Rough/slow idle - chug chug and wants to stall (1 Viewer)

[tlin]

Just replaced my bulbs (here). Now that that's behind me, the idle is VERY rough and slow and wants to stall. It seems to run fine (just did a run to NAPA for new wipers) but the idle itself is WAY off and a CEL is now on (for the first time since I bought it).

I did disconnect the battery earlier today, checked the air filter........that's it. Thoughts???

BTW - the lights work .

 

[chairborne]

I replied in your other thread, but I'd check the hose from the AFM to the throttle body, I'd bet you tore it when you took the top off the filter canister. Wrap it up with some duct tape and it'll be fine for the time being. I used RTV on my temp fix to make sure it would seal and be somewhat flexible, then replaced the hose with a new OEM one.

 

[tlin]

Just felt around couldn't find anything noticeably torn/ripped but hoping you're right. Funny, I don't have a clue what PTV is but hoping duct tape will do for now. Wrapping up right after this, will report tonight if any improvements are noticed.

Thx for the quick reply, you guys are fantastic!

 

[chairborne]

Just felt around couldn't find anything noticeably torn/ripped but hoping you're right. Funny, I don't have a clue what PTV is but hoping duct tape will do for now. Wrapping up right after this, will report tonight if any improvements are noticed.

Thx for the quick reply, you guys are fantastic!

They usually tear right at one of the valleys in the ridged section, it won't be easy to see unless you take the air cleaner cover off again and flex it upwards. Just wrap that sucker up good and see how it runs.

 

[mlv289]

Did you pull the CEL code yet? What year is this LC?

 

[tlin]

Didn't wrap yesterday due to being in a hurry. Last night was my chance against my deer tag so just drove "as is". Drives fine but the idle/CEL are definitely off, thank you all for the advice/input. I'll have to wrap next weekend.

She's a '92, didn't pull CEL yet, have to buy something to do that. Only had the rig for 2 months now, now my DD so only able to invest partial time to it right now.

 

[mlv289]

Good news is you don't have to buy anything to pull the CEL code. Well, I guess you need to buy a paperclip actually. If you look at my blog below, I did a quick video on it. You are just jumping two of the ports in your diagnostics area and counting the blinks. When you get the code, just post what you got and you will get some answers.

 

[tlin]

Will do! The FJ is garaged up north for a couple of weeks until I get back to her, will paperclip it then. That's a weird and pretty cool detail to be aware of all at once (officially a NOOB obviously). CEL reporting will be done then, thx a bunch!

 

[Kohle]

I sprayed my throttle body out with cleaner and that fixed my rough idle. I really need to take it apart, but I do not have a new gasket for it yet. Might check yours!

 

[tlin]

I won't bore you with WHY this took so long to get to but.....I finally pulled the CEL codes (MLV289 - thx for that YouTube vid - sure made this easier to figure out): 24 and 31

What got me started down this journey was me trying to inspect my air filter. In pushing the lid up, I originally disconnected the AFM electrical connection thinking it was in the way of me pushing that out of the way to get to the filter itself. I remember (now) when re-connecting it that it really had to get "forced" back in place before I could screw it back in place. I think I screwed up the internals of that electrical connector in the process.....

I disconnected that after pulling the codes and this is what I have (attached).

So.....what to do???

 

[tlin]

Now that I'm a wee-bit smarter today than I was.....when this all started, I shouldn't ever have unscrewed that connector but rather disconnected it via the snap.

Anyone know if possible to replace this single piece or do I need to replace entire (expensive) air flow meter?

thx again all for looking/sympathizing/helping out!

 

[98 SNAKE EATER]

Ouch

Time to hit up a boneyard

 

[AK101]

well damn...

On the air intake hose topic, I could not find a crack in mine either but as soon as the new one went on it ran like a dream where is ran like crap only minutes before...

YMMV...

good luck

 

[tlin]

At least now I know what the problem is. Great knowing I f'ed this up but it ain't cancer!

 

[jonheld]

You should search this forum before doing anything.

There is a clip on the AFM connector that needs to be lifted up to remove the plug. By removing the screws and pulling you tore out the guts of the AFM. If you have good soldering skills, a good soldering iron and some proper hand tools it can be repaired. There's a thread on this as well.
Best is to replace it with a known good used one.

Any 3FE AFM will work from an 89 FJ62 through a 92 FJ80. All the same part number. Search car-part.com as well as the folks on the forum. There are several.

Always post the year, mileage and country of origin when asking questions. There are many versions of an 80 Series worldwide.

 

[tlin]

Problem Solved!

1. Saw mention above that others have faced and solved this headache.
2. Searched and this time did find what I was after - a posting where this exact same problem has previously been solved (wish I had the link handy, on my laptop at home). Helps that I now know enough to dig in the right spots - was stumbling in the dark initially which never helps......
3. Gave it a shot late last night......pulled the AMF out of the vehicle, took the cover off, cleaned the internals out just to be sure I didn't accidentally introduce any additional headaches, straightened out the bent pins and broke out the soldering iron and tin.

Pics below are before/after my efforts (first two are after I straightened things back out, last three pics are after I soldered down to the board).

I fired it up last night without the "lid" back in place but it fired right back up and the idle was smooth and happy. I then silicon'd the lid back on and let it sit over night (didn't have any odor/VOC-free stuff so rolled the dice). Fired right up this morning.....purrs like a kitten.

 

[jonheld]

Well done. Excellent work, clean solder joints.

 

[tlin]

There's a thread on this as well.

Thx jonheld.....your note above is what got me moving.