3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002) 1993-2002 Discussion including performance modifications and Technical Support Sections.
Sponsored by:

Engine cutting out/sputtering at idle unless lights are on?

Old May 19, 2006 | 09:40 AM
  #1  
bajaman's Avatar
Thread Starter
Constant threat
Tenured Member 20 Years
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 39
From: near Wichita, Kansas
Engine cutting out/sputtering at idle unless lights are on?

Lately I've noticed that my car will occasionally (not all the time) do this sputtering/cutting out thing when idling. But if I turn my parking lights on, it completely goes away. Weird.
Now, I've got about 32 extra grounds on my car's chassis but this is obviously some sort of electrical problem.......
Reply
Old May 19, 2006 | 10:08 AM
  #2  
dubulup's Avatar
development
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 5,714
Likes: 7
From: Lafayette, LA
My guess is you need to adjust your idle air with no electrical load...

reason it clears up when the lights are on...the electrical load center tells the ISC to bump up the air bypassing the throttle plates and increase idle (ever so slightly) to make up for the electrical load increase.

Maybe look at your idle fuel mixture as well...seems a little rich if its sputtering. Maybe more air around the throttle plates will make up the difference, I don't know.


(you went a little overboard with the GND wires, eh? I have 2 on my engine (both stock locations) and 1 added on the chassis for my battery relocation.)
Reply
Old May 19, 2006 | 01:59 PM
  #3  
bajaman's Avatar
Thread Starter
Constant threat
Tenured Member 20 Years
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 39
From: near Wichita, Kansas
Originally Posted by dubulup
My guess is you need to adjust your idle air with no electrical load...

reason it clears up when the lights are on...the electrical load center tells the ISC to bump up the air bypassing the throttle plates and increase idle (ever so slightly) to make up for the electrical load increase.

Maybe look at your idle fuel mixture as well...seems a little rich if its sputtering. Maybe more air around the throttle plates will make up the difference, I don't know.


(you went a little overboard with the GND wires, eh? I have 2 on my engine (both stock locations) and 1 added on the chassis for my battery relocation.)
Well.....maybe 32 is an exaggeration...
I did add another ground off the battery, another off the UIM, and one more off the block by the starter. Doing that completely cured my 3000 rpm hesitation issue. This was done 4 or 5 years ago, by the way.

Now....I have NO idea how to adjust anything. And the sputtering is odd, first in that it only occasionally does it, and second in that it almost seems like the ignition is being cut more than a rich fuel problem. I mean the idle will be a perfect "hmmmmmmmmm" and then go "buh duh duh duh hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm buh duh duh duh hmmmmmmmmm" and so on and when it does the "buh duh duh duh" part the idle drops about 400 revs or so.
Reply
Old May 19, 2006 | 02:36 PM
  #4  
purerx7's Avatar
Registered User
iTrader: (61)
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,334
Likes: 8
From: Los Angeles, CA
I have the same exact problem, in my auto, with alot of electronics as well. I have posted and searched and all I ever got was to adjust the TPS. Never got around to it though.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
trickster
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
25
Jul 1, 2023 04:40 PM
Kyo
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
6
Apr 13, 2019 09:24 AM
alphawolff
1st Generation Specific (1979-1985)
17
Nov 17, 2015 05:57 PM
gtcd
1st Generation Specific (1979-1985)
30
Aug 19, 2015 02:44 AM
ncds_fc
New Member RX-7 Technical
1
Aug 15, 2015 10:06 AM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:34 AM.