Hi guys, i dont know if i'm being really paranoid but i seem to be having an issue that i used to have on my 03 330ci. When at idle my revs can drop to just below 500 RPM and fluctuate up to over 900 RPM. i dont know if the issue is weather realted but it is at least minus 5 from now on in ottawa. The issue on my 330ci was cleared by having to do a VANOS seal replacement, the vvt system on BMW's.

Just wondering if it is something i should be worried about. Im not throwing any codes or anything.

Thanks
Chris

 

Happens to me rarely. My last car had it much, much worse though. I am happy to have the Scion :p

 

Air conditioner could be on.
It turns on automatically when you have the fans set to defrost the windshield either fully (all the way right) or on the foot and windshield. The AC light doesn't come on though.

There is no way to turn this off, but maybe the dealership might know how to reprogram.

 

My idle fluctuates too; sometimes the car shudders when it drops. I usually drive with the A/C off so that's not it. I don't think you'll get very far trying to get a straight answer.

 

your right i do have to clear the windows with the AC on. so it happens to you quite reguarly and i have my 8k service in a couple days so i will mention it then.

thanks
chris

 

I get that too. Whenever I have the heater on, it idles erratically. It's exactly the way you describe it.

 

heat or no heat when i come to a complete stop my rpms drop so low sometimes my car shakes and feels like its going to stall out on me. i have a stick and yes my clutch is always to the floor so thats not the issue

 

Oh yea I get it all the time because the windshield gets fogged up quickly depending on the weather. I just drive with the fans set to mostly feet and some windshield. This way the AC doesn't come on as much and waste gas but still stays clear enough to drive.

I'm not sure of the reasoning behind it but it might have to do with humidity. And fresh air as well because I think you can't have recirculate active too when it's set to the windshield...

As for the rpms dropping low and right back up when stopping? I get that as well sometimes. And I have an auto. Sometimes I wonder if Camry drivers experience the same thing....

 

I guess I'm just paranoid then. I just don't wanna spend the time it took to redo the VANOS on a bmw on my brand new car lol.

 

this is just my 2 cents but I noticed something similar. I always had a CAI intake, but after I get my throttle body clean by the dealership my idle RPMs are off. I have a scan gauge and normal rpms for my auto are around 640-680, after the throttle body clean, they drop to below 550, close to 500 and the car shakes hysterically...then rev up to 900. After taking it right back, they reprogram the system and it idles like a champ. Again that happens after the throttle body clean, but in cold cold days, long periods between the throttle body cleans, i do notice a lower idle RMP in my auto, at about 620 and lower, maybe a possible starvation of air to the engine due to the more condensed (not as in water vapor but in weight), cold air is heavier than hot airr, and the longer travel length due to pipe.

Sounds pretty good but I'm sure its all Bullsht hahaha again just my 2 cents.

and PS I document everything wrong with my car, since its under warranty, and the dealer i have always taken my car too is nice enough to listen and check everything out, and also FYI, my thermostat had a hole in it (around the rubber seal) and it cause similar symptoms, but the issue was more with temp. It would not heat past 150 degrees and due to that the car always felt as if it just started for the first time, it would idle around 1000rpm.

 

Ill mention it to them when I go in, i can't imagine the ICV will need cleaning already? And when I start my car on cold days it will stay around 1000 RPM for an extended period is that common for anyone else?

 

on my 2005 tc, yup, sounds right, one thing i hate, its cold starts in the morning with my exhaust set up, sounds like a motorcycle is starting up in the morning...my neighbors must hate me!

 

I don't believe that the 2AR-FE has an IACV due to the electronic throttle making it redundant. Someone correct me if I'm wrong...

BTW is this your first car? I don't mean to sound callous but all modern cars have a fast idle used when starting a cold engine. It's perfectly normal for the idle to remain high until the engine enters closed-loop operation.

 

Ts myIts my first new car so I'm being very cautios, I had a civic type R and a bmw 330CI both used so I'm being very cautious. both had ICV guess ive stepped it up now, even tho i keep being told i downgraded to a scion. (i dont agree) and neither of my old cars idled that high, even when it was cold for anymore more than 30 secs the tC seems to do it for much much longer!