Q: Low idle in car

asked by on January 27, 2016

My car is idling low at 500 to 600 RPMs.

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Hello. Your car can idle low from a number of reasons. If the check engine light is not on then it may be something simple. I would start by checking the air filter and replacing it if it is dirty. A dirty air filter can restrict the engine and cause this. If it is fine a mechanic would typically check the inside of the throttle body bore to see if it is dirty. If it is dirty then it can cause the engine to choke for air at idle. If that did not result in anything then a computer scan tool would need to be installed to see what the computer inputs are seeing to determine if it is fuel or sensor problem. If you require further assistance, I would suggest a mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, to diagnose your idle issue.

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