Erratic Idling?

[MZBLTZ]

Hey guys,

Before I owned a skyline I had a massive interest in them (as most people do) but had noticed that alot of people who I knew and had spoken to had problems with the idle on these cars.

After buying one myself I hadn't noticed it, until maybe the second month.

Revs were very erratic, jumping up and down, and even stalling a couple of times.

I had spoken to a few people regarding my own car and they had said it may be a vacuum leak, etc etc.

Then my boys car started playing up too so I decided we needed to do something, numerous mechanics had suggested many different things to try so we could figure it out but I, and my boy had both decided we didn't want to waste money guessing.

I work for Toyota and one of the mechanics also has a skyline, luckily for me he is very talented at what he does and didn't just guess or take a stab in the dark like so many other people I had spoken to suggested doing.

Turns out the throttle body and air flow just needed a clean, a problem that was causing my car to stall and be a pain in the *** took about 15 minutes to fix??? How could it be!

I know a few people have/are experiencing this problem so this is just a little tip instead of wasting your money guessing and trouble shooting.

This is really common when you have a pod filter.

Dirty throttle body = faulty signals to TPC and erratic idling.

Even just as a maintenance thing I would suggest it

Thanks guys.

Edited February 1, 2009 by MZBLTZ

[PRIMRK]

How do i actualy clean it out, just starting to get into the mechanics of cars ect and not sure what you need to do to clean out the throttle body and air flow.

If some one has some sort of step by step and some pics may help

cheers!

[CR34MN]

I have the same problem with my car but cleaning the throttle body made no difference. although i still havent gotten around to it you may also need to clean your idle speed control meter.

[CR34MN]

How do i actualy clean it out, just starting to get into the mechanics of cars ect and not sure what you need to do to clean out the throttle body and air flow.

If some one has some sort of step by step and some pics may help

cheers!

to clean your throttle body

get your engine warm (leave it to run for about 5mins) and switch it off.

remove the induction pipe coming of either your intercooler or your air filter. usually just take of the hose clamps holding the rubber hose and you should b able to see the throttle butterfly. you might need to take of a couple of other vac hoses or bolts (i cant remmber the setup on a rb20 but it should be similar to the setup on a rb25)

you can get a can of crc carburettor and throttle body cleaner from bursons or repco for like $10 max.

open up the butterfly by pulling on the accelerator cable. spray some crc into the throttle body and wipe inside with a clean rag, youll see how much dirt is built up inside. especially where the butterfly sits.

put everything back together and tighten hose clamps.

when you go to start the car itll take a little bit longer than normal because of the crc stuff inside the engine and have a rough idle for a bout a minute. pump the accelerator n it should clear up.

[rbturbo]

i have the exact same problem with my 32, ill give it a go.

[PRIMRK]

What else couldbe causing it to erraticly idle and some times stall?

[MBS206]

If you have a pod filter (And even if you don't) clean your AFM. It'll help MAJORLY.

Pod filters often are filled with oil, this sucks onto the AFM, and stops the air flow from cooling the hot wire, which makes the ECU think there is different amounts of air going in to what there is.

To clean the IAC valve the easy way, go to Subaru, buy a can of Subaru upper engine cleaner.

Follow the directions on the can.

[UNR33L]

its worst when you have a pod filter and your extractors melt through your intake box

now that was bad.

[G0DZLR]

another thing is the AAC valve might need cleaning. its been covered many times before and does control your idle a fair bit. excess carbon builds up inside and yeah, basically like smoking.