QuestionHello, I have a 1993 eagle talon ES hatchback 2.0 5 speed. I've had it for only a month and the other day it started stalling on me for no reason, but only when idling or in neutral, and when it didnt stall, it would idle really low and shake really bad, it also hesitates when I accelerate. I put in new plugs and wires and it was still stalling on me after that. The stalling happened for a day and a half and then all of a sudden it was running like it used to and idleing correctly and no stalls, but i still have hesitation. The check engine light never came on and I had no error codes. Here is some more info that might help.
my idle speed drops significantly when i turn my headlights on (drops about 200 rpms), I dont know if this should happen or not.
the engine shakes noticeably when idling, but not when driving.
i have used gumout in my fuel tank twice but not very recently
biss screw is still there
i changed the plastic that covers my cluster bezel and that is when the severe idling and stalling problems started happening, probably coincidence, but i unhooked the battery before i starting taking the dash cover off. could i have done something under there?
thanks for your help in advance!
AnswerAaron,
Thanks for all the info. I think your problem occuring after changing the cover for the bezel is a coincidence.
It sounds as though you may have a couple possible problems. Your alternator could be dying. The Mitsu alternators last rougly 7-10 years. If yours is the original, it may be on it's last legs. The alternators usually give a LOT of warning before they completely die. Mine gave me about 3 years of warning. If you have an Auto Zone, Advanced Auto Parts, or PepBoys in your area, they can load test your alternator for free. Just drive over an ask them to test it.
Another possible cause is of your problem could be a bad Idle Air Control (IAC) motor. This motor is attached to your throttle body and regulates the amount of air that can bypass your throttle plate while your foot is not on the accelerator (i.e. you're idling at a stop). If you have a Haynes service manual, (about $15) they provide the simple procedure to test the IAC yourself. Much cheaper to buy the book than taking your car to a mechanic and paying them $100 to test it for you. It would also be a good idea to remove and clean your throttle body and EGR valve. The service manual provides detailed instructions on how to do that as well.
If none of these items seems to pinpoint your problem, you should have your car's computer checked out. Read this article for further information:
http://www.90gsx.com/eclipse/cap/caps.htm
If your ECU is starting to go bad, it may cause this problem. But look into the other areas I mentioned first before spending money on replacing the ECU.
