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Old 12-28-2004, 01:43 PM
BiffSlamkovich
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Unhappy Rough idle, stalling, other problems... help!

Hi,

I've got problems similar to what I've seen in a couple of other threads (here and here), but I've got a few other things too. A brief summary:

--I drive a '92 SVX (LSL, I believe) with about 78K on it
--I HAVE to let it warm up to operating temp (even on a 100 degree summer day) before driving it, or there is about a 95% chance I'll stall before I go a mile.
--If I let it warm up, it runs fine about 80% of the time. 15 of the other %, it will give me a rough idle and slow accelleration, but that usually goes away and it runs great the rest of the time.
--The remaining 5%, it will stall. This starts by losing power gradually (i.e., I put the pedal to the floor and it still is slowing down), and then cutting out completely. If I start it up, there will be a very rough idle, and I usually have to rev the engine to keep it alive. 2-5 minutes later, I can drive again and everything is normal.
--I also get rough idles in certain places (i.e., geographic locations). Driving back from a movie theater in the area, for example, at two sets of traffic lights, I always get the rough idle. No matter how long I had been driving previously, it happens. It also goes away once I get a certain distance away. There are a few other places this happens. I find it very strange.
--Two other problems I have are unique to highway driving, probably because of the speeds involved. Sometimes, when accellerating, I seem to hit a wall. The engine will vibrate, but I won't gain any speed. If I ease up on the gas, then hit it again, it will accellerate normally.
--Similarly, if I remain around a certain speed (or if I'm using cruise control), randomly the RPMs will drop by about 500 (like I'm shifting gears when shouldn't be or something), and the engine will vibrate. Again, easing up and hitting the gas again solves the problem, but only momentarily. Patches of this continue for about 15 minutes at a time, then the car behaves again. In a typical drive from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh (300 miles, approximately), I may get 3 or so patches. Sometimes it's less, but never more than say 4.

Like I said, my problems are similar to others', but still different.

Now, as far as solving them goes, I don't know much about cars. I can change the oil or a flat tire, but that's about it. On top of that, I'm a college student, or, in other words: poor. If it were the MAF sensor (the general consensus so far), how much knowledge would I need to fix it? Any ideas on what it would cost to have a mechanic do it for me? Or how long it would take? These problems have been going on for about 3 years, and I've kinda learned to deal with them. At the same time, they're annoying as heck, and if a simple fix could make them go away, it would sure be nice... Any info/suggestions you guys have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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  #2  
Old 12-28-2004, 02:22 PM
RojoRocket RojoRocket is offline
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Other possibilities

could include TPS (Throttle Position Sensor) a vacuum leak, fuel filter?? The MAF is an easy R&R. Simplest would be carefully inspecting the vacuum hoses for deterioration, tears, rips etc especially around hoseclamps. Fuel filter is a regular service item, especially if never changed b4. The TPS can be tested with an ohmeter, but really, if it's not one of the easy ones , and in view of your limited expertise/experience and tools(?) it would be better to hand it over to a pro. I'm sure there will be other suggestions.

Glenn
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Old 12-28-2004, 04:03 PM
oab_au oab_au is offline
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Could be many different things.

Do a check on the codes that are stored in the ECU first, and we can take it from there.

Harvey.
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