spark knocking and idle sticking

romgolferman

Founding Member
Mar 24, 2001
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St. Louis
first my car started idleing really high. it will go down in 10 or 15 seconds usually. when driving on the highway i noticed when i would push on the clutch when the rpms didnt stick it would drop to about 1200 then bounce back and forth between 1200 and 2000 rpms. Then last night it started sparkknocking really bad. i put good gas in it and it still does it.
 
What kind of "computer chip" (brand, generic or custom tune...) are you running?

Unless you got a bad batch of gas chances are your timing is set too high.

Was this at wide open throttle or just while normally driving?
 
romgolferman:

As suggested, check that the chip is firmly seated and hasn't moved. Next, look for a vacuum leak (so check all the hoses connected to the intake, the PCV hose, and the clamps). Pull the PCV and shake it, it should rattle easily. Clean your IAC valve and be careful not to tear the gasket when removing the valve from the upper plenum.

HTH,

Chris
 
knockin

ok i dont think it is a spark knock i think it is a rod knocking. ok clutch starts screwing up, throttle starts sticking and a rod starts knocking all about the same time. it only has 35000 miles on it. wtf
 
romgolferman:

If the knocking is audible through the RPM range, it is likely a rod (sorry to say). But it could be related to the clutch since that is a known problem and transmission sounds can imitate engine sounds.

If it is a rod, you have company. I have come across quite a few rod knock threads and one frequent cause is low oil level. Not severely low, either, just a quart. A run up to redline and the missing volume usually is what does the rod in. On the bright side, you can get the bottom end built nicely and it will handle anything thrown at it.

I hope it's the clutch and not a rod problem.

Chris
 
its not audible all the time. that is why i thought it was a spark knock. im going to check all the stuff tomorrow that i was told to check. what is the iac. is there and test i can run or things i can check to see it it is a rod.
 
romgolferman:

The IAC is the little silver can that is on the upper plenum and it points at you. There is an electrical connector on it. Take it off carefully so the gasket does not rip and then you can watch the pintle move as you put 5 V to the solenoid. It will click open and closed as you put voltage on and off.

Rod knock will be heard from idle up through the RPM range and will not fade. It sounds like your engine may not be suffering from rod knock if the noise is intermittent. That is good news.

Are you hearing injector noise through the intake? That sound is more 'clicky' than a knock, though. Chain guide is another possibility. The cam chains ride over banana-shaped guides and there have been some threads (maybe here?) where the plastic lining has separated from the aluminum arm. This can make for some racket at start-up and under load. Not a high pitched click, not a knock, somewhere in between.

Chris