Erratic Idle - Chugging when in gear??

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

top1percent - 11 Dec 2006 22:08 GMT

I've got a '94 Nissan Sentra that doesn't idle very smooth. When in
gear it chugs to the point you can actually feel it jerking you a bit.
However, as soon as you step on the gas it zips right along fine. When
it's in park it's not near as bad, but it definately feels like it's
missing or something.

At this point I've changed plugs and wires, pcv valve, and air filter.
It seemed to help some, but certainly hasn't fixed the problem. I'm
thinking about replacing the dist. cap and rotor, but if that were the
problem wouldn't it still act up even when going down the road?

Any help is appreciated,

Brad

Reply to this Message

tonymalcolm770@btinternet.com - 12 Dec 2006 21:21 GMT

> I've got a '94 Nissan Sentra that doesn't idle very smooth. When in
> gear it chugs to the point you can actually feel it jerking you a bit.
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> Brad

Hi Brad

I don't know if this will help but my daughter had the same problem
with her Pugeot and after various garages and various bills later I
found a split Vacuum Hose, we replace it and the chugging went. Her
symptoms were, chugging at low speed, chugging at low deceleration but
it disapeared on acceleration.

Tony

Reply to this Message

sdlomi2 - 13 Dec 2006 01:33 GMT

> I've got a '94 Nissan Sentra that doesn't idle very smooth. When in
> gear it chugs to the point you can actually feel it jerking you a bit.
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> Brad

...and if Tony's diagnosis is correct, you can find that vacuum leak by
spraying, via a mist, WD-40 along the vacuum hoses/sources. When it hits
the leak, the engine will suddenly smooth out and idle speed will increase
slightly. HTH, and Merry Christmas. s

Reply to this Message

top1percent - 14 Dec 2006 17:24 GMT

Thanks so much for the help. I've narrowed it down to an exhaust leak
somewhere in the manifold. I'd already checked for vacuum leaks in the
hoses, but didn't find any. However the WD-40 trick is really good to
know. I'll go back and check them again using that trick.

Thanks again,

Brad

> > I've got a '94 Nissan Sentra that doesn't idle very smooth. When in
> > gear it chugs to the point you can actually feel it jerking you a bit.
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> the leak, the engine will suddenly smooth out and idle speed will increase
> slightly. HTH, and Merry Christmas. s

Reply to this Message

hls - 15 Dec 2006 13:49 GMT

> Thanks so much for the help. I've narrowed it down to an exhaust leak
> somewhere in the manifold. I'd already checked for vacuum leaks in the
> hoses, but didn't find any. However the WD-40 trick is really good to
> know. I'll go back and check them again using that trick.

Exhaust leaks are irritating and dangerous but normally do not cause engine
vibrating and missing
'like a leak in the intake...

Reply to this Message

shannon_joshua@hotmail.com - 21 Dec 2006 11:28 GMT

i have the same problem in an older volvo that has a brand new
electrical system, including distributor and rotor. I've checked
everything except the exhaust system, so it sounds like the best place
to look. My parents car also suffered a similar problem, theirs came
down to a worn out gasket in the exhaust manifold

Reply to this Message