High/low idle problems, running rich, and dragging breaks

Mithrandir · Post by **Mithrandir** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:16 am

Ok i just replaced the breaks on my car today, stupid advanced rotors and pads, ive been puttin em on every 6 months, yes new rotors too. Anyway The car stops (which is a good thing). It sounds like the breaks are slightly brushing against the rotars are the wheel moves. Nothing major just a slight shhhhhhh sound. What could cause that? Or is it just because they are new. second my cars idle goes from like 400 to 1000 give or take 100, it will go low, high, low high as it sits there idleing. I replaced the EGR valve once because it was damaged. A month later I scanned the computer again and it says egr valve is bad again. (its been like this for like a year cause i didnt feel like messing with it) The car is running extremely rich, it smells to high heaven when it runs. Plus my scan tool told me so :) . What could cause this, i never had any oxygen sensor codes, only the egr code and once i had a throttle code, forgot what it was, that was only once. Does my throttle need adjusted? If it does how can I do it. Or do I need a new computer. I mean the comp is the only thing that controls how much gas is used and such, well along with the sensors.

Please help this is a pain in my ass lol

ridr4lif · Post by **ridr4lif** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 11:44 am

It could be a faulty throttle position sensor. All it is a potentiometer and if the wiper is worn and there could be a dead spot so the computer is guessing how much gas the car needs.
How long has it been since you have replaced the 02 sensor? Might wanna look into that too.

TEDD

Jszar · Post by **Jszar** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 11:45 am

MAF; air filter, O2 sensor....there could be many things wrong.

as for the brakes....might need new calipers if they are wearing like that.

sinister audio · Post by **sinister audio** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 11:58 am

first thing i would check for is a broken, or loose vacume line im sure thats what it is. check and see if any are off or has cracks in it and it might be the one on ur egr valve

Jonathan · Post by **Jonathan** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 12:28 pm

New brake pads typically have to burnish after the initial installation, but since you have a recurring problem I don't think that is the issue. Typically brake rub is caused by either shims needing adjustment or a caliper sticking, and since you've already replaced the rotors that won't (or shouldn't, anyway) be a problem.

Mithrandir · Post by **Mithrandir** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 2:13 pm

The calipers are brand new too, i forgot to mention that. I replaced one vacuum line, it was from the top of the engine (part that says 3.1 liter cast into the metal piece) and it went to some plastic thing the guy said was a filter. But its still doin it, the other hoses and lines i checked were ok. I know the egr is bad again cause it said when I scanned it. so basically all I can do is replace the TPS, o2 sensor, MAF, and the egr again and hope that its fixed lol, that will probably run me about 500 bucks. also my uncle said my PCV valve was dirty, i cleaned it with wd40 it was the only thing i had, i probably need one of those too.

Jonathan · Post by **Jonathan** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 2:18 pm

When you kept replacing brake pads, was the wear mainly on one side, or on both pads? I'm wondering if your calipers are centered over the rotor correctly. What kind of vehicle are we talking about, anyway?

Mithrandir · Post by **Mithrandir** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 2:20 pm

Oldsmobile cutlass ciera, 1995, 3.1 v6. Well this time the wear was uneven, it went from skinny to thicker on each pad on each side and they had cuts where the rotor was worped.

sinister audio · Post by **sinister audio** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 2:24 pm

dont replace all of that stuff because usually its just one thing. there are probaly atleast 6 vacume lines on it. you could replace the pcv valve cause those are like 15 bucks.

Mithrandir · Post by **Mithrandir** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 2:24 pm

the last time the wear was horrible the smaller pad was at the metal the larger was worn but not as far. That is when I replaced the calipers, sept I believe. I greezed the slides and all the contact points too. I had to pound out the one slide, because when this garage did the breaks they must not have greased it and it was stuck inside, but it had like no damage too it so it was reusable.

And get this i had the cars breaks checked at a local garage, they said they were fine. that was about a week ago. I knew the rotors were warpped because it would pulse when i stopped. Cant they get in trouble for saying they did somthing when they didnt. PS they were under warrenty there so they probably didnt wanna have to fix it.