Spent another wonderful day trying to figure out what is wrong with my max. After everything I did, I'm still getting the 5 minute time period required for idle to settle down to 700, rough idle, falling flat on its ***, and running rich. Seriously, I've spent so much time trying to figure out what is wrong that I only have two options. Replace the other 4 coils that I haven't yet or take it somewhere. I've always done all of my own maintenance and repair on my automobiles, and would hate to take it to a shop (or worse, dealership). And here I am on New Year's Eve wasting more time on this hunk o sh#t. I feel like saying F### it and just buying a 3.5 to swap in.

 

ECT.

10 char O_O

 

Huge WTF. I don't speak nerd.

 

Try changing the engine coolant temperature sensor. 20 bucks at most.

 

ECT = Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor..

tard, change it.

 

I'll check it out and try it, along with the oil temp sensor. Sorry about that, thought you were trying to do etc... but messed up, my bad

 

just a thought if its running high and takes time for it to idle down...have you checked the TPS (throttle position sensor) ? maybe is malfunctioning....However that may not address the running rich problem. Are you sure it running rich ? have you checked the o2 sensors ? they may be giving it bad feedback hence the rich condition....also the knock sensor going bad could force the engine to run lean however ive never seen an idle problem with a bad knock sensor. Ill do some digging im new to the vq3.0 I know the VE3.0 in and out and the vq3.5 in and out but i just bought the vq3.0 gimme some time ill get a better answer.

 

 

i guess the votes in for ECT. trust the guys who have been here a while they KNOW what they are talking about. if i were you id change it.

 

Newbie Alert!
Been Looking around for a while trying to figure out what is wrong with my 97 SE. From the problems I've been reading it could be worse. Anyway what would be suggestions for 19 to 20 MPG. The car runs and performs just as it did when I was getting 25 or 26. I only run 91 or 92 octane and the problems really seemed to start when I changed the oil to Mobil 1 (uselly it's quicky lube im lazy) The motor makes all sorts of nasty noises when its cold, but only a small tick when warm. I want to post a thread of this but can't yet sorry.

 

If the car has been sitting overnight and you first start it up in the morning, the high idle will last about 3-5 minutes usually. It should go down to normal idle after that. As for running rich, many things could be contributing to it. Listen to the suggestions already made. A note on ECTS: When the ECTS fails, the vehicle hard-starts. That's usually the first sign of an ECTS failure (this has been documented in the stickies).

As for the newbie question, I suggest you read the stickies first. The following could be the causes: knock sensor, fuel filter, spark plugs, air filter, throttle body, or tire pressure. There could be more, just read up. As for the noise, we need more info. What kind of noise: grinding, screeching, etc. Most common would be either a loose serpentine belt or an alternator or a/c compressor on its way out. The tick tick tick noise is the fuel injectors, that's normal.

 

Thanks for relpying without making fun of my newbie status. I would love to post more and learn more, but simply do not have the time. Anyways, an update on the problem is that the car has been in the shop twice in the last two weeks, first for the KS and new plugs and fuel filter, then the SES light came back on and had to go back for an O2 sensor.I just go the car back and like a dumbass, I went to fill up the tank and just grabbed the 92 and filled it up with nonoxygenated gas, and not even a half hour later back comes the SES. After a brief but heated chat with the shop, I checked the code myself and found it to be a different O2 sensor. I don't know anything about nonoxy and wondered if this has nothing or everything to do with the new problem.

P.S. How long before I can search this forum and post threads?

 

Check The TPS! :P

 

perform the test for fast Idle cam. Go to page 31 0f the link:

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/...esm/a32-ec.pdf

Cheers,