Ok so this has been going on for a while now...

Sometimes when I'm sitting at a red light or where ever my car idles for 4-6secs like it has a huge cam in it. And the A/F guage reads really lean and the Volt meter bounces around then stops. Anyone know the problem? I thought at first it could have been my Bosch plugs but that wouldn't give a lean reading, and other than that I have no other engine mods than intake and header.

 

Bump...so no one has any ideas?

 

consulted the trusty haynes manual, this is what it say for that description, the description it gives which sounds like that you're saying is: Engine lopes while idling or idles eratically

1)Vacuum Leakave
2) Plugged PCV system
3) Air filter clogged
4)Fuel pump not delivering sufficient fuel to the fuel injection system
5) leaking head gasket
6) camshaft lobes worn

I would also check your spark plugs.

 

Damn...well to start off with thanks, and I have the famous Bosch 4+ plugs and I hear a lot of Balt owners complaining so I think I will start there.

 

yep. always start with the easy stuff first. the stuff that doesn't take much work, like checking the air filter, etc.

if you need a write up for any of the things i listed let me know.

 

ditch those plugs.
ive heard nothin but bad news from them in cobalts.

 

1)Vacuum Leakave
2) Plugged PCV system

These two if you could, the filter is new and was doing it before I bought it, and my dad said try GreasedLightning for the fuel system cleaner, but everytime I change my oil I use STP complete fuel system cleaner...but I dunno, like you said start easy and for the harder stuff I guees I gotta take it to the dealer...

Well at the time I was all for them but after I saw you a lot of you said....bad news, so I think I'll just go back to the AC Delcos.

 

My car kinda sounds like it gets off idle every now and then. Im gonna change my plugs and fuel filter out and see if that doesn't help.

 

I was also thinking the fuel filter but it only does it every now and then for about 4 seconds then goes away...

 

have you ever noticed that it does it when you have all your electrical stuff on?
i noticed you have alot of gauges, leds etc etc.

if you have all that, heater, music, headlights.....
it will cause your idle to lug like that...

 

happened to me for the first time today. strange that you posted this.

 

Hmmm....well I usualy never run my A/C...and the radio yup that's pretty much crancked, but when it starts doind it I mute it. Anyway I just changed my plugs this morning and let it idle for about 20mins and nothing so far so I guess on my way to work I will see.

 

This is the cause of the irratic idle. You have to track down why this is happening.

It may be sporatic turbulence on the MAF causing incorrect fuel trims to be learned at idle MAF frequencies.

Does the A/F eventually level back out to stoich or do you have to change throttle position for it to come back to normal?

 

After about 4secs it will level out then start to bounce a little like normal.

 

Its incorrect trims learning imo.

Check your air filter for kinks, dirt, or excessive oil. It may be due to the design of the induction piping if you installed an aftermarket setup.

 

every time mine has done that I have popped the hood and found that the connection for the air intake was off right at the throttle body, I have an aftermarket intake and I think it just doesn't move enough with the engine and eventually just pulls off under hard accel.

 

alright so get this, i have a 2.2 and used to have a similar problem. I found i had a short in the wiring for the LED's in the projectors and that was doing something to my car, anyway, i took everything out of my car and rewired everything and my car is fine now. try disconnecting everything but the basics and go from there.

 

Thanks everyone for the ideas, I will try them all 2night after work.

 

just an idea since i have this similar issue and have had it on my last car too.

When i had my celica with erratic idle issues, all I had to do was use a q tip with some cleaner on it and lightly clean the Maf sensor since it had gotten dirty over time. It cleared the issue right up in my celica, I'd lie to try it in the balt but i need to see how easy it is to get to the sensor element to clean it off.

 

Everytime I do an oil change I clean my MAF sensor with electrical parts cleaner and clean the filter, AEM dry flow so no oil. But my problem is resolved, changed my plugs from Bosch 4+ to Autolite XP Iridium's...runs a lot smoother than before. Again thanks everyone for the help.