Rough idle and rev?????

[ToddGTS]

My car is experiencing a rough idle and also feels rough during acceleration. I haven't had the car very long and I don't know what kind of maintenance has been done to it prior. I plan on changing the plugs and wires this weekend. My question is can it be an o2 sensor. When I checked the codes I got a 12 and a 37. I think 37 might have something to do with an o2 sensor from doing searches on the forum. I don't have my service manual yet so that makes things a bit tougher. By the way the engine light is not on. Does any one know what this might be. I would take the car to the dealer but last time I was there they scratched my dash!! Thanks in advance.

-Todd

 

[Joseph Dell]

If those are hex codes, and if your car is a 99 (I'm reading from the 99 book),

12 = EVAP purge solenoid circuit
37 = Injector #9 control circuit

Unless I'm reading the codes wrong... which is possible. not that this helps much.

What year is your car?

JD

 

[redlightrich]

We need a little more info before you get absolute answers. What year is your ride? How did you obtain those codes? Using a 97 as a guide, and obtaining codes by watching flashes of the MIL ( malfunction indicator light, or aka check engine light) code 12 is battery disconnected within last 50 key on cycles, code 37 is open or short in skip shift solonoid. These codes could be in memory and not currently a problem. This really only pertains to code 37, as you most likely currently have your battery connected. I took this info from my 97 manual and it might not be accurate for other years. My 97 always idles lumpy, not a problem, just the cam. This does however "clean up" when you step into the pedal.

 

[ToddGTS]

my car is a '97 and I changed to a optima battery last week so that explains the battery disconnect. I was getting the codes from counting the flashes of the engine light as you described. As for the rough idle, I really don't think its the cam. When you step on the gas it doesn't even out. It actually gets worse. When you listen to the car at idle it sounds about normal. No unusual valve train noise or anything I can recognize. The roughness starts as the revs slowly rise just past 1000 to 1500 and it get rougher and more vibration as you go higher.

-Todd

 

[PRVT JET]

when you reset the computer, the car will run rough for about 10 miles. I noticed that with mine when I rest the pcm, it would hesitate while accelerating. drive around normally without hard driving to let it learn.

 

[STUGOTS]

My car did that exact same thing when i first got it except my engine code was 0455 (leak in the evap system) and it turned out to be a crack in my evap canister (behind the front bumper) and it cleared right up after a new one was put in.

BTW the 96 - 02 GTS and the 97 - 02 RT/10 or gen 2's had a VERY agressive cam so the idle is always going to be rough,when i first got my 99 R/T i thought their was a problem with it because i had never been in a viper prier to it but i called up Chuck Tater and he explained it too me and also alot more about the car since i knew nothing about it.

You may wanna give Chuck a call TRUST ME he will get you in the right direction, I have called him many times and he always knows what to do (914)763-3136

good luck man

 

[redlightrich]

What is the mileage? Could it be a simple maintenance item such as a plug or wire? The fact that it never "cleans out", and feels down on power sounds like a dead miss in 1 or more cylinders. Also, the codes you mentioned would not affect the running of the car.

 

[ToddGTS]

Thanks for the advice!!! I called Chuck and he was a super nice guy more than willing to answer all my question. He was sure that the car had a miss and thought that new plugs and wires would do the trick. Changed everything tonight and shes like a new car. So much faster and smoother. I couldn't be any happier. After close inspection the old plugs looked fine so I'm assuming it was the wires. Either way it's fixed now!! Thanks for all the help and a special thanks to Chuck.

-Todd