Thread: 3800 wont idle?

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  1. #1 3800 wont idle? 
    SE Level Member runn141's Avatar
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    i have 97 gran prix with a 3800 v6 series 2, every now and then it wont idle. i noticed it has blown oil out of the valve covers onto the intake and when it is acting up i can take the oil filler cap off and it will clear up and idle smooth. so i figure it is a clogged pcv valve, but there is none on the valve covers and i cant see where one is anywhere else. could it be something else? and where would i look for it?
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  2. #2 Re: 3800 wont idle? 
    SE Level Member beast3300's Avatar
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    the pcv valve is in the plastic intake manifold. There is a map sensor on top of it, you can find it opposite to the throttle body with a sensor on top. To remove it simply twist the cover off of it. You gotta be careful not to break the sensor on top of the cover to the valve. There are alot of things why you car may not idle. Do you have a check engine light on?
    Last edited by beast3300; 11-02-2008 at 03:57 PM. Reason: spelling
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  3. #3 Re: 3800 wont idle? 
    GrandPrix Junkie Sabrewings's Avatar
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    I'd venture you have a dirty idle air controller, in addition to a possibly clogged PCV valve.
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  4. #4 Re: 3800 wont idle? 
    SE Level Member runn141's Avatar
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    i have found it and removed it and it looks awful dirty to me, im gonna change it and see what happens. the motor would take spells every now and then and not idle like the fuel filter was clogged, but i have put a new one on already. and when i removed the oil filler cap it smoothed right up, so it has to be a crank case pressure issue. this car has 133,000 miles on it so i think the pcv valve is the original one on it. yes, the check engine light has been on for long time, maybe because i removed the catalytic converter.
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  5. #5 Re: 3800 wont idle? 
    SE Level Member runn141's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sabrewings View Post
    I'd venture you have a dirty idle air controller, in addition to a possibly clogged PCV valve.
    i have took the MAF sensor and cleaned the element with starting fluid, and helped alot. but that was another issue, it wouldnt stay running and when it did it wouldnt take fuel. so what i did fixed that.
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  6. #6 Re: 3800 wont idle? 
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    Have you checked the idle air controller?
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  7. #7 Re: 3800 wont idle? 
    SE Level Member runn141's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sabrewings View Post
    Have you checked the idle air controller?
    no, can you tell me where to look to find it?
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  8. #8 Re: 3800 wont idle? 
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    Towards the top of the throttle body. Looks like this:

    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...roller3800.jpg

    Of course, the pintle portion is inside the throttle body until you remove it. It'll probably be pretty dirty. Mine was dirty by 50k miles.
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  9. #9 Re: 3800 wont idle? 
    SE Level Member runn141's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by beast3300 View Post
    the pcv valve is in the plastic intake manifold. There is a map sensor on top of it, you can find it opposite to the throttle body with a sensor on top. To remove it simply twist the cover off of it. You gotta be careful not to break the sensor on top of the cover to the valve. There are alot of things why you car may not idle. Do you have a check engine light on?
    the map sensor that is on top of it, does it have anything to do with pcv itself? im thinking it may be the problem also.
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  10. #10 Re: 3800 wont idle? 
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    MAP sensor just detects the air pressure in the intake manifold. It doesn't have an effect over PCV operation.
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  11. #11 Re: 3800 wont idle? 
    SE Level Member runn141's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sabrewings View Post
    Towards the top of the throttle body. Looks like this:

    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...roller3800.jpg

    Of course, the pintle portion is inside the throttle body until you remove it. It'll probably be pretty dirty. Mine was dirty by 50k miles.
    can i just clean this with starting fluid or something else? i put a new PCV valve in and it still idled rough a couple of times.
    i noticed there was another sensor below it, what is it for?
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  12. #12 Re: 3800 wont idle? 
    GrandPrix Junkie Sabrewings's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by runn141 View Post
    can i just clean this with starting fluid or something else?
    Intake cleaner.

    Quote Originally Posted by runn141 View Post
    i noticed there was another sensor below it, what is it for?
    Throttle position sensor.
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  13. #13 Re: 3800 wont idle? 
    SE Level Member runn141's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sabrewings View Post
    Intake cleaner.



    Throttle position sensor.
    would carb and choke cleaner do ok?
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  14. #14 Re: 3800 wont idle? 
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    Just be careful. Those are harsh cleaners not meant for electronic parts. That's why I recommend intake cleaner which is safe for electronics.
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  15. #15 Re: 3800 wont idle? 
    SE Level Member runn141's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sabrewings View Post
    Just be careful. Those are harsh cleaners not meant for electronic parts. That's why I recommend intake cleaner which is safe for electronics.
    would electrical contact cleaner be alright then? reason i say this is i already have these cleaners and not the intake cleaner. im trying to save a trip to the parts store.
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  16. #16 Re: 3800 wont idle? 
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    Simple rule of thumb, start with the most mild solvent and work your way up.
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  17. #17 Re: 3800 wont idle? 
    GT Level Member WhiteGT's Avatar
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    Is there really anything you can clean on a tps sensor? I thought it was sealed up?
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  18. #18 Re: 3800 wont idle? 
    SE Level Member runn141's Avatar
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    i ended up putting a new air idle sensor in. the rpm still fluctuates at times and the engine dies. it runs ok at times until about 4500 rpm and a miss starts. after that it wont stay running. any ideas to what it is now before i go pay a fortune.
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