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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: puddlejumper on February 06, 2005, 03:50:11 AM

Title: erratic idle
Post by: puddlejumper on February 06, 2005, 03:50:11 AM
Another day, another problem.

Ok, yesterday I readjusted the valve lash as there was so much clearance that it was getting loud.  The noise is now gone and the engine still drives great on the hwy, but now my idle is acting weird.

It starts and warms up just fine, but when the engine is warm it will go from a nice 900 rpm idle and drop down to a near stall.  A blip of the go peddle gets it back, but it will still do that drop if it sits idling too long.

I can turn on the headlights or turn the blower fan on a notch, and the idle will catch up, but with those off the idle goes to crap again.  My chk engine light is still on, stays on, will NOT reset when the battery cable is pulled, and I can find NO reset switch. (don't think the 89 has it anyhow.)  I get NO code when I try my diagnostic slot on the fuse box.
I am going to check the cam belt for looseness, but I don't think that is it.  So back to where I was earlier...  is my ecm maybe fried, or does anyone have an idea what the problem is.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks.
Title: Re: erratic idle
Post by: SnoFalls on February 06, 2005, 04:32:21 AM
How's the timing? Also could you have missed hooking something up while you had the valve cover off?

Keep searching for that reset switch ... I had a bear of a time finding mine. Ended up I found looking in the FSM for the color wire running to it (pink if I recall), and then following pink wire(s) (by touch) until I came across it.
Title: Re: erratic idle
Post by: puddlejumper on February 06, 2005, 12:22:15 PM
Thanks, i'll keep diggin for the switch.

I don't think I overlooked anything putting her back together, there really ain't that much to unhook in the firs place.  I can think of one possible vacuum leak, I will check it out.

The ignition timing is probably retarded, I did mess with it without a timing light.  I'll get the light and try that.

Thanks.
Title: Re: erratic idle
Post by: waltc on February 08, 2005, 03:22:50 AM
Find that switch yet?

I have a '89 and my check engine light just went on. I think it's cuz the odo just hit 85k. The diag test  shows no errors so I too am looking for the switch.

It was really easy to find in my old '91.

I'll let you know if I find that damn switch.
Title: Re: erratic idle
Post by: puddlejumper on February 08, 2005, 03:37:07 AM
No switch yet.

I took out the speaker and pulled that lower plastic cover-

Still can't find it.  My check engine light is still burning.  Still won't reset by the battery, and still no code.

Does anyone know if there is a switch behind the instrument cover or something?

If ANYONE has an 89, not another year, but an 89, and it has the reset switch, PLEASE either post a pic or tell where it is.  HEEELLLLPPPP!

Thanks.
Title: Re: erratic idle
Post by: adamd on February 08, 2005, 06:54:20 AM
Quote
No switch yet.

I took out the speaker and pulled that lower plastic cover-

Still can't find it.  My check engine light is still burning.  Still won't reset by the battery, and still no code.

Does anyone know if there is a switch behind the instrument cover or something?

If ANYONE has an 89, not another year, but an 89, and it has the reset switch, PLEASE either post a pic or tell where it is.  HEEELLLLPPPP!

Thanks.



Who adjusted the valves? are you sure they're in spec? Are you sure you did it correctly? I actually know nothing about the suzuki engine, so I can't begin to tell you what kind of valvetrain they have...but I have done work on shim under, screw and locknut and a desmodronic valvetrain (Go Ducs!) Check and recheck your clearances.
Title: Re: erratic idle
Post by: kerrywittig on February 08, 2005, 08:08:49 AM
Just had someone bring me a zuk with efi that did the exact same thing..............answer................MAP vacumn line was unplugged/unhooked/not connected........worth checking.........
Title: Re: erratic idle
Post by: BFM on February 09, 2005, 04:18:10 AM
Wasn't he part of Monty Python's Flying Circus, yeah him and John Clease right? :)
Title: Re: erratic idle
Post by: 3wheelerdude on February 09, 2005, 05:18:19 AM
Cleaning the Mass air Flow sensor with electrical cleaner will cure weird idle sometimes. Takes 2 seconds and cost 3$ a bottle. Worth the try.
Title: Re: erratic idle
Post by: SnoFalls on February 10, 2005, 05:39:56 AM
puddlejumper ,

Dunno if this'll help, but I finally got off my duff and got a pic of where the "Duty Switch" is in my tracker (a '91) ...

(http://www.avalonforest.com/geo/misc/duty-switch.jpg)
You can see the switch in the inspection mirror (would never see it without a mirror).

Rob
Title: Re: erratic idle
Post by: waltc on February 10, 2005, 08:49:05 AM
Woohoo! Thanks for the pic, I'll give it a look tonight. On my '90 Sidekick it was easy to find by feeling around.  Hopefully a light and a mirror is all I need.- I'll keep everyone posted
Title: Re: erratic idle
Post by: puddlejumper on February 11, 2005, 03:23:48 AM
A pic is worth a thousand words.
Ok, I am gonna go out and give it a looksee.

I'll let ya know if the 89 has it there.

Thanks.
Title: Re: erratic idle
Post by: puddlejumper on February 11, 2005, 04:09:05 AM
N0 LIGHT, NO MIRROR required!!!!!!

Just had to feel the backside of the plastic cover panel below the access hole.

HOT DAMN!!!, There is was!!

Thanks Rob, the evil red light is gone....   for now.
Title: Re: erratic idle
Post by: hcgalvin on February 11, 2005, 05:00:55 AM
That's great. We need to find a way to make a sticky with that picture, and a picture of the one behind the left speaker.

:)

Wild, did you look THERE on your Kick?
Title: Re: erratic idle
Post by: Bobzooki on February 11, 2005, 06:30:31 AM
That looks about where it was on my 91.  It's still fairly close to the left speaker, right?
Title: Re: erratic idle
Post by: SnoFalls on February 11, 2005, 07:03:59 AM
Quote
That looks about where it was on my 91.  It's still fairly close to the left speaker, right?


That location is just about centered below the steering column.

I think it would be great for those that have it near the speaker could post up a pic. I know it gets asked often, and once you know where it is it's easy to get at, but that first time finding it ...
Title: Re: erratic idle
Post by: alterego158 on May 04, 2006, 01:47:17 PM
I just adjusted my valve clearance and have the exact same problem.  Once the engine is warm the idle drops down to 0 (well, it reads 0 on the RPM meter).  If I turn the heater fan on one notch the idle jumps up to where it should be.  Turn the fan off and it drops back down to 0. 

Did you find a solution to this problem or anything I can try?  Or should I just turn the idle up?

(On a side note about a year ago I adjusted my idle from 2000 back to 800 [to spec] without learning the cause of the high idle.  If the excessive valve clearance caused the high idle and I adjusted it down, then perhaps fixing the valves caused it to drop too low?)
Title: Re: erratic idle
Post by: alterego158 on May 05, 2006, 06:39:39 AM
Did you find a solution to this problem or anything I can try?  Or should I just turn the idle up?

Well, I tuned the idle back up to spec with the idle adjust screw. It idles at 800 rpm now, but there is still a jump in the idle when I turn on the fan or lights.  This is worrisome to say the least. 
Title: Re: erratic idle
Post by: hotwired on May 05, 2006, 09:44:51 AM
 There's supposed to be a jump in the idle when you turn something on. There's a sensor hooked up to a throttle solenoid that speeds up the engine so the alternator puts out more when it detects a load being placed on it.

 Dave
Title: Re: erratic idle
Post by: alterego158 on May 06, 2006, 09:39:33 AM
There's supposed to be a jump in the idle when you turn something on. There's a sensor hooked up to a throttle solenoid that speeds up the engine so the alternator puts out more when it detects a load being placed on it.

 Dave
 

Okay, but only when that idle increase takes place does the idle become erratic.  Normal idle is fine, idle with lights or heater fan jumps from 800-1400 and back down again.   

Maybe that throttle solenoid is failing?
Title: Re: erratic idle
Post by: hotwired on May 08, 2006, 10:13:25 AM
 Could be, or the connector to it is corroded. Right now I've got just the opposite going on, no load it doesn't want to idle at all, put a load on it and it idles around 800rpm.

Dave
Title: Re: erratic idle
Post by: Rhinoman on May 08, 2006, 11:06:23 AM
There's supposed to be a jump in the idle when you turn something on. There's a sensor hooked up to a throttle solenoid that speeds up the engine so the alternator puts out more when it detects a load being placed on it.

 Dave

The 89 might be different but the later models just monitor the rpm and keep it constant using the Idle Speed Controller (ISC). The idle switch and vehicle speed sensor tell it when its at idle. The ECU also monitors the voltage level and adjusts the fuelling to keep it smooth.  I don't know if you can monitor the ISC pulsewidth, on later models it is brought out to the diagnostic connector. IIRC you have to tweak the adjusters so that the idle is at the correct speed when the ISC pulse duration is at 50%.
Title: Re: erratic idle
Post by: alterego158 on May 09, 2006, 03:53:06 PM
Could be, or the connector to it is corroded. Right now I've got just the opposite going on, no load it doesn't want to idle at all, put a load on it and it idles around 800rpm.

Dave

Is the idle adjust screw turned way down?  After I did my valves the idle would drop down to 0 and almost die without electrical load.