Smooth idle

[DrewSHorn]

Got a question about the idle on my 87 GN. Just bought the car. I sold my ZR1 to try the Buick since I've always wanted one.

My question is the idle. I just can't get the car to idle smooth. The car has a Red Armstrong 93 chip in it, stock injectors. It's basically stock with an K&N filter, MAF pipe and ATR 2.5 dual exhaust. The idle just seems to hunt all of the time and is never smooth. Not smooth like my v8 was. It seems to hunt and even when it does smooth out, it still hunts like from 700 rpm up to 850 rpm. Is this normal??? This is driving me crazy. Please help!

Drew S.

[Chuck]

Got a question about the idle on my 87 GN. Just bought the car. I sold my ZR1 to try the Buick since I've always wanted one.

My question is the idle. I just can't get the car to idle smooth. The car has a Red Armstrong 93 chip in it, stock injectors. It's basically stock with an K&N filter, MAF pipe and ATR 2.5 dual exhaust. The idle just seems to hunt all of the time and is never smooth. Not smooth like my v8 was. It seems to hunt and even when it does smooth out, it still hunts like from 700 rpm up to 850 rpm. Is this normal??? This is driving me crazy. Please help!

Drew S.

Try this site: www.gnttype@gnttype.org
There is plenty of tuning info there to keep you interested for a long time.
Also, you will need a good scan tool to report findings on the Buick sites if you want on-line help.

HTH,

[DrewSHorn]

Chuck,

Thanks for the response. I should've included this in my original message, but I read all of the IAC information on the gnttype.org site. I did the minimum air setting and the reset procedure. I have turbolink, and it came with my car. The IAC counts are in the ranges recommended on the gnttype.org. I've also pulled the IAC off and cleaned it. Any other ideas?

Thanks,

Drew S.

[Bruce]

Not smooth like my v8 was.
It seems to hunt and even when it does smooth out, it still hunts like from 700 rpm up to 850 rpm. Is this normal???

A v6 is going to idle rougher then a v8. The cylinder firings are 120d apart, rather then 90, so it will have the natural tendency to be rougher. That being said, many idle good, but good is an opinion.

The hunting maybe a sign of something else being wrong.
Try a new set of A/C spark plugs and a bottle of GM fuel injector cleaner.

[HairDrier]

My car never idled well either when it was stock and had the same chip you have. Things I did that made the car idle sweet.
1. Tuneup as Bruce suggested, and replaced two bad vacuum lines
2. Added an RJC power plate from www.rjcracing.com, I saw an immediate improvement
3. I added an LT1 MAF and translator. Turns out my original MAF was fine, but the LT1 MAF idled and drove much smoother
4. When I replaced my wore out stock injectors with 36# blue top injectors it idled even better, and fuel didnt leak into the cylinders when the engine was shut down

[Danster]

I too have a Trans + with an LT1 MAF and Blue Tops.

I previously was using a stock MAF setup with Blue Tops and a Thrasher 92 chip. Car ran good, idle was nice. I added the Trans + and the LT1 MAF and continued to use the the Trasher 92 chip. I didn't notice much of a difference. I recently purchased and installed the Extender chip and WOW, it made a big difference in my idle and throttle response. I have a super smooth idle (smooth as glass).

I've heard the best setup is a trans + with an LS1 MAF. I may upgrade to an LS1 MAF later, but for now I'm not touching a thing.

I give this setup a big Thumbs up! :top:

Dannyo

[turbodave]

Chuck,

Thanks for the response. I should've included this in my original message, but I read all of the IAC information on the gnttype.org site. I did the minimum air setting and the reset procedure. I have turbolink, and it came with my car. The IAC counts are in the ranges recommended on the gnttype.org. I've also pulled the IAC off and cleaned it. Any other ideas?

Thanks,

Drew S.If you're sure your IAC's are OK(you didn't mention any actual numbers), how's your TPS settings?

What do your idle BLM's look like?

[Killrv6]

this may have been said,
but these cars are old and the stock fuel injectors will cause the car to idle rough from being cloged and deteriorated over the years.

if you are planing on modafying the car anyways, switch to a set of 009 injectors or maby even 50s. if you are planing on leaving the car stock, go to somthing smaller and closer to stock.
when i changed my fuel injectors on my 160k mile car, i noticed a much nicer idle. silky.

also, check the BLMs like some others said. check the PCV and replace it if neded. go through the little check valves at various places under the hood and blow through them to see if they are functioning.