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Rough idle, surging, erratic but only when stopped at lights

Posted:
Sat Jun 29, 2013 10:34 am
by zch91
Hey guys..
Over the past few weeks (maybe even more than a month I can't remember) my car has been idling weird when stopped at traffic lights...
Normally it'll idle at around 700rpm no worries (as viewed on my ECUdatascan) but lately it jumps from 700 down to 500 and back up again at a constantly.. Sounds abit like a v8 with a massive cam.
Drives normal and seems to boost fine when driving around.. Just happens when stopped at traffic lights (in D with brakes on)
I have tried without aircon etc and makes no difference so it's not the AC compressor, not that it kicks in/out as fast is this anyway.
Any ideas? Someone mentioned it could be a vac leak.. what PITA that would be.
I've cleaned the MAF with contact cleaner (thanks HKS filter for the dust) and reset the ECU and still doing it..
The car is an MY04 GT 5EAT
Cheers
Re: Rough idle, surging, erratic but only when stopped at li

Posted:
Sat Jun 29, 2013 10:46 am
by dr20t
Vacuum leak
Dirty maf
Faulty front 02 sensor
Re: Rough idle, surging, erratic but only when stopped at li

Posted:
Sat Jun 29, 2013 10:50 am
by zch91
Thanks for your reply Mick.
Any clues for common spots for a vac leak? I don't have any equipment to test it apart from pulling stuff apart.
Already cleaned the MAF and hasn't helped at all
O2 sensor has always been in the back of my mind since I owned the car, since I know they're prone to failure I've always considered swapping it out but never had any symptoms of it being buggered.. Might grab one from G88 and see if that helps.
Re: Rough idle, surging, erratic but only when stopped at li

Posted:
Sat Jun 29, 2013 11:39 am
by 04GTLIB
Zach.
Ours had identical issues and it turned out to be an O2 sensor. See Phat, as I'm pretty sure he has these in stock.
Cheers,
Rusty.
Re: Rough idle, surging, erratic but only when stopped at li

Posted:
Sat Jun 29, 2013 11:53 am
by dr20t
No probs at all
For Vacuum leak check obvious places like joins, all rubber hoses - common one is the bov return hose either at bov end or manifold end. Also check vacuum nipples on some of the ancillary sensors
While you're at it check the map sensor (hanging on metal bracket attaching to the inlet manifold located around / behind the power steering pump). Might be blocked up a little or vacuum hose split to it etc
So many different variables its hard to diagnose but I'd check those things
Mick
Re: Rough idle, surging, erratic but only when stopped at li

Posted:
Sat Jun 29, 2013 11:58 am
by zch91
Thanks Russ, have just purchased one from G88, hopefully fixes it right up
Thanks again for your input Mick, I will spend a bit of time today looking at it, hopefully I find something
Will report back any findings!
Cheers
Re: Rough idle, surging, erratic but only when stopped at li

Posted:
Sat Jun 29, 2013 7:57 pm
by Ben
zch91 wrote:Thanks Russ, have just purchased one from G88, hopefully fixes it right up
Thanks again for your input Mick, I will spend a bit of time today looking at it, hopefully I find something
Will report back any findings!
Cheers
Mine has idled perfectly since replacing the 02 sensor, pleases me a lot. Hope it works for you as well mate!
Re: Rough idle, surging, erratic but only when stopped at li

Posted:
Sat Jun 29, 2013 8:02 pm
by zch91
Did you have the same symptoms?
Anxious to receive the sensor now

Re: Rough idle, surging, erratic but only when stopped at li

Posted:
Tue Jul 02, 2013 5:34 pm
by NRV155
How much are his sensors? Im going there tomorow.
Re: Rough idle, surging, erratic but only when stopped at li

Posted:
Tue Jul 02, 2013 7:11 pm
by zch91
According to his vendor page $250, was $275 for me (Maybe more because I live in Darwin)
Re: Rough idle, surging, erratic but only when stopped at li

Posted:
Sat Jul 06, 2013 2:16 pm
by Hobba
zch91 wrote:According to his vendor page $250, was $275 for me (Maybe more because I live in Darwin)
These can be had on RHDjapan.com for little over $100 delivered.
http://www.rhdjapan.com/subaru-oem-air- ... 2006-64493
Re: Rough idle, surging, erratic but only when stopped at li

Posted:
Sat Jul 06, 2013 2:31 pm
by zch91
Is it the same as this one though?
viewtopic.php?f=38&t=12832
Re: Rough idle, surging, erratic but only when stopped at li

Posted:
Sat Jul 06, 2013 5:53 pm
by Hobba
Yep its the updated one, installed one myself from there about a month ago.
Re: Rough idle, surging, erratic but only when stopped at li

Posted:
Tue Jul 09, 2013 1:22 pm
by maj
Mine always has moved between 700-1000 when the engine is hot at lights, even with replaced MAF sensor.
On the rare occasion though, usually not long before it's due for a service, it drops down to 500-1000 and becomes more erratic.
If I plug in my tactrix cable and check the learning tables, they look mostly okay; IAM at 1.00 but a few corrections at certain RPM, nothing really out of the ordinary though.
As soon as I reset ECU though and let it relearn, erratic idle goes away and it behaves again for a long time.
I also get in the habit of resetting ECU after the car comes back from service at the dealer.
Good first precaution would be to reset the ECU and check codes before jumping to MAF or O2 sensor conclusions. Vacuum leaks are always worth looking for though, especially if your MAF has accidentally been disconnected (dealer did that once to me).
Re: Rough idle, surging, erratic but only when stopped at li

Posted:
Tue Jul 09, 2013 1:30 pm
by zch91
Thanks for your post Michael. I've tried ecu reset and cleaning the AFM with no avail. Have already ordered the O2 sensor which should arrive over the next few days hopefully.
Will report back when I know more.
Cheers,
Zach