My current setup: stage 2 HRC, 42lb injectors, in-tank and in-line fuel pump, vortech SFMU, FMIC, and missing link. I start the car and idle sits at 800-900rpmk, but goes up and down slowly(not low as in 500 or above 1000rpm)constantly. It idles like crap and the motor starts shaking like it wants to die. I have searched and found good info , but hasnt helped any yet. I have replaced spark plugs(gapped .030), wires, and IAC. I was gonna replace my fuel filter, but on my gauge it reads 23 and that is good enough since it idled fine before at that. Could a bad coil pack be the problem. I am not sure and dont want to waste money on it since i have the msd. After i installed my valve cover with new gaskets and spark plug gaskets, it started having this problem. My boost gauge was reading -14 and now it is -6 and will not go lower. I did not mess with anything as far as vacuum lines so i dont know why it dropped. I checked all vacuum lines and there were no leaks. It will not drive b/c when you rev high it settles down and starts the shaking like crazy along with idle going crazy. I am tired of messing with this car. This is my last resort or else i am gonna have to trade it in for an srt4, i want my eclipse to run so i am trying so hard to fix it. Please help someone, thanks in advance. Sorry so long, just wanted all details.

If my missing link was bad would it cause my vacuum to be low on my gauge(-4)? I am gonna buy a fuel filter tomorrow and install it and then if not then a missing link. A friend says it sounds like a fuel problem. But it revs high normal and then when it idles normal rpm it sounds like it is gonna shut off. I tried to drive but when i let off the clutch and hit the gas to go it shuts off on me.

It's not a fuel problem. It's deffinitely a problem with the vacuum. Your problem sounds exactly like the symptoms of low-vacuum. There's a lot of places to look for vacuum leaks. Since you said you already checked your vacuum lines (tip, light a cigarette and hold it near the various vacuum points and look for the smoke to go towards it), if you have the new missing link with the filter, make sure the filter didn't pop out. Thats happened to me quite a few times and caused my vacuum to be very low.

Theres no point in me telling you every single place where you could have a vacuum leak, cause you already know. But if your gauge only reads -6 inhg, then thats the reason your car is not idling right.


1996 Eclipse RS / 5-Speed / Aerogear Body / Coated in Magnetic Red Metallic rev.2 / T3 Turbo Intercooled @ 8 psi / More at http://home.insightbb.com/~eclipse2nr/
Mark Galyan - Indianapolis, Indiana

Originally posted by Eclipse2NR
if you have the new missing link with the filter, make sure the filter didn't pop out.

I am not sure if it is the new one. It was bought about 9 months ago. I pulled it off yesterday to see if it was dirty and i didnt see no filter on it.Thanks for suggestions. I will try them out today.

^^^ vaccuum... for shits you may want to check around the contact points of the valve cover gasket where silicone would be used.


--------------------------------------
know me as santiago
boosted 420a and ej2o..(my 2liter v8 eaters)

I just got done checking again. The valve cover gaskets are fine, no leak or anything. I even put new gaskets on after i thought it was that. I am about to put all new vacuum lines on now so i hope that wil help out. I cannot find any leaks that would cause my vacuum to go from -14 to -4, it just doesnt make sense. It was fine one day and the next it is all messed up. I am gonna chanhge out my fuel filter but i dont think that will fix my vacuum problem.

its not your fuel filter, its OBVIOUSLY from your valve cover. since you said it started right after you replaced the seal
you either have a leak somewhere on that or
Did you make sure to hook the pcv valve back up, and if so replace the pcv valve. easy fix.

oh and it sounds like you said your idle swings from 800-900 to 1000 and you think a 100rpm difference is a problem, thats totally normal.
My idle ranges from 500 to 1000 depending on temp,etc..

I bought a new pcv valve and its still the same. The rpm range is fine, just sounds rough and when i try to drive it it dies sometimes on me. The codes its pulling up is P0201 and P0172(?) which is fuel related (injectors, pump, filter, o2 sensor). I just got the fuel filter so i am gonna put that in. I have no clue whats up with the car. I am getting a new 02 sensor in a little bit after the filter to see if thats it b/c one of the codes leads to that.Thanks, i may take my valve cover back off and reinstall it if it comes to that.

Well changed fuel filter, spark plugs, plug wires, pcv valve, checked missing link, redid my vacuum lines so no leaks there, and checked everything on the car and it still sounds like shit and engine shakes and makes a weird sound when stated and sitting at normal idle. My last thing to check is maybe my timing jumped off a tick. I dont know, but any last suggestions before i send it to the shop to check timing and anything else. I got under the car and a bolt that connects the intake manifold to the head is gone so would that cause a bad leak and it to shake. My vacuum reads -2 so i have no clue b/c there is no leak unless it is the valve cover which i dont think it would cause a drop from -14 to -2 or -4. I am not spending no more money so please any last help. Thanks

Originally posted by freddy_00_69
Well changed fuel filter, spark plugs, plug wires, pcv valve, checked missing link, redid my vacuum lines so no leaks there, and checked everything on the car and it still sounds like shit and engine shakes and makes a weird sound when stated and sitting at normal idle. My last thing to check is maybe my timing jumped off a tick. I dont know, but any last suggestions before i send it to the shop to check timing and anything else. I got under the car and a bolt that connects the intake manifold to the head is gone so would that cause a bad leak and it to shake. My vacuum reads -2 so i have no clue b/c there is no leak unless it is the valve cover which i dont think it would cause a drop from -14 to -2 or -4. I am not spending no more money so please any last help. Thanks

Well yes a loose intake manifold could cause low vacuum. Bad timing could also cause low vacuum. But why have a shop check that? It's so easy to check base timing. Just line up the arrows and lines. Pull real hard on your intake manifold near the missing bolt and see if you can get it to unseal. If so, thats your problem right there. Get a new bolt, replace both the intake manifold gaskets, and I bet it would work just fine. Check for a leak there and let me know.





1996 Eclipse RS / 5-Speed / Aerogear Body / Coated in Magnetic Red Metallic rev.2 / T3 Turbo Intercooled @ 8 psi / More at http://home.insightbb.com/~eclipse2nr/
Mark Galyan - Indianapolis, Indiana

I will check for the intake manifold tomorrow, but i am sure it is timing, but i will get the manifold fixed first and see. Thanks.

apparently it worked? or you haven't checked....

It didnt work, i started another thread about it so i havent replied here. I belive it is timing and am gonna check it this week.

i had this problem too. do you still have your egr tube hooked up? i had a huge vacume/boost leak where it bolted to the egr valve. took it all off and blocked off the head and intake now i have great vacume and good idle and no hesitations. might check there too.

I have a egr blockoff plate coming now from concept illusions so that will be on as soon as it gets here.

I know this may come off as sounding bad, but when you had the valve cover off, you did not leave any tools, nuts, bolts etc in down there did you? I know when I broke a bolt on the cam bering caps, mine did this right away. Took me hours of looking to find out it was the bering cap that was loose.

Finally fixed and running good. It was something with my egr valve or pipe. Oh well, as long as it fits, i am happy. Thanks for all the support and help, i appreciate this board. I am getting my new cv halfhsaft installed and alternator belt put on and then one little thing left. It idles at 2000rpm, my throttle body get stuck sometimes so i may buy a new one or my tps sensor is messing up. But that is little compared to the idle problem above.