off-idle miss - CEG Archives

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Hot or cold, the engine stutters really bad when I hold it just higher than idle, mabye 1/8" of pedal travel. Problem is, thats all I need to keep the car going at speed, so its getting really annoying. Any throttle position above that the engine runs fine. Throttle response in nuetral is great, unless I try to rev it slowly from idle, then it bogs pretty bad. In gear, once I get the pedal past that point, the car accelerates smoothly.

In the last few weeks, I have installed new Autolite platinum plugs (proper gap), new wires, and replaced the timing belt. The miss was there before any of this was done, but was barely noticable and has gotten worse since. Reset PCM with no change. No CEL.

What do you think? TPS? Coil?

On an unrelated note, my timing belt shredded while on the highway last week. One of the tensioners froze up, and the result was an engine covered in black dust that used to be the timing belt. Got it changed in a bank parking lot in under 3 hours. I used my spark plug cover for a cam timing tool. Thank God for non-interference engines

TIA for any help.

Funny thing you said this.....my Tour did it's whole life. I just gave up....the car ran fine.

I thought it was odd, glad I know I wasn't going nuts.

Interesting. I wonder if this is a common problem.

ya its common, my bottom idler froze up and literally exploded in the timing belt chamber.

I collected all the balls, replaced all of the parts and now my belt is running offcenter.

Mine had a rough idle with the idler all out of place since the tensioner was being stressed. The idle was rough everything else ran just bcs it would surpass that initial stress from the parts in there.

It seems to be common for the idler to go, good idea to replace them all.

Any idea why the belt would be running offcenter towards the outer rim? please let me know, im trying to fix mine up.

YES thank GOD for non interference engines.

Originally posted by linuxglobal:
YES thank GOD for non interference engines.

lol don't say that i'll never change my timing belt now till it breaks

you can change it, just make sure its done properly, all new idlers and tensioner.

Non interference engines are great bcs theres no valve damage, so guys like us can actually play around with them. OTherwise you would see many scrap ford engines around LOL.

TPS comes in tomorrow. We will see if it helps. For only $25 its not a huge loss if it doesnt.

If not, Im probably gonna look into a new stock or MSD coil. Since both pieces are factory, it wont hurt to replace them anyway.

whats a TPS????

T position sensor?
If its the cam position sensor its a waste, i did the same thing and it was a mulched up idler (the bottom one)

If the car runs perfectly above idle, its something in ur timing, either a broken tensioner or idler that mulching up the belt. Remove the timing belt cover and just take a look, if the belt is cut, scratched or u see excess rubber in there. Get the timing belt / tensioner/ idlers replaced.

Trust me, its worth it in the long run. Just as long as a mechanic does the tensioning LOL.. I still need to get that done.

Originally posted by CRZYDRVR:
TPS comes in tomorrow. We will see if it helps. For only $25 its not a huge loss if it doesnt.

If not, Im probably gonna look into a new stock or MSD coil. Since both pieces are factory, it wont hurt to replace them anyway.

I replaced my TPS about 6 times and never did the problem went away.

My mom's tour done the same thing and it turned out that it was the PCV valve. After the guy done that it ran fine.

Originally posted by linuxglobal:
whats a TPS????

T position sensor?

Throttle position sensor

Originally posted by linuxglobal:
If the car runs perfectly above idle, its something in ur timing, either a broken tensioner or idler that mulching up the belt. Remove the timing belt cover and just take a look, if the belt is cut, scratched or u see excess rubber in there. Get the timing belt / tensioner/ idlers replaced.

All timing belt components are brand new, Im confident nothing there is the source of the problem. PCV valve is brand new also.

Starting to think its something Im gonna have to live with

Remove timing belt cover and take a look.

If u see anything in there (ie dust) youre screwed.

Just have a look, mine ran great but stalled at the lights with a messed up idler (its at the very bottom) but it was messed, ball bearings all over the place.

If not just get a local shop to look at it. Replacing odds and ends will just run up ur bill for no reason. I tried the cam position sensor but no luck. Most sensors will come under the check engine light.

My car stalled on the highway, no codes LOL. Now its all better, i found why it was runnign offcenter. One of the idlers (that bottom crap unit) seems to be fault, so im getting a new one and getting a local mechanic friend of mine to help me install it properly.

Good luck guys.

I always had dust in mine (had adjustable cam gear and no cover)

Anyway my car always did it, despite the fact during its 140k life (until I sold it) I never changed the PCV valve and never replaced any of the idler pullies for the timing belt.

my car hasnt done this yet. It has about 108k right now. It ran perfectly until this little incident.

Otherwise its great for a little 4 inline. Engine sounds better than most imports IMO. Ive never really abused it tho, so that may be why.

Did u supercharger urs?? must been quite a bit of fun to drive LOL..

BTW hows the evo? Great car for the money?

I was looking for a honda civic si for my mom (the contour is hers). But I like the look of the evo as well.

Hopefully i can get the contour running to sell it off, its amazing that that body is in excellent shape. Just finished up the headlights (im a retrofitter) but otherwise no damange or rust on the body parts.

Originally posted by linuxglobal:
my car hasnt done this yet. It has about 108k right now. It ran perfectly until this little incident.

Otherwise its great for a little 4 inline. Engine sounds better than most imports IMO. Ive never really abused it tho, so that may be why.

Did u supercharger urs?? must been quite a bit of fun to drive LOL..

BTW hows the evo? Great car for the money?

I was looking for a honda civic si for my mom (the contour is hers). But I like the look of the evo as well.

Hopefully i can get the contour running to sell it off, its amazing that that body is in excellent shape. Just finished up the headlights (im a retrofitter) but otherwise no damange or rust on the body parts.

Yes I put a Jackson Racing supercharger on it...first one.

With a Mustang GT MAF, 42# injectors, CTA intake, 2.6" pulley, custom chip, and 4-1 header/custom exhaust I made 160 WHP with my auto (about 70 more WHP than stock). It was fun.

As far as the Evo, it is a definite step up from the Contour. I mean everything. Not to mention I got it for a steal. It has some mods already....and is getting faster and faster.