5/16 MD Plenum Spacer Installed. Having Idling Problems...
03-23-2009, 11:37 AM
#81
Administrator
Thread Starter
iTrader: (25)
Cool. I still have the manual. I'll perform the reset tonight. Thanks Tony...
03-30-2009, 10:19 AM
#82
Administrator
Thread Starter
iTrader: (25)
I got to the throttle body/position sensor reset last night. Took me 2 tries to get it right. I performed the few "test revs" after the reset was complete. The car seemed to idle ok. It dropped and held at 750rpms without boggling down the engine. I want to get the car out on the road and test it. I'll road test it tonight if the weather cooperates...
04-01-2009, 07:12 AM
#83
Administrator
Thread Starter
iTrader: (25)
Updates 4/1/09
I test drove the Z last night. It still has the idle problem when getting off the accelerator. The RMPS drop to 500rpm, boggles the engine down, then raises back to a steady 750rpms. So the throttle body/position sensor reset was unsucessful. I am going to reset the ECU tonight and see what happens...
04-06-2009, 01:57 PM
#84
Administrator
Thread Starter
iTrader: (25)
Updates...4/6/09
Problem solved again. I reset the ECU on Friday night, then test drove it Saturday. It drives just fine now. No idle problems. In conclusion, I feel the problem was caused by the plenum bolts losing torque, causing a vacuum leak, and inadvertently causing the ECU to have issues with retaining the correct idle. Who knows, I may be full of chit and the two have no correlation what-so-ever. I'm only going by what I experienced first hand. 
I did use medium strenth loc-tite on all the bolts this time. I shouldn't have this problem again. If I do, I'll post...
I did use medium strenth loc-tite on all the bolts this time. I shouldn't have this problem again. If I do, I'll post...
04-07-2009, 05:11 AM
#85
Registered User
iTrader: (12)
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SouthEast, PA
Posts: 777
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the update Vo and happy to hear it's working out for you now. I checked my bolts over the weekend and there were a few that were slightly loose. Hopefully it doesn't persist otherwise I'll be adding some more loc-tite to some of the bolts.
04-07-2009, 08:52 AM
#87
Administrator
Thread Starter
iTrader: (25)
There shouldn't be, as long as you only apply a dab to the tip of the bolt only. I read the package. It said that medium strength was made for "service removable bolts". It also said it was applicable to valve cover bolts. I equated plenum bolts to valve cover bolts. They are about the same size...
04-07-2009, 08:52 AM
#88
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Loctite is like glue for threads... It just takes extra muscle to break loose a loctited bolt with no chance of shearing. I personally loctite (red) any bolt that I don't or shouldn't need to loosen for routine maintenance. It's extra insurance for the unknown.
Last edited by GenPac; 04-07-2009 at 08:54 AM.
04-07-2009, 09:00 AM
#89
Administrator
Thread Starter
iTrader: (25)
+1 on red(high strength) for bolts you'll almost never have to take off, ever. I use it on large suspension and brake caliper bolts...
) will I need to loctite the bolts again? If so should the red loctite be used?
04-10-2009, 07:05 AM
#92
Administrator
Thread Starter
iTrader: (25)
04-15-2009, 10:14 AM
#93
Registered User
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Farmington Hills, MI
Posts: 245
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How rough was your idle -- mine has been somewhat rough before installation of my spacer (slight, but visible vibration in the shift ****). The same level of roughness remains after installation of the spacer. My idle is rock solid at 750rpms. Am I just paranoid (probably)?
04-15-2009, 10:17 AM
#94
Registered User
iTrader: (12)
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SouthEast, PA
Posts: 777
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How rough was your idle -- mine has been somewhat rough before installation of my spacer (slight, but visible vibration in the shift ****). The same level of roughness remains after installation of the spacer. My idle is rock solid at 750rpms. Am I just paranoid (probably)?
Just the way the shifter is in our cars. As long as your idle is steady at 750ish and you aren't getting any bogging or stuttering when you press the gas, you're just fine. Nothing to worry about.
04-16-2009, 12:16 PM
#95
Administrator
Thread Starter
iTrader: (25)
Updates...4/16/09
It's back to doing it again. Back to the drawing board...
04-16-2009, 02:09 PM
#96
Vo,
You need to go through a methodical process of elimination.
I suggest starting by taking out the spacer. Drive for a couple weeks like that and see what happens.
I don't think its the cause but you gotta start somewhere.
Try it and report back.
You need to go through a methodical process of elimination.
I suggest starting by taking out the spacer. Drive for a couple weeks like that and see what happens.
I don't think its the cause but you gotta start somewhere.
Try it and report back.
04-17-2009, 08:10 AM
#97
Administrator
Thread Starter
iTrader: (25)
I'm not sure if I have that much patience Tony. Especially since I only get the car out maybe twice a month. It's not really that much of a nusience, just noticable by a detailed orientated person like myself. If the idle problem is not really detrimental to the cars overall power/performance, I might just live with it. What's your opinon on the performance/power factor? Is there any correlation between an idle problem and HP?
Especially since I only get the car out maybe twice a month. It's not really that much of a nusience, just noticable by a detailed orientated person like myself. If the idle problem is not really detrimental to the cars overall power/performance, I might just live with it. What's your opinon on the performance/power factor? Is there any correlation between an idle problem and HP?
04-20-2009, 10:56 AM
#98
Administrator
Thread Starter
iTrader: (25)
Bump for answer...
04-20-2009, 03:03 PM
#99
Based on your descriptions in page 2 and 3 of this thread I'm thinking its either the throttle body or MAF sensor.
1) The 2003 throttle bodies have a TSB out on them for this problem. You have a 2003.
2) You have a CAI. They are less likely to cause this specific symptom but it still can.
Without some way of eliminating what the potential cause is we won't be able to know for sure what the source is. Without knowing what the problem is, it will be difficult to fix.
As far as a correlation between idle being detrimental, I would generally say no, but without knowing what the problem is... I can't say if it is or isn't.
Trouble shooting the MAF sensor or throttlebody or spacer is the only way to find out.
And its possible it may not be any of the above. There are a number of potential causes.
It could even be the crank position sensor... but we won't know without a trouble shoot process.
1) The 2003 throttle bodies have a TSB out on them for this problem. You have a 2003.
2) You have a CAI. They are less likely to cause this specific symptom but it still can.
Without some way of eliminating what the potential cause is we won't be able to know for sure what the source is. Without knowing what the problem is, it will be difficult to fix.
As far as a correlation between idle being detrimental, I would generally say no, but without knowing what the problem is... I can't say if it is or isn't.
Trouble shooting the MAF sensor or throttlebody or spacer is the only way to find out.
And its possible it may not be any of the above. There are a number of potential causes.
It could even be the crank position sensor... but we won't know without a trouble shoot process.
04-21-2009, 07:48 AM
#100
Administrator
Thread Starter
iTrader: (25)
Thanks for the reply Tony. I'm going to clean to MAF sensor to be on the safe side. I haven't popped any codes lately. I'll do that tonight and report back...