Idle controls

[Liquid_Neon]

So my car ccan hardly idle to save it's life. when its cold its high (like 1200-1400) and idles. Once the temp gets up to normal though, it tries to drop down to 900 or so and just stumbles and falls on its face and likes to stall.
Now these are the original idles that were on my ca18de back when i drove the pulsar as my daily, used to work just fine. (it has sat for 4 years in my yard)
My tps my be a little funny cause when in gear it doesn't always immediatly kill the injectors and decell.

Keep in mind i'm still running the ca18de pulsar ecu with det injectors and an safc2.
I am open to suggestions to fix this

[Buddyworm]

Pull ECU codes and see if any of those have been triggered first.

My guess is either gummed up plunger on your idle control valve, Idle switch on your TPS not being triggered, O2 sensor bad, or vac leak.

[Liquid_Neon]

Ah yes, well last i checked i had no codes for idle stuff. jsut a 21 which is all better cause i unplugged some stuff. I know theres no vac leaks cause i smoked the whole intake system with evap equipment. O2 sensor with 200miles on it

So could be tps or bad idle controls? I guess i can clean out all the idle controls whenever i ge the chance... i should look into a tps maybe since it seems to act funny when i leave it in gear and am off the pedal.

[Buddyworm]

Well the ECU uses the idle switch (integrated with the TPS sensor unit) to tell it when to switch over to the idle/decel timing maps as well as cut fuel on the overrun. If it doesn't receive the signal from the TPS to switch over it continues referencing the standard ignition and timing maps which would tell it to keep injecting fuel. My guess at this point is that the idle switch is not making contact or is making contact inconsistently which could be caused by throttle cable tension, throttle pulley screw set to high etc.

Diagnosis procedure for the Idle Switch on the TPS can be found in the FSM under EF & EC - 94.

[cbh148]

Well the ECU uses the idle switch (integrated with the TPS sensor unit) to tell it when to switch over to the idle/decel timing maps as well as cut fuel on the overrun. If it doesn't receive the signal from the TPS to switch over it continues referencing the standard ignition and timing maps which would tell it to keep injecting fuel. My guess at this point is that the idle switch is not making contact or is making contact inconsistently which could be caused by throttle cable tension, throttle pulley screw set to high etc.

Diagnosis procedure for the Idle Switch on the TPS can be found in the FSM under EF & EC - 94.

I'm thinking this may have something to do with how mine's been acting since I just put idle control stuff back on. Go to my thread and give me your theories!

[boost_boy]

If you are using the pulsar's components, then it is time to change them. Post up a pic of your set-up and I maybe able to help you with that dilemma. That SAFC thing spooks me, but hey it's just the way I feel about little pretty magic boxes; they get you in trouble and have you confused as well as bewildered everytime..

[float_6969]

Buddyworm is right about the TPS. If the closed throttle switch isn't closing the ECU isn't looking at the right maps to control the engine correctly.

[cbh148]

Buddyworm is right about the TPS. If the closed throttle switch isn't closing the ECU isn't looking at the right maps to control the engine correctly.

So if my TPS reads .46 volts with the throttle at rest, does that mean the throttle switch is closed and the ECU is reading the correct maps?

And can we use Pulsar AAC idle controls on our 180sx CA18's? I'm tempted to order a brand new one from OReilly's.

[Liquid_Neon]

Yeah dee, i'll take a photo of my setup. seems fine i think, could either one or both the tps and idle controler itself for all i know.
back when the car was NA and my daily it idled wicked high sumtimes, but never stumbled.
If the controls themselves aren't to blame im sure the bigger injectors dont help, even though it seems to bounce the A/F pretty good.

[float_6969]

No, there are 2 plugs associated with the TPS. The plug connected to the TPS with the wires coming out is the actual TPS output. The plug that goes directly on the TPS, is the full throttle/idle switch. It should read basically 0 resistance on the 2 pins when the throttle is closed. If it has 3 pins, it's for an automatic, which isn't a big deal, it just has another switch to tell the TCU to kick down the transmission when the throttle is opened all the way. If this doesn't work, then the ECU may not idle properly. If this is working, then you have an issue with wiring or the idle control valves.

[float_6969]

Something else I just thought of, you need to make sure the idle control valves on the side of the manifold have 12V+ power being supplied to them whenever the ignition is in the "ON" position, and that the fast idle valve under the TB, has 12V+ on one wire when the engine is running (it runs in parallel with the fuel pump actually) and has ground on the other wire. If this isn't the case, then there is a wiring issue.