to smell gas when i first started her up but when I cleaned the maf it stopped. Im not getting any intermittent CE lights either, but I have checked for fuel leaks and there are none. Where is the best place to look for vaccum leaks? I have not had the upstream O2s checked yet.
 
As mentioned before, vacuum leaks are a possible problem.

I've been chasing a rough idle and miss for months now, WASTING more than the car was worth changing parts trying to fix the problem.

The problem now appears to be the intake manifold gasket is leaking.

Check all those hoses behind and above the engine. And, a little trick I saw was spray some cleaner around the engine while it's running around the hoses and on the engine. Listen for the misfire. If you spray in one spot and the idle changes, you know it's sucking the stuff into the engine, and you've likely found the leak.
 
Calabrio said:
As mentioned before, vacuum leaks are a possible problem.

I've been chasing a rough idle and miss for months now, WASTING more than the car was worth changing parts trying to fix the problem.

The problem now appears to be the intake manifold gasket is leaking.

Check all those hoses behind and above the engine. And, a little trick I saw was spray some cleaner around the engine while it's running around the hoses and on the engine. Listen for the misfire. If you spray in one spot and the idle changes, you know it's sucking the stuff into the engine, and you've likely found the leak.
Click to expand...


Same thing goes with using Butane or various other flammable gases.... Just open the valve a tad bit and slowly move around the engine and when the idle kicks, you've found it... or are in the vicinity of it.
 
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