calais- weird idle problem -> has anyone found a solution

[ajsvscalais]

my calais has a really weird idle, it drops down to the point of nearly stalling, and raises up and drops back down continually.

iv read on here it might be a split vaccuum hose or a bung tranny, or this or that..
has anyone actually had any success' fixing this issue so far.

any help or suggestions would be appreciated

(i have noticed a lack of voltage in the battery and a clunk between the first and second gears)

p.s it is a 6 cyl vs auto

[L67 Calais]

Have you checked error codes?

[Trikky]

have you tried any of the things that you have read like looking for a vacuum leak or clean the idle air control motor?

My VS V6 has done similar before from a dirty IAC, takes 10mins to remove give a good clean and refit. Now I just do it every 6mths to remove the carbon that builds up on them

[Jxw]

bic repair kit?

check error codes, use something like oil/wd40 around gaskets to rule out air leaks, unplug vac hoses and put your finger over the hole and see if that makes a difference (a few of those to check)

[ajsvscalais]

its been happening for a little while now, just getting a little worse now..
i havnt tried checking the hose for any leaks, i really only started trying to solve it yesterday
so far i replaced the battery (overdue haha)

and i ran diagnostics and got a code 23- mass air temp sensor high voltage
i can only assume thats due to the fact that my air sensor thing is disconnected because i have a pod filter attatched (dont hate me, it was free)

ill check for any air leak tonight and clean out the IAC - then ill post back on here cos it seems to be a bit of a common thing on the forums

[ajsvscalais]

hahaha, the bic repair kit? just kill it with fire?

[ajsvscalais]

hey guys just updating here, probably better late than never, right?

sorry i took so long to post back on here, had some transmission problems throw a spanner i the works (TPS switch died) replaced my headliner and just added an extra thousand dollars worth of audio hahaha - fixing the essentials

my idle problem is getting pretty intense, but while i was getting the transmission fixed and serviced i was told that i had "some pretty nasty vacuum leaks on the seals around my injectors"

pretty new to the whole handy man thing, and i couldnt tell a vaccuum hose from a fuel line, so if any one has had this problem, or can tell me what i am doing, and where i should be looking, (photos would be brilliant)
any help appreciated!

cheers

[Brett_jjj]

hey guys just updating here, probably better late than never, right?

sorry i took so long to post back on here, had some transmission problems throw a spanner i the works (TPS switch died) replaced my headliner and just added an extra thousand dollars worth of audio hahaha - fixing the essentials

my idle problem is getting pretty intense, but while i was getting the transmission fixed and serviced i was told that i had "some pretty nasty vacuum leaks on the seals around my injectors"

pretty new to the whole handy man thing, and i couldnt tell a vaccuum hose from a fuel line, so if any one has had this problem, or can tell me what i am doing, and where i should be looking, (photos would be brilliant)
any help appreciated!

cheers

You will need to get the fuel injector O rings replaced, which isnt a very hard job, so shouldnt cost too much to get done. The new O rings will only cost a few dollars at the most, so you will mainly be paying for labour.

[Jxw]

if you're going to start doing your own work i'd invest in a gregorys manual, that and the info on this forum will teach you a lot.
as above it's really not a hard job, i'd guess the orings would set you back between $5-$15 and probably take between 45 mins to 3 hours if you haven't done it before and depending on your skill set.

have ordered a set of the below link but haven't received them yet but they can't be any worse than your current ones if they're leaking.
you could just use the orings or fit the whole kit.
eBay Australia: Buy new & used fashion, electronics & home d

[ajsvscalais]

ahh brilliant, yeah that sounds simple enough, i was going to go over the hoses with wd40 until he said it was at the injectors.
thanks heaps guys

and your right Jxw, iv found this site to be amazing for all my work so far, my old mate who used to be on here as deathsminion put me onto it and i use it for everything, if you cant find it by searching, theres always a few people willing to answer your questions, i work in insurance and i recommend it to every holden owner who calls thru. i even have the iphone app now for emergencies hahaha

well ill change up the o rings and come leave an end result on this thread

out of curiosity, would that sort of leak account for a bit of a loss in power and some white/gray smoke for the first couple of minutes after start up?

[Jxw]

it would have an effect on power, if it's causing the rough idle it'll be allowing air to be sucked in under acceleration, this extra air will be unmetered by the ecu and causing some problems.

white smoke is water being burnt... do you have to top up the radiator often? if no, then it could just be condensation from sitting over night ect.

[ajsvscalais]

Yeah, my levels have been fine, its for for a service tho, so ill sort the o rings and get my mechanic to fix everything else hahaha

[ajsvscalais]

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[aussie4life11]

nope. the pic of the nice burgandy over silver commodore from carsales.com.au didnt work at all lol

[ajsvscalais]

Damn, thats the picture from carsales before i got it. Been too lazy to take any new ones...



I went to get a quote from a bloke to replace the o rings... He suggested 250 bucks!!!!

[Brett_jjj]

Id buy a VS Gregorys workshop manual and just do the job yourself following the steps in the manual. Its not very hard to do. Buy the new o rings from supercheap or repco etc, you'll probably pay around $10 or so for them, and around $50 for a manual. Theres no way id pay $250 just to get them replaced.

[nathanVY]

hey man, just get your injectors recoed - should be able to get em done for around $100, new seals etc.

easy to put in yourself, clean the plenum and t/b while you're at it.


also one thing to check is the fuel reg to plenum vac hose for cracks.