So I have started my car twice since it sat over the winter. Everything was changed out before it got started. This includes new spark plugs, belts, and oil/filter. It ran fine the first time and basically all day today until I got home then it started doing this. Sounds like a boxer engine then goes back to a normal idle. No CEL, returns to a normal idle at 0:26 in the video the revs and goes back to this crappy idle.


http://youtu.be/eaCI6Ek8TyQ

Edit: started again 10 minutes later and would not make this sound again. should I be concerned about this? Anyone had this symptom before? Sounds to me like an intermittent coilpack problem, maybe associated with spark plug change.

Double edit: It does have somewhat old gas in it, from last december. There isn't any easy solution for me to siphon it out though.

 

It is that wing, the car no longer thinks race car but an airplane Just kidding.

It sounds like the gas is bad, you can pick up a can of octane boost and keep filling it as much as possible with the highest grade gas you can find. Once it cycles through it should be good

 

Ya the car is definitely having an indentity crisis. Someone else suggested the old gas also, I'm not completely apposed to octane booster but would rather just siphon out the gas and put it in my truck. I know this is not easily achieved anyone else want to chime in?

 

Nice Wing

 

Nice post, not helpful.

Edit: Just tripped a CEL, misfire cylinder 1. Apparently I didn't have it running long enough before. SO, pull spark plug, regap, anyway to check coil without just swapping it with another?

 

Just thought I'd update this with the solution incase anyone else comes along this thread with no answer.

Coil pack was fine. Spark plug gap was too small. I pulled the new plug and replaced it with an old one. Back to running normal. I was not aware that this could cause that big of an issue, but it did. Was only off a few thousands too.

 

if you let her sit a long time like that, maybe get a bottle of fuel stabilizer

 

Fuel stabilizer is for weedwackers and lawn mowers. Wouldn't consider putting it in my car. Top it off with fresh 93 and park it. Don't start it unless you car drive it long enough to boil off water. I don't need a lecture on the winter storing, this ain't my first time.

I'm guessing you don't park for the winter in SC. I wouldn't go around giving advice on something you don't know about.