Engine Idling "Rough" December 23, 2016, 04:25:02 pm So with 2016 just about wrapped up, looks like I might have a challenge awaiting me in the new year! I'd appreciate some guidance for trouble shooting and correcting a recent engine issue…she's idling really rough when I'm stopped. Also, while moving, it *seems* like my Second Wind is not in smooth sailing mode, but I can't really tell when checking the RPMs.Where do I start to resolve this issue? Thanksabunch,Lorna in rainy Coarsegold.
Re: Engine Idling "Rough" Reply #1 – December 23, 2016, 04:52:20 pm Quote from: Lorna Dunham - December 23, 2016, 04:25:02 pmSo with 2016 just about wrapped up, looks like I might have a challenge awaiting me in the new year! I'd appreciate some guidance for trouble shooting and correcting a recent engine issue…she's idling really rough when I'm stopped. Also, while moving, it *seems* like my Second Wind is not in smooth sailing mode, but I can't really tell when checking the RPMs.Where do I start to resolve this issue? Thanksabunch,Lorna in rainy Coarsegold.Lorna,I don't know what engine you have, but I just "advised" out daughter about a situation that sounds suspiciously similar. She has a Chevy Tahoe that idles really rough, but did so almost exclusively when it was cool to cold (for Phoenix) outside and the engine was cold (meaning had not been run recently). Turns out Chevy installed a plastic intake gasket that is apparently famous for leaking (allowing air in past one of the intake sensors) and causing the rough idle. If this has just started, it might be something to look into. It did throw a error code, so the check engine light lit, but I don't recall the code number. I believe the interpretation was that the engine was running lean. Replacing the gasket did fix the problem.Ken
Re: Engine Idling "Rough" Reply #2 – December 23, 2016, 05:24:24 pm So with 2016 just about wrapped up, looks like I might have a challenge awaiting me in the new year! I'd appreciate some guidance for trouble shooting and correcting a recent engine issue...she's idling really rough when I'm stopped. Also, while moving, it *seems* like my Second Wind is not in smooth sailing mode, but I can't really tell when checking the RPMs.Where do I start to resolve this issue? Thanksabunch,Lorna in rainy Coarsegold.****************Lorna - From personal experience .… check for rodent damage in your wiring. Clearly that's not the only possibility, but it has been the cause for me .… twice!Virtual hugs, Judie
Re: Engine Idling "Rough" Reply #3 – December 23, 2016, 06:52:19 pm Lorna,So sorry to read this. Echoing others requests to tell us what year/engine you have and that will let us help research the issue for you. You mentioned checking RPMs - does your LD have a tachometer?MichelleETA - took a look at Lorna's profile and it's a 2003 27.5 footer, so a Ford V10.
Re: Engine Idling "Rough" Reply #4 – December 23, 2016, 07:21:25 pm Bad/plugged injector? EGR valve stuck open? Fuel filter clogged? Tank of "bad" gas? Plug coil issue? Also check air intake valve, PCV system.... Hope the rats didn't eat the wiring again! Joan 1 Likes
Re: Engine Idling "Rough" Reply #5 – December 23, 2016, 08:00:43 pm Lorna, unless you have an EBDII reader to tell you engine codes, you almost certainly will not find the issue on your own. Get thee to a shop that can plug in a reader and get engine codes. Joan's list of "possibles" nails several possibilities, as does Judie's rodent damage. We can't diagnose the problem for you, and spending money chasing guesses is a waste of coin and cash. Try Judie's suggestion - a search for chewed wires. That costs nothing and just might be the issue. Failing to find such, you need a repair shop.Ken F in NM 1 Likes
Re: Engine Idling "Rough" Reply #6 – December 23, 2016, 09:48:55 pm I'm with Judie on rodent damage. It happened to me and they got into a vacuum line and that caused the idle to be rough.Not the easiest thing to spot and repair so I took it in to a shop and let them find and fix the problem.
Re: Engine Idling "Rough" Reply #7 – December 23, 2016, 10:37:11 pm Agreed. This is one more reason why it's good to have an UltraGauge or ScanGauge II--you can read the error code yourself. That doesn't mean you can fix the problem yourself, but if nothing else, it's very useful information when talking to a mechanic on the phone.
Re: Engine Idling "Rough" Reply #8 – December 23, 2016, 10:42:19 pm I experienced your symptoms on both occasions prior to the failure of my fuel pump!
Re: Engine Idling "Rough" Reply #9 – December 24, 2016, 12:54:15 am Wow!I just read this and went out to the barn to check the Lazy Daze. Under the hood I found fresh rat droppings on top of the battery and various places in the engine compartment! No obvious wiring damage yet.Three traps set. Thanks for the heads up!Harold
Re: Engine Idling "Rough" Reply #10 – December 24, 2016, 08:50:16 am Photos of previous wood rat habitation and wire "snacking" damage in Lorna's rig here:Rat damage | FlickrRat nests may not be the cause, but past experience suggests that under the manifold cover would be the first place to check! Joan
Re: Engine Idling "Rough" Reply #11 – December 24, 2016, 11:48:10 am Lorna, since you had a previous 'rat attack', it would be worth starting with a complete inspection for new signs of this. Your southland service personnel left this morning, and will be out of town for awhile.Steve
Re: Engine Idling "Rough" Reply #12 – December 24, 2016, 12:18:06 pm "Your southland service personnel..."---- Thanks for the laugh, Steve!
Re: Engine Idling "Rough" Reply #13 – December 24, 2016, 03:48:57 pm Quote from: JCT - December 24, 2016, 12:18:06 pm"Your southland service personnel..."---- Thanks for the laugh, Steve!The person who is the subject of this thread seems to be AWOL. Lorna, where are you? Are you loading the sleigh or what? Chris
Re: Engine Idling "Rough" Reply #14 – December 25, 2016, 05:10:15 pm Chris, I'm here, but oh what a night…that sleigh was heavvvvie! Plus lots of Lazy Daze gal pals and family keeping me well wined and dined and out of trouble. Mostly! I think!Here's the latest on my idling issue. Yes, I checked the engine compartment; Fresh Cab seems to be working - no visible evidence of an invasion. Last time, I could hear them running back and forth; not recently. But thanks Judie for making me lift the lid and go out and look!I made a checklist of all the ideas you all suggested, and will make an appointment with Ford for the next time I move, some time in January. In the meantime, thank you all for helping me make a checklist - I didn't know where to start!Best wishes for happy holidays,Lorna
Re: Engine Idling "Rough" Reply #15 – December 25, 2016, 05:58:37 pm LornaIs the "Check Engine" light, on the dash display, illuminated? It might be another bad spark plug coil, like what happened to your LD in Albuquerque. This would produce a misfire and should set a code.With the mileage, a oxygen sensor or Idle Air Control (IAC) could need replacement.Really, it's all speculation without more information.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Engine Idling "Rough" Reply #16 – December 26, 2016, 12:30:46 am Thank you "Southland Service Person"! The "check engine" did not light up. If it's a coil, I'll be mighty pissed, and you can bet I won't be returning to S. Cal to have it repaired/replaced. In the meantime, I'm in a holding pattern until I move the rig in a few weeks, and I'm adding your other suggestions to my checklist. Many thanks - enjoy your desert adventures! Lorna
Re: Engine Idling "Rough" Reply #17 – December 26, 2016, 10:55:55 am I'm sure this is not your problem, but just to add some flavor- I have noticed that when I fail to shut down the AC a few minutes before stoppping the engine, when I start up, Ben after a few days, the engine runs rough and lopes, if the AC is off, even stalling out of the AC is still on. Otherwise it runs smooth and idles well. Solution- shut off AC and vent before stopping.
Re: Engine Idling "Rough" Reply #18 – December 26, 2016, 11:20:28 am "shut off AC and vent before stopping."----(I do the pre-stop shut-down of the AC (in the car and in the rig), too), but I think that the "rough running" is a fairly new issue, and, due to the season, it's unlikely that the AC in Lorna's rig has been on in a while! Joan
Re: Engine Idling "Rough" Reply #19 – December 26, 2016, 12:52:58 pm Quote from: JCT - December 26, 2016, 11:20:28 am"shut off AC and vent before stopping."----"...(I do the pre-stop shut-down of the AC (in the car and in the rig, too)..."Now this is interesting. I have never bothered to turn off my AC in my Avalon and have never experienced any problems with either its (AC) operation or the engine. As such, I have started to leave the e450 AC switched to whatever position it is in when I shut the engine off. This has been especially true since my AC failed some time in March of '15.Might need to reconsider my decision where the LD is concerned.Kent
Re: Engine Idling "Rough" Reply #20 – December 26, 2016, 04:36:45 pm Quote from: Kent Heckethorn - December 26, 2016, 12:52:58 pmNow this is interesting. I have never bothered to turn off my AC in my Avalon and have never experienced any problems with either its (AC) operation or the engine. It's unlikely that leaving the A/C in the 'On' position, when shutting down, will have any long or short term effect.The A/C's compressor is controlled by the computer (ECM) and it doesn't allow the compressor to spin until the engine has started. Can't remember ever reading to do this in an owner's manual or in any technical literature.I do leave the HVAC control in the 'Off' position, when camping in very hot or cold conditions, to prevent air from flowing through the dash ventilation system, from the exterior to the interior.Larry
Re: Engine Idling "Rough" Reply #21 – December 26, 2016, 05:44:38 pm Ahhh, computer. I think the ECM on mine is running with vacuum tubes. We have been needing the air conditioning daily here. Perhaps there is some cooler weather out there- I may turn on the news next week.
Re: Engine Idling "Rough" Reply #22 – December 26, 2016, 07:45:43 pm "The A/C's compressor is controlled by the computer (ECM) and it doesn't allow the compressor to spin until the engine has started. Can't remember ever reading to do this in an owner's manual or in any technical literature."---IIRC, the reason that I got into the habit of turning off the AC before I shut off the engine was that the AC in my previous car squealed when the engine was re-started with the AC on. If the engine was started, then the AC turned on after it was running, no squeal. I don't use the cab AC very often in the LD, but I just carried the "AC off and on" habit into the newer car. Joan
Re: Engine Idling "Rough" Reply #23 – December 27, 2016, 09:48:47 am Rough Idle?Obd I , ObdII: They still require some old time Mechanic and electrician skills, Just add a computer, wire, sensors, and subract a Carburetor.Check engine Lean adjustment exceeds 25% , Vacuum leak in the intake, Fuel filter, Fuel pump. My two issues were PVC hose and idle speed motor.Engine missfire Cyl X, Spark plugs, Plug wires, Distributor cap, Rotor( if they have them), Distributor( if present), Timing sensors. My last OBDII read for misfire lead to Engine mechanical(Compression, Valves, head gasket, Rings). All the other things had been replaced.Rod
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