Car idles fine for a little bit then starts panting and will die unless you rev it up

[SlideWise]

Car idles fine for a little bit then starts panting and will die unless you rev it up. After revving it up the problem goes away for a little then will come back. The panting will get worse and worse until the engine just shakes then it dies.

I can hear the fuel pump whining if i get next to the tank, almost a consistent tone with the panting but im unsure if the rough idle is affecting the amount of voltage going to the pump causing this effect or if its the pump?

Any suggestions what my issue may be?

[SlideWise]

Anyone know what the fuel pressure should be at? What all should i check?

[Redmonkey]

Have checked if you had any vacuum leaks? Does it do that only when you start it up fresh or even when the engine is warm?

[SlideWise]

Thats just it, its weird that you cant get it to do anything consistently. As far as i can tell all the vacuum lines look ok and ive been all over this car.

Long story short car sat for 6 month with a bad auto tranny. I did a 5 speed swap and drove it without any issues for the past week and a half(about 200 miles) then it started doing this. I thought it was the vacuum solenoid on the back drive side of the motor since it was unplugged(electrical plug). After plugging it back in the panting went away and i thought it was fixed. Came back 10 minutes later and it fired up with out any issues idles fine for a bit then it started panting again.

Its odd because one second its idling fine then it will start panting (after idling and warming up for a bit but not necessarily fully warmed up) and will continue to get worse until it either kills itself or you rev it up. If you rev it up then it will idle fine for a bit then it goes back to panting usually after a minute, sometimes longer.

I just did a tune up on the car too... about 200 miles ago. I replaced the plugs, fuel filter, 02 sensor, and air filter. Since the car sat for so long i thought it would be a good idea to run some lucas fuel injection cleaner though the system as well so i poured a bottle in the tank a few days ago.

[Fullboost TM]

Anyone know what the fuel pressure should be at? What all should i check?

Should be at 30psi.

[Phlip]

Have you checked the IACV?
That is often the cause of what you've described.

[KiLLeR2001]

^ Most likely IACV. Pull it off and clean it up. Or try the seafoam method first.

[SlideWise]

^ Most likely IACV. Pull it off and clean it up. Or try the seafoam method first.

Seafoam method?

[KiLLeR2001]

All this information is available to you if you search. Buy a can of Seafoam, suck up about 1/3rd of it through the brake booster line. There's also plenty of videos on youtube on how to do this.

[Redmonkey]

All this information is available to you if you search. Buy a can of Seafoam, suck up about 1/3rd of it through the brake booster line. There's also plenty of videos on youtube on how to do this.


Yes! Seafoam is great. My engine used to do that on cold starts but after seafoam it got a lot better at idling. Engine revs sounds a lot smoother also. Half tank of gas only lasted me a barely a week of driving to work and back.. now a half tank will get me almost 2 weeks of driving from home and work.