Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Wierd Idle after winter storage, what could be the problem?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 30, 2005 | 10:16 PM
  #1  
kpowr82's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 967
Likes: 0
From: Rochester, MI
Default Wierd Idle after winter storage, what could be the problem?

Don't what's wrong with the car right now. I haven't made any changes since storing it for the winter besides replacing my TD's with an ORY and Hooker Catback.

I posted before about a stuttering/stumbling problem at light load, but now that seems to have cleared up. A new problem has arisen though.

In park, the car idles at around 500 rpm, in D it idles at about 450 and feels like it wants to stall out. Also, at idle, the motor shakes much more noticeably than before, I'm assuming it is because of the low idle.

I've pretty much figured out that the fuel is bad, and I've only got a quarter tank left of the ***** fuel, but is there anything else I can check now that may be causing this problem? The battery cables are secure, so it's not a loose connection. I haven't pulled the plugs yet, that is on my todo list when I get a few hours to spare.

She also misfires AFTER I go WOT, but only on occassion. My y-pipe doesn't bang hard anymore, but I can still feel it vibrating under my feet during heavy loads.

Need help please! I really feel like right now.
Reply
Old Mar 30, 2005 | 10:18 PM
  #2  
kpowr82's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 967
Likes: 0
From: Rochester, MI
Default

Oh yeah, to clear up the stumbling problem, I dumped two cans of STP fuel treatment and one can of STP Fuel Injector cleaner in with the bad gas.

After storage, I only had about a 1/4 tank of fuel left (I started the car for 30 min every week), so it was suggested that I may have condensation in the fuel system or varnish on the injectors.

EDIT: I can also hear an audible, steady ticking noise from the exhaust now. My AIR fittings are plugged up real good. I don't know if this noise was there before, but now I am concerned that this could be a problem. I can only hear the noise at idle.
Reply
Old Mar 30, 2005 | 10:44 PM
  #3  
kpowr82's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 967
Likes: 0
From: Rochester, MI
Default

Anyone?? Upon cold startup the idle starts at about 750, then after about 5 seconds it's back down to 500.
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2005 | 10:54 AM
  #4  
freakynipples69's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,406
Likes: 0
From: NY
Default

For future reference, you may want to get gasoline perserver for when you store the car for a long period of time. I forget exactly what it is called, but you add it to your gas before storage and it keeps the gas fresh.
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2005 | 11:29 AM
  #5  
technical's Avatar
TECH Addict
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 0
From: Fat Chance Hotel
Default

Two cans of treatment for 1/4 tank of gas is too much. You should have used drygas or similar. Just fill it up for now. The new gas should help out a bit.
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2005 | 01:37 PM
  #6  
chino_man279's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 638
Likes: 0
From: Allen, MI
Default

Fill it up with new gas and change the oil. Like technical said should have put some drygas in it rather than the fuel treatment.

Does it stumble even after warmed up completely?
Reply
Old Mar 31, 2005 | 10:34 PM
  #7  
kpowr82's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 967
Likes: 0
From: Rochester, MI
Default

chino_man: Yup, still stumbles after warmed up completely.

Freakynipples: The stuff is called stabifuel, but I didn't think I needed it as I was starting the car pretty regularly.

Technical: I filled up immediately after I took the car out of storage, then I added the fuel treatment. So it was to a whole tank of gas. But probably still too much.

UPDATE: I've changed the PCV valve which didn't look like it needed replacing, and cleaned the MAF with some Auto Electrical cleaner spray. Finally ran the old gas down to about 4 gallons. Filled up with 13 gallons of 93. It's only been about 3 miles on the new gas.

Nothing seems to have changed even after all this. I haven't pulled the plugs yet, I've got some NGK TR55 GPs coming in tomorrow at Murrays. Hopefully that solves the problem.

Another question though, are these the right plugs? The guy at the parts desk said they are platinum tipped, but I thought most guys were using the coppers. The parts guy said they don't carry the coppers but the platinums should work just fine. What do you think?
Reply
Old Apr 1, 2005 | 06:31 PM
  #8  
kpowr82's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 967
Likes: 0
From: Rochester, MI
Default

Replaced all plugs except for plug 8. I'll change that later. For the first 3 or 4 miles, she ran great and idled great. Now it's right back to where it was in the beginning. I can't be running so rich that I fouled the new plugs already could I?

I got 200 miles out of 13 gallons of gas while driving in D the whole time. Mostly highway driving.

Guess I'll run autotap and see what else is going on.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 2, 2005 | 07:35 PM
  #9  
kpowr82's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 967
Likes: 0
From: Rochester, MI
Default

Son of a Bitch :bang

Wire #8 was off the plug!!! I can't believe it!!! Last night I changed all the plugs but 8. Didn't even try to get to it cause it was getting dark and I couldn't reach it.

Took the coil packs off and stuck my hand back there. Low and behold...wire 8 was just resting on the end of the spark plug.

Just thought I'd post this resolution so anyone searching with the same problem knows what to look for.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:01 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE