Q: Violent surging from rough idle after cleaning throttle body and putting in gas

asked by on October 25, 2016

The van has stalled 2x when stopped at a light, seems to coincide with letting my foot off the break. It starts again just fine. Also stalled when breaking in a parking lot and in a gas station. After cleaning throttle body and the iac valve, the van seemed to have a smoother idle. I noticed the van didn't have a throttle body cover or a gasket between the IAC motor and the intake passage. I placed a gasket b/w the IAC motor and the intake passage but still no gasket cover. Anyway, gas was on E. I put 1 gal. in the tank, the van sounded the same, and I noticed white emissions for the 1st time. Later, I filled the tank to 3/4 full, then stalled in the station. I then stalled at a stoplight. Later, in my driveway, with my foot on the break, the van's surges were the worst I've heard and felt. Each surge moved the van forward as if being pushed from behind while in park and in drive. I'm afraid to drive it. Any help is MUCH appreciated!!!

My car has 177000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Tune-up $203.15 - $1046.06 Get a Quote
Spark Plugs Replacement $113.11 - $716.47 Get a Quote
Ignition Cable (Spark plug wires) Replacement $123.29 - $510.40 Get a Quote
Car idle is rough Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

Hello and thank you for contacting YourMechanic. You may want to perform a tune-up and change all of the spark plugs and wires first. Then check for vacuum leaks on the engine with a vacuum gauge. If the vacuum gauge reads less than 15 hg, then look for any vacuum hoses that may be disconnected or cracked.

A vacuum leak will stall out the engine and cause a rough idle. If you need assistance with finding a vacuum leak, then seek out a technician, such as one from YourMechanic, that can diagnose your rough idle and assist you with fixing your vehicle.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Bad squeaking from under hood, could be pulley.
Hi there. This noise can become very annoying, especially if it is very loud. If the noise typically occurs when the engine is first started and then goes away it can be the alternator bearing. If it is a constant...
How do I adjust the air vents?
The air vents are located along the instrument panel, and blow both cold and hot air into the cabin, depending on the climate control settings. You can adjust the air vent in two different ways, to find the ideal setting...
Check Engine light codes
If your Check Engine light has come on for emissions problems I would recommend having a knowledgable technician, such as one from YourMechanic, scan and interpret the trouble codes (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/check-engine-light-is-on-inspection), and thoroughly examine the vehicle's emissions system. All three of...
2001 Honda Civic can't go over 4000 RPM
First thing to do would be to change the fuel filter (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/fuel-filter-replacement) and see if that fixes it. If that doesn't fix it, have the fuel pump pressure tested, to see if the fuel pump is weak (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-fuel-pump) because that...
The battery light turn on when it rains and steering wheel gets jammed for a few seconds. Then battery light turns off it works
This is most likely caused by the serpentine belt slipping. You need to have the belt and tensioner checked for problems and have them repaired as needed. If you need further assistance with this repair, a certified technician from YourMechanic...
Where's vehicle speed sensor B ?
Hello, thanks for writing in about your Hyundai Azera. There isn't a certain answer for the sensor B. Here is the basic diagnostic route of trouble code P2159 (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/p2159-obd-ii-trouble-code-vehicle-speed-sensor-b-range-performance-by-jamahl-walker) to help you better understand the issue. If you'd like assistance...
where is the thermostat
Your thermostat is located in the front of the engine right next to the distributor just above the water pump. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your home to -diagnose and replace your thermostat (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/thermostat-replacement).
Car won't stay crunk
This may be a result of a dirty or failing idle air control valve. The idle air control valve (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/idle-control-valve-replacement) reads the air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the engine at low speeds...
Makes a noise when I turn and hit bumps.
You should have the complete front suspension checked however the sway bar links and bushings are the most common cause of the noise when turning.

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Ford Escape
CUVs CUVs (Crossover utility vehicles) are becoming more and more popular these days, as consumers are interested in saving money and buying more eco-friendly vehicles but they still have a lot of people and cargo to move around. CUVs like...
2012 Hyundai Elantra vs. 2012 Ford Focus: Which One Should I Buy?
The Hyundai Elantra and the Ford Focus are both offerings in the inexpensive compact sedan category, and both represent some of the best offerings in that class. Compact cars are slightly larger than a subcompact, but smaller than a mid-size;...
2012 Ford F-150 vs. 2012 Chevrolet Silverado: Which One Should I Buy?
When you’re ready to really get some work done, there’s nothing like a full size pickup truck. These trucks are ready to haul a big load and really get in there and get busy. SUVs are great for moving people,...