First engine issue? (rough idle)

[SLSduke82]

Well, I thought yesterday it might be a one-time thing, but this morning confirms my RL might be having its first engine issue! (Is that like a kid getting his or her first tooth?)

Anyway, after work last night, take the 10 min walk to the surface lot, get in my baby, and key it on. I always let it idle for a little before heading out.

Starts up fine. RPMs settle around 1200 or so, like it usually does while cold. Maybe 20 to 25 seconds pass. RPMs drop to 1000, stay there for a few seconds, then down to 400 or 500. Obviously, damn thing is chugging and shaking.

I just watch the tach, hoping against hope . It chugs for maybe 8-10 seconds, almost quits, then the ECU seems to see something's wrong and bumps the RPMs up to about 2000. There it stays for about 10 seconds, then the car idled and drove fine home.

Now...same thing happened this morning. Normal idle --> to a chug/ almost quit --> up to 2k RPMs --> normal idle.

Hasn't happened to me before. Coming up on 11,000 miles. Oil just changed. 94 octane gas.

Only difference is the weather. It's been low to mid 30s in morning and evening. Soaking wet, too. Further, on these cold morning, it feels like it's hesitating below 3k RPMs in 2nd and 3rd once I'm moving. It all goes away once engine temp gets up.

But still--damn car shouldn't be doing this. I'll see what happens tonight, but in the mean time, anyone have something like this happen? I'll end up taking it to the dealer, probably, but might be worth having something in mind as I go in.

(Second, unrelated issue, and I don't feel like making a seperate post. The dealer put their logo on the trunk, under the ION symbol. Leaves enough space for my supercharged logos coming in the mail, but I'm tired of advertising for em. Anyone have any suggestions as to have to remove? They're seperate letters, probably to make removing it harder )

[SoupsRedline]

I haven't had any engine trouble while idling like you are, but more than once I have felt a weird lack of power below 3K in 2nd/3rd gear. Not sure what it is though. But after driving for another minute or so it doesn't do it again. But I do know what your talking about. Let us know if you do take it to the dealer and what they say could be the problem.

[brk_05]

I haven't had the rough idle issue, but the hesitation below 3k rpms when its cold always happens to me. I just dont think the RL likes starting in cold weather. My s-10 use to be the same way, needed to warm up before it ran normal.

As for the pleasant hills stickers, I used a hair dryer to heat em up a bit and pealed each one off inidividually. Yes, it was a pain in the ass. After i got all of the letters off, I was having trouble getting all the goo off. The thing that worked best for me was windex.

[TMRRedline]

I have the same problem happen, but only in the morning when its cold. I have just passed it off as just being cold. A few revs and its fine. Let me know if u take it in and there are problems.

[Sp00ner]

That dosen't sound totally normal to me. My car give a little attitude for about the first 2-3 min. NOTHING like what he's describing though. Have you checked everything since the oil change? All the connections and such? Any of the vacuum lines being loose can cause this, as well as misc intake connections.

[SLSduke82]

Originally Posted by Sp00ner

That dosen't sound totally normal to me. My car give a little attitude for about the first 2-3 min. NOTHING like what he's describing though. Have you checked everything since the oil change? All the connections and such? Any of the vacuum lines being loose can cause this, as well as misc intake connections.

No. Didn't check, but will. They did the oil change (first one free, even if mine was used).

If it does it again after work, I'll call the dealer tomorrow and set up a drop off time. Not like I need the speed of my RL now, anyway. Wouldn't mind having a loaner Ion QC or Vue to beat the shit out of for a few days

And yes, it's a QUICK problem. Just a drop, some chugging, then up to 2,000 RPMs before back to idle. I dunno. Otherwise, runs fine.

[Sp00ner]

Originally Posted by SLSduke82

No. Didn't check, but will. They did the oil change (first one free, even if mine was used).

If it does it again after work, I'll call the dealer tomorrow and set up a drop off time. Not like I need the speed of my RL now, anyway. Wouldn't mind having a loaner Ion QC or Vue to beat the shit out of for a few days

And yes, it's a QUICK problem. Just a drop, some chugging, then up to 2,000 RPMs before back to idle. I dunno. Otherwise, runs fine.

So wait, it just does it like once, maybe after you slow down or something? If it's just once or twice, right after you pull out in the morning, I might not worry to much. If it's sitting there bouncing up and down for like 2 mins, the whole time you're sitting at the light, nearly stalling, revving up, nearly stalling, etc... then you should be a little more concerned.

I'd still make sure to check everything. Did they just do the oil change? I'm not sure if they would unhook the battery, and if so, does the car need to relearn anything for the below average start-up temps...

If they offer you a loaner, get a V6 Vue. If possible. NICE ride.

[SLSduke82]

Originally Posted by Sp00ner

So wait, it just does it like once, maybe after you slow down or something? If it's just once or twice, right after you pull out in the morning, I might not worry to much. If it's sitting there bouncing up and down for like 2 mins, the whole time you're sitting at the light, nearly stalling, revving up, nearly stalling, etc... then you should be a little more concerned.

I'd still make sure to check everything. Did they just do the oil change? I'm not sure if they would unhook the battery, and if so, does the car need to relearn anything for the below average start-up temps...

If they offer you a loaner, get a V6 Vue. If possible. NICE ride.

It does it while parked. I get in the car after its been sitting for 7+ hours (either morning or after work). Start it up. Does the low RPM chug, ECU bumps the engine up to 2000 RPM, and it smooths out before I even go. It's done it a total of three times now.

Once moving, *knock on wood*, haven't had an issue.

[K-Train04RL]

if they arent cheap decals a heat gun, and then peal u should have no goo

[Sp00ner]

Originally Posted by SLSduke82

It does it while parked. I get in the car after its been sitting for 7+ hours (either morning or after work). Start it up. Does the low RPM chug, ECU bumps the engine up to 2000 RPM, and it smooths out before I even go. It's done it a total of three times now.

Once moving, *knock on wood*, haven't had an issue.

Ahhh... ok... that's reasonably normal to me then. If it gets worse, or starts stalling, I'd be concerned. If you're going in to the dealer anyway, you might want to bring it up.