engine problems

Hey everyone, I have a problem. It seems that a friend of mine, who knows a hellava lot about engines has told me that I possibly have a valve train problem. So my question is can it be fixed or should I start looking for another engine? I have put so much TLC into this car I would hate to have to undo all of it if I have to junk it.

OK hear are some symptoms, although I think its one of those things you just have to hear for yourself but I'll try my best.

And it's actually 3 problems I think. To start off I have an idle that just will not stay steady and will sometime stick, it'll idle at around 1000 but continuously drop to about 500 and back up again. It also rises in RPM a bit before it drops when I push the clutch to change gears and even then it is REALLY slow to drop. I have checked the cable and the throttle body and found nothing. I changed the IAC but nothing. I cleaned the throttle body, still nothing. I cleaned the Air filter, still nothing. I think my buddy and I hear a vaccuum leak but can't find it yet. So hopefully we can and fix it.

Another symptom I am experiencing is a rattling while traveling in high RPM but it is not a constent thing. It only happens once and a while. If you listen VERY closely you can hear it at idle too.

I also get a check engine light once and a while too. It comes one for about 1 minute and goes off for about 30 seconds and come on again. it does this about 2-3 times then it stops. I thing that may be my O2 sensors.

And to top it all off none of this stuff really happens when the engine is cold, only after it has warmed up. And it all doesn't happen at the same time. So I don't thing they are related.

Therian said:

It doesn't sound like they're all related...not to me atleast.

#1. clean your MAF if you haven't already. this should help your idle surge. if it doesn't, make sure your ignition wires are not arcing (get your car in a dark garage, open the hood and check for arcing off the headers)

#2. your lifters may be worn. I'm going to leave this one to some of the more experienced guys to diagnose.

#3. it could be O2s. do you have Long Tube headers? Have you ran KOER codes?

Click to expand...

I haven't cleaned the MAF yet I guess it's worth a try and I'll look for arcing tonight.
I have short tube headers and no I have no means of running the codes yet.

thanks therian!!!