Chevrolet Repair: 04 impala 3.4 engine...idles too low, vacuum leak, waterpump


Question
QUESTION: My car was running hot according to the gauge on the dash.  My husband changed the thermostat and was going to change the water pump if that didn't work.  He had to take the throttle sensor and airflow stuff off to get to the thermostat.  He successfully changed it.  Well after putting everything back together my car now idles too low.  Not a problem before.  He changed the throttle sensor b/c when he took the plug thingy out of the air tube it would idle better..After putting 2 different sensors on the car no changes it still idles too low.  Any ideas what could be wrong since the sensor is new.

ANSWER: HI PENNY,,THIS COULD BE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS IT [FORGET HOW TO IDLE].AFTER HE REPLACED ALL OF THE ABOVE, HAVE YOU DRIVEN THE CAR OVER 5 MILES AT 55 MPH ??? IF NOT, DO SO. THIS WILL RELEARN THE IAC [IDLE AIR CONTROL MOTOR] HOW TO SET ITSELF..THE REASON WHY IT IDLED BETTER AFTER HE REMOVED THE HOSE FROM THE THROTTLE BODY WAS BECAUSE IT CREATED A VACUUM LEAK,WHICH INTERNED RAISDED THE IDLE. BEFORE YOU DRIVE THIS MAKE SURE THAT HUBBY PLUGGED ALL OF THE SENSORS BACK TOGETHER. SUCH AS THE IAC MOTOR AND [TPS>> THROTTLE POSTIONING SENSOR.]IF HE DID, THEN DRIVE IT AND SEE IF THIS TAKES CARE OF THE PROBLEM..SOMETHINBG TO KNOW,IT IS EASIER TO REMOVE THE EXH MANIFOLD TO REPLACE THE T-STAT. ALSO,, TELL HIM TO NOT REPLACE THE WATERPUMP,I DO NOT THINK THIS IS THE PROBLEM. HAVE YOU CHECKED THE COOLING FANS IN FRONT OF THE RADIATOR ??? GET BACK TO ME ON THIS IF THIS DOES NOT HELP YOU,,,,TOM..

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hey Tom,
The car isn't running hot anymore seems the thermostat has fixed that.  Fans are fine and he double checked all the sensors under the hood to be sure that they are secure.  He drove the car this morning down the interstate 70 mph for about 30 miles.  The car ran fine once it was hot and when he got home he let it idle in the driveway and it ran fine.  He let it cool off and started it again just now and again its idling too low.  Do you know of anything else he could do?  Thanks...Penny

Answer
HI PENNY, AT THIS POINT IT IS JUST A GUESS. BUT I WOULD THINK FROM WHAT YOU TOLD ME IT MAY HAVE A BAD OR STICKY IAC MOTOR. [IDLE AIR CONTROL] IF YOU HAD A SCAN TOOL WE COULD TELL FOR SURE. YOU MAY WANT TO DRIVE THIS AGAIN ,YOU DO NOT NEED TO GO THAT FAR IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO. SOMETIMES THESE VALVES GET STICKY AND DONT ADJUST  THE IDLE SPEED AS THEY SHOULD. THIS MAY TAKE A DAY OR TWO TO RESET ITSELF IF IT IS STICKY. THE FACT THAT AFTER YOU DROVE IT A WHILE IT WAS OK AND THEN WHEN IT COOLED DOWN IT ACTED UP. SOUNDS LIKE A STICKY VALVE.. SO KEEP DRIVING IT FOR WHILE WITH 2 FEET TO KEEP THE IDLE UP AT A STOP LIGHT OR WHAT EVER,, THIS MAY TAKE CARE OF IT..IF NO, I WOULD SUGGEST YOU TAKE THIS TO A SHOP THAT CAN RUN A LIVE DATA SCAN ON THIS AND SEE WHAT IS UP.. I DONT WANT YOU TO SPEND MONEY ON A IAC IF THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM..I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU AND TAKES CARE OF IT,,IF NOT LET ME KNOW... TOM