How many have idle problems after new cam?
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 351
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From: CA
How many have idle problems after new cam? I keep reading about all these people who have to drill holes in the TB or bump up the idle speed to get their cars to idle right, but I've never had to do any of that. I have the TR224 cam with ARE S2 heads, no holes in the TB, idle is at 725rpms (according to LS1 Edit), and I can't remember my car ever dying even once. It does on occassion search for the idle, like after you come to a stop hard and throw it in N, and the idle will go down to 400-500rpms and go back up, and do that once or twice.
Yeah, I know, I should just be happy I don't have this problem, but I'm just curious why I don't have this problem. Thinking that it may be tied into lower power #s. Just wondering if it's everyone besides me that has this.
I made the poll sort of flexible, check as many boxes as apply.
Yeah, I know, I should just be happy I don't have this problem, but I'm just curious why I don't have this problem. Thinking that it may be tied into lower power #s. Just wondering if it's everyone besides me that has this.
I made the poll sort of flexible, check as many boxes as apply.
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: At the office
Re: How many have idle problems after new cam? </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by akw408:
<strong>I keep reading about all these people who have to drill holes in the TB or bump up the idle speed to get their cars to idle right, but I've never had to do any of that. I have the TR224 cam with ARE S2 heads, no holes in the TB, idle is at 725rpms (according to LS1 Edit), and I can't remember my car ever dying even once. It does on occassion search for the idle, like after you come to a stop hard and throw it in N, and the idle will go down to 400-500rpms and go back up, and do that once or twice.
Yeah, I know, I should just be happy I don't have this problem, but I'm just curious why I don't have this problem. Thinking that it may be tied into lower power #s. Just wondering if it's everyone besides me that has this.
I made the poll sort of flexible, check as many boxes as apply.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No option for Reverse split cams.
I have an idle problem because I have an aluminum flywheel and big cam. Not enough inertia when I start up the car. Only lasts for about 15 seconds or so, but then I have to watch it for the first few minutes driving as the car likes to stall when I slam on the brakes and engage the clutch.
<strong>I keep reading about all these people who have to drill holes in the TB or bump up the idle speed to get their cars to idle right, but I've never had to do any of that. I have the TR224 cam with ARE S2 heads, no holes in the TB, idle is at 725rpms (according to LS1 Edit), and I can't remember my car ever dying even once. It does on occassion search for the idle, like after you come to a stop hard and throw it in N, and the idle will go down to 400-500rpms and go back up, and do that once or twice.
Yeah, I know, I should just be happy I don't have this problem, but I'm just curious why I don't have this problem. Thinking that it may be tied into lower power #s. Just wondering if it's everyone besides me that has this.
I made the poll sort of flexible, check as many boxes as apply.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No option for Reverse split cams.
I have an idle problem because I have an aluminum flywheel and big cam. Not enough inertia when I start up the car. Only lasts for about 15 seconds or so, but then I have to watch it for the first few minutes driving as the car likes to stall when I slam on the brakes and engage the clutch.
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 101
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From: Martinez, CA
Re: How many have idle problems after new cam? I just put the TR 220 114 LSA cam in on Friday, and my car hasn't stalled yet. Although, it did surge really hard, and came really close to stalling today when I was backing out of my garage. The same thing happened yesturday when I was pulling into my garage after school. Both times, the RPM's got really low, and almost stalled even though I had my clutch pushed all the way down to the floor, and was coasting into the garage. My car also surges a little when I'm almost to a complete stop when I'm slowing down for a stop light, or stop sign, while I'm in neutral. It's kind of weird though, my car didn't surge at all on Friday night, when I first drove it after the cam install. It started surging more within the last two days. I also noticed that my car is starting to lope a little more then it was before. I guess that it must have something to do with my PCM adjusting to the new cam. By the way, I'm running the stock idle speed also.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: katy, tx
Re: How many have idle problems after new cam? No problems here with the C1 cam, but MTI installed it and they changed the idle to 900 rpms. Computer is still learning and the car shakes more than I though it would (can see antenae and exhaust pipes shaking), but that is normal because of the lope (112 lsa). I think having a 6 speed helps. But professional installs should never have idle problems and I don't. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />
Re: How many have idle problems after new cam? Dont think so, I have an M6, and I have problems. I have drilled my TB out several sizes. Mine wont idle by itself when cold, have to help it with the pedal for like 15 to 25 seconds. Then, it will, but real rough, (the gas fumes could kill you). My cam and mods are in sig. I may need to drill out the TB even further. I also have the up and down RPM thing when coming to a stop. Thats what I hate the most, and my car WILL die.
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Re: How many have idle problems after new cam? if i didnt drill my TB and raise my idle I wouldnt be driving the car right now cause it wouldnt idle for crap after i put the cam in.
now im at 900rpms and 15/16th hole drilled and still i have a little prob at startup. I have to baby the gas for about 10-15secs then its fine, but still looks for idle for about a minute. Then it idles fine
now im at 900rpms and 15/16th hole drilled and still i have a little prob at startup. I have to baby the gas for about 10-15secs then its fine, but still looks for idle for about a minute. Then it idles fine
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 351
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From: CA
Re: How many have idle problems after new cam? Thanks guys. It looks like it's about 50-50 for those having idle problems, so I'm not the only one who doesn't have any idle issues (without modifying TB or raising idle). I wonder why some have it really bad and some don't. I should have made the poll alittle better because now you can't really tell if there is a correlation between cam size and idle problems.
Re: How many have idle problems after new cam? </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"> I wonder why some have it really bad and some don't. I should have made the poll alittle better because now you can't really tell if there is a correlation between cam size and idle problems. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">One MAJOR question you forgot to ask was if the car has an automatic tramsmission or not. The A4 creates 2 major problems for idle. (1) the PCM is set for 500-550 rpm depending on year. A small cam such as 212-216 degrees can provide a stable idle at that speed, however idle quality decreases rapidly with larger durations unless the idle speed is raised up to the higher speed that M6 cars are programmed for. (2) The A4 places a load on the engine when placed into gear. A higher stall torque converter will help alleviate this problem, and the higher the stall rating, the "looser" it is and less load is placed on the engine in gear.
There are many more variables that must be considered when answering this poll. If one car is an A4 with a stock converter with a 226 degree cam, You can bet it wont idle well, especially if it has a tight LSA. On the other hand, If it has a wide LSA, a 4,000 stall converter and the idle speed was raised to 900 with LS1 edit, It will idle fine. The same cam, installed in a M6 car might on the other hand idle just as well as the modified A4 car.
There are many more variables that must be considered when answering this poll. If one car is an A4 with a stock converter with a 226 degree cam, You can bet it wont idle well, especially if it has a tight LSA. On the other hand, If it has a wide LSA, a 4,000 stall converter and the idle speed was raised to 900 with LS1 edit, It will idle fine. The same cam, installed in a M6 car might on the other hand idle just as well as the modified A4 car.
