YACT: Adjusting Idle Speed

[MDE]

I just got a 93 Chevy Corsica pretty cheap, but the thing idles insanley high. If I let it go, it'll get up to 30mph with my foot off the gas. How hard is it to adjust the idle, and if it's relatively easy, how do I do it? TIA.

 

[zimu]

google it. i know there is this switch you can simply turn under the hood which adjusts the fuel goign into the engine during idling. depends on the make of the car though- as to its precise location. its easy to do, can be done by yourself. check near your oil container.

 

[EyeMWing]

HAHAHAHAHA. That's just HILLARIOUS mental imagery. Sounds like the throttle is stuck, but I'm no expert.

 

[Eli]

There's probably something amiss in the vacuum system.

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
HAHAHAHAHA. That's just HILLARIOUS mental imagery. Sounds like the throttle is stuck, but I'm no expert.

Throttle isn't stuck, we WD-40ed the hell out of it.

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: Eli
There's probably something amiss in the vacuum system.

Eli's usually right. There should be an adjustment screw on the throttle body somewhere for the idle, but those are preset at the factory and shouldn't be messed with usually.

 

[MDE]

The car's been sitting around for quite a while (don't know exactly how long), so I wouldn't doubt any possible non-outlandish solution right now.

EDIT: The car's also getting WAY too much gas, it's getting 6mpg (suburban driving) and you can smell some gas in the exhaust.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: MonkeyDriveExpress
The car's been sitting around for quite a while (don't know exactly how long), so I wouldn't doubt any possible non-outlandish solution right now.

EDIT: The car's also getting WAY too much gas, it's getting 6mpg (suburban driving) and you can smell some gas in the exhaust.

That's the problem. Do _not_ adjust the idle until this is fixed or the car will not idle at all once that has been fixed.

The engine is running beyond "too rich" right now, most likely a vacuum leak or some other FI problem. This is _not_ an idle adjustment problem, there is something much more seriously wrong here.

ZV

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: zimu
google it. i know there is this switch you can simply turn under the hood which adjusts the fuel goign into the engine during idling. depends on the make of the car though- as to its precise location. its easy to do, can be done by yourself. check near your oil container.

"Oil container"? You should not be allowed anywhere near an engine. To begin with, there's no such thing as an "oil container". There is a fill spout, a filter, and the engine sump. The idle adjustment will be on the throttle body.

ZV

 

[MDE]

Hmm, how hard is it to troubleshoot a vacuum leak? I don't have any specialized tools or a lift (or even a garage to put the thing in), should I just get someone to do it for me?

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: MonkeyDriveExpress
Hmm, how hard is it to troubleshoot a vacuum leak? I don't have any specialized tools or a lift (or even a garage to put the thing in), should I just get someone to do it for me?

If you're not mechanically inclined it's not something to really get into. In a modern car there are vacuum lines running all over the place, and unless it's a really obvious failure it can take a lot of time to diagnose. Plus there is the potential for vacuum leaks on parts like the throttle body and removing and re-sealing it is not for someone who is new at repairs.

ZV

 

[shekondar]

Originally posted by: MonkeyDriveExpress
Hmm, how hard is it to troubleshoot a vacuum leak? I don't have any specialized tools or a lift (or even a garage to put the thing in), should I just get someone to do it for me?

Start the engine, & listen for a hissing sound. If you hear hissing, wiggle the ends of any hoses near the source of the sound to see if they're loose...

 

[MDE]

Are there any other known common issues with that year's Corsica (3.1L FI V6) I should be aware of?