How to change idle speed?

[stub101]

Hi all

Read numerous posts on slightly increasing the idle speed to try sort some of the cold running issues that I am having at the moment, but...

Which is the adjuster that I need to be looking at? there appears to be two screws which could be the adjusters, and I am confused as to which one I need to be concentrating on. Any advice, or even pics would be really helpful

Cheers

[David Godfrey]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

This post should help and there are pics on there, it helped me.

HTH

[stub101]

Thanks for that - I was searching high and low for those pictures.

Changed the idle today but think I set it a little high when re-tighterning the lock nut!!!! Set it to around 1000rpm which I am hoping will be OK. It was starting to get dark so wasnt really any time for re-adjustment.

Cheers

[stub101]

When I got in the car this morning and it warmed up the idle speed had increased slightly from when I changed it last night.

Its now sitting at 1000-1050-1100 rpm. Is that now definitely too high and gonna cause me issues?

Edited by stub101 on Monday 5th November 12:34

[holmsie]

Is it idling at 1000-1050 when stone cold?
If so, i would say that's too high.
800-850 when cold would be about right. This will rise when the engine warms up, probably to about 1000.

Was it really dead simple to do, because i need to do this as well?

[stub101]

holmsie said:

Is it idling at 1000-1050 when stone cold?
If so, i would say that's too high.
800-850 when cold would be about right. This will rise when the engine warms up, probably to about 1000.

Was it really dead simple to do, because i need to do this as well?

No - when cold this morning it was around 800 and had no issues cutting out etc.. and then as it warmed up and got to temp it was sitting at around 1000-1050rpm. Felt much nicer to drive also.

The whole thing was dead easy really, but the hardest bit is tightening the lock nut once you have got it right. Dead easy with two people I suppose but a bit of to and fro'ing if your doing it on your own.

Just use the link earlier in the thread and you'll be sorted.

[T66ORA]

stub101 said:

holmsie said:

Is it idling at 1000-1050 when stone cold?
If so, i would say that's too high.
800-850 when cold would be about right. This will rise when the engine warms up, probably to about 1000.

Was it really dead simple to do, because i need to do this as well?

No - when cold this morning it was around 800 and had no issues cutting out etc.. and then as it warmed up and got to temp it was sitting at around 1000-1050rpm. Felt much nicer to drive also.

The whole thing was dead easy really, but the hardest bit is tightening the lock nut once you have got it right. Dead easy with two people I suppose but a bit of to and fro'ing if your doing it on your own.

Just use the link earlier in the thread and you'll be sorted.

Well you are nearly there then
Get the car up to normal temp, open the bonnet and have your tools ready, rev to 3k rpm and hold for a few secs, release and note the idle speed, repeat to 3k rpm, let the idle settle and adjust to 950 rpm (easier with lap top and software of course)
Tighten lock nut. Then rev to 3k rpm and hold for a few secs, release to idle, and have a final check, it should be 950 rpm, do this tonight and you should have 750/800rpm cold tomorrow with a bit of luck

[stub101]

T66ORA said:

stub101 said:

holmsie said:

Is it idling at 1000-1050 when stone cold?
If so, i would say that's too high.
800-850 when cold would be about right. This will rise when the engine warms up, probably to about 1000.

Was it really dead simple to do, because i need to do this as well?

No - when cold this morning it was around 800 and had no issues cutting out etc.. and then as it warmed up and got to temp it was sitting at around 1000-1050rpm. Felt much nicer to drive also.

The whole thing was dead easy really, but the hardest bit is tightening the lock nut once you have got it right. Dead easy with two people I suppose but a bit of to and fro'ing if your doing it on your own.

Just use the link earlier in the thread and you'll be sorted.

Well you are nearly there then
Get the car up to normal temp, open the bonnet and have your tools ready, rev to 3k rpm and hold for a few secs, release and note the idle speed, repeat to 3k rpm, let the idle settle and adjust to 950 rpm (easier with lap top and software of course)
Tighten lock nut. Then rev to 3k rpm and hold for a few secs, release to idle, and have a final check, it should be 950 rpm, do this tonight and you should have 750/800rpm cold tomorrow with a bit of luck

Laptop and software - I need to get me one of those.

How do I buy / acquire the software and cables required etc??????

That sounds much easier

[holmsie]

stub101 said:

holmsie said:

Is it idling at 1000-1050 when stone cold?
If so, i would say that's too high.
800-850 when cold would be about right. This will rise when the engine warms up, probably to about 1000.

Was it really dead simple to do, because i need to do this as well?

No - when cold this morning it was around 800 and had no issues cutting out etc.. and then as it warmed up and got to temp it was sitting at around 1000-1050rpm. Felt much nicer to drive also.

The whole thing was dead easy really, but the hardest bit is tightening the lock nut once you have got it right. Dead easy with two people I suppose but a bit of to and fro'ing if your doing it on your own.

Just use the link earlier in the thread and you'll be sorted.

This sounds exactly what mine was like after i had it in the dealer last month to get the idle increased and a general tune-up. When i got it back it was idling at the same levels as yours and it was great, like you say, much nicer to drive!!
As mentioned in another thread though, i found that if the car was at full temp. and i stopped to get petrol for instance, on restarting the engine the idle would climb to about 1500 for about 10 seconds before settling down to 1000-1100. Don't know why, but assume it's not a problem!
The problem is it goes out of tune so quickly, so about a month after being set higher it justs drops back down to a low idle, so it'll be great if this fix works well!!!

[stub101]

holmsie said:

stub101 said:

holmsie said:

Is it idling at 1000-1050 when stone cold?
If so, i would say that's too high.
800-850 when cold would be about right. This will rise when the engine warms up, probably to about 1000.

Was it really dead simple to do, because i need to do this as well?

No - when cold this morning it was around 800 and had no issues cutting out etc.. and then as it warmed up and got to temp it was sitting at around 1000-1050rpm. Felt much nicer to drive also.

The whole thing was dead easy really, but the hardest bit is tightening the lock nut once you have got it right. Dead easy with two people I suppose but a bit of to and fro'ing if your doing it on your own.

Just use the link earlier in the thread and you'll be sorted.

This sounds exactly what mine was like after i had it in the dealer last month to get the idle increased and a general tune-up. When i got it back it was idling at the same levels as yours and it was great, like you say, much nicer to drive!!
As mentioned in another thread though, i found that if the car was at full temp. and i stopped to get petrol for instance, on restarting the engine the idle would climb to about 1500 for about 10 seconds before settling down to 1000-1100. Don't know why, but assume it's not a problem!
The problem is it goes out of tune so quickly, so about a month after being set higher it justs drops back down to a low idle, so it'll be great if this fix works well!!!

Im no expert but I assume that its just due to the lock-nut expanding from the heat which gradually loosens over time. We will certainly see how it develops