How to safely lower engine idle?

deadhorsey · 09-12-2003, 08:53 PM

Anyone know if it's safe to lower the idle on the 3400? I see a little screw on the throttle that looks like it will do the trick. Has anyone tried this?

Also, does anyone know of a way to have the idle reduced so that it's lower ONLY when the trans is in park? That would be PERFECT!

Black2K1GT · 09-12-2003, 08:56 PM

I believe that the computer controls the idle.

But I am only 89.237% sure.

Later

deadhorsey · 09-12-2003, 08:59 PM

OK. I was afraid of that. Anyone know of a way to Reprogram the PCM for a lower idle? Or a PCM replacement? Imagine how that would sound with the SLP installed!

deadhorsey · 09-12-2003, 09:01 PM

Oh, and if the computer controls the idle, what is that screw doing on the throttle? Looks to me like the screw is keeping it from going any lower.

kubiache · 09-12-2003, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by deadhorsey
Oh, and if the computer controls the idle, what is that screw doing on the throttle? Looks to me like the screw is keeping it from going any lower.

Just remove the screw so it can go lower. It's kinda like the hole I cut in my floor board so the pedal can go down farther.

Black2K1GT · 09-12-2003, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kubiache
It's kinda like the hole I cut in my floor board so the pedal can go down farther.

Now I know my next mod

deadhorsey · 09-12-2003, 10:24 PM

What the hell? Your kidding right? Yeah, you got to be. Hole? Floorboard? REMOVE idle screw? Are you screwed? Eh?

kubiache · 09-13-2003, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by deadhorsey
What the hell? Your kidding right? Yeah, you got to be. Hole? Floorboard? REMOVE idle screw? Are you screwed? Eh?

No man, with the hole in the floorboard my WOT is about 20% more open than yours.

- Of course I'm kidding, on both accounts.

deadhorsey · 09-14-2003, 07:31 PM

Smarta s s. I probaby would of tried it.

- Of course I'm kidding, on both accounts.

GTluver · 09-17-2003, 10:03 PM

thats what we need on here every now and then.... a few laughs and s h i t

deadhorsey · 09-17-2003, 11:13 PM

We also could use less ****ing censorship. Are there little ****ty children playing here?

SikMindz · 09-17-2003, 11:56 PM

I don't know about actually lowering your idle as it most likely is controlled by the ECM but you can adjust your throttle cable. I had to when I installed the APoC 62mm TB because it was too taut and the car was slightly accelerating all the time and sat at about 1500+ RPMs all the time. Just adjust the little clip at the end of the cable and voila...

deadhorsey · 09-18-2003, 01:05 AM

Well, I'll give that a try, and if it does not work right I can always put it back.

I wonder if it will work OK cause when it's in gear and I'm sitting at a stoplight, I worry that the motor will not operate right. Then I get a SES light. But once I get a chance to work on it I'll post my results here.

kubiache · 09-18-2003, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SikMindz
I had to when I installed the APoC 62mm TB because it was too taut and the car was slightly accelerating all the time and sat at about 1500+ RPMs all the time. Just adjust the little clip at the end of the cable and voila...

Really? With the 62mm? I doubt my Tb will come this year, but that's good to know.

1/2dolla · 09-18-2003, 04:02 PM

Ya know guys, my radio dial goes to eleven.... When your full blast at ten.... I can be that much louder at 11...

SikMindz · 09-18-2003, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kubiache
Really? With the 62mm? I doubt my Tb will come this year, but that's good to know.

Yeah...John had forewarned me about adjusting the throttle cable before I installed so I didn't totally freak out when i was idling so high. The TB's definitely worth the wait though and you couldn't find a more helpful vendor (albeit time period issues obviously) than John and APoC.

deadhorsey · 09-19-2003, 11:38 PM

Does lowering the idle become a problem when the car is stopped and in gear? Does it go too low then?

Just wondering, before I give it a try.

Molson · 09-20-2003, 06:40 AM

no one has done it, be a pioneer. Why exacly do you want to do this? Just so you can hear the burble out the exhaust? I really low idle will clog up your cat too.

deadhorsey · 09-20-2003, 08:04 PM

Well I'll give it a try. Maybe monday. I'm thinking of ripping out my cat and placing a dummy sensor there (so there's no SVS light). So that will get rid of that problem. I just hope the emmisions pricks don't catch me.

deadhorsey · 05-12-2004, 10:48 AM

I did mess with the screw I was talking about. It did not do a darn thing! I figured that this might happen, but it was worth a try. If I ever get that custom ECU from DHP, maybe I can talk them into lowering it for me. This is not really a big deal, but I'm a control freak when it comes to my car.

09-12-2003, 08:53 PM	#1
deadhorsey DeadHorsey AKA: Jim Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicagoland, IL Age: 40 Posts: 171 Vehicle: 2003 Grand Am GT Coupe	How to safely lower engine idle? Anyone know if it's safe to lower the idle on the 3400? I see a little screw on the throttle that looks like it will do the trick. Has anyone tried this? Also, does anyone know of a way to have the idle reduced so that it's lower ONLY when the trans is in park? That would be PERFECT!

09-12-2003, 08:56 PM	#2
Black2K1GT GAGT - Rosey Roller Join Date: May 2003 Location: Richmond, IN Age: 42 Posts: 189 Vehicle: 2001 Grand Am GT Coupe	I believe that the computer controls the idle. But I am only 89.237% sure. Later __________________ 2001 Black GA GT

09-12-2003, 08:59 PM	#3
deadhorsey DeadHorsey AKA: Jim Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicagoland, IL Age: 40 Posts: 171 Vehicle: 2003 Grand Am GT Coupe	OK. I was afraid of that. Anyone know of a way to Reprogram the PCM for a lower idle? Or a PCM replacement? Imagine how that would sound with the SLP installed! __________________ www.myspace.com/ten32 --Be sure to send me a message along with any friend request, so I don't think you're spam!

09-12-2003, 09:01 PM	#4
deadhorsey DeadHorsey AKA: Jim Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicagoland, IL Age: 40 Posts: 171 Vehicle: 2003 Grand Am GT Coupe	Oh, and if the computer controls the idle, what is that screw doing on the throttle? Looks to me like the screw is keeping it from going any lower. __________________ www.myspace.com/ten32 --Be sure to send me a message along with any friend request, so I don't think you're spam!

09-12-2003, 10:24 PM	#7
deadhorsey DeadHorsey AKA: Jim Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicagoland, IL Age: 40 Posts: 171 Vehicle: 2003 Grand Am GT Coupe	What the hell? Your kidding right? Yeah, you got to be. Hole? Floorboard? REMOVE idle screw? Are you screwed? Eh? __________________ www.myspace.com/ten32 --Be sure to send me a message along with any friend request, so I don't think you're spam!

09-14-2003, 07:31 PM	#9
deadhorsey DeadHorsey AKA: Jim Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicagoland, IL Age: 40 Posts: 171 Vehicle: 2003 Grand Am GT Coupe	Smarta s s. I probaby would of tried it. - Of course I'm kidding, on both accounts. __________________ www.myspace.com/ten32 --Be sure to send me a message along with any friend request, so I don't think you're spam!

09-17-2003, 10:03 PM	#10
GTluver newest hobby... Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Milwaukee WI Age: 43 Posts: 1,038 Vehicle: 2000 GA GT1 Sedan	thats what we need on here every now and then.... a few laughs and s h i t __________________ Siquio

09-17-2003, 11:13 PM	#11
deadhorsey DeadHorsey AKA: Jim Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicagoland, IL Age: 40 Posts: 171 Vehicle: 2003 Grand Am GT Coupe	We also could use less **ing censorship. Are there little **ty children playing here? __________________ www.myspace.com/ten32 --Be sure to send me a message along with any friend request, so I don't think you're spam!

09-18-2003, 01:05 AM	#13
deadhorsey DeadHorsey AKA: Jim Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicagoland, IL Age: 40 Posts: 171 Vehicle: 2003 Grand Am GT Coupe	Well, I'll give that a try, and if it does not work right I can always put it back. I wonder if it will work OK cause when it's in gear and I'm sitting at a stoplight, I worry that the motor will not operate right. Then I get a SES light. But once I get a chance to work on it I'll post my results here. __________________ www.myspace.com/ten32 --Be sure to send me a message along with any friend request, so I don't think you're spam!

09-18-2003, 04:02 PM	#15
1/2dolla GAGT - Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Henderson Posts: 157 Vehicle: 2001GT1coupe	Ya know guys, my radio dial goes to eleven.... When your full blast at ten.... I can be that much louder at 11...

09-19-2003, 11:38 PM	#17
deadhorsey DeadHorsey AKA: Jim Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicagoland, IL Age: 40 Posts: 171 Vehicle: 2003 Grand Am GT Coupe	Does lowering the idle become a problem when the car is stopped and in gear? Does it go too low then? Just wondering, before I give it a try. __________________ www.myspace.com/ten32 --Be sure to send me a message along with any friend request, so I don't think you're spam!

09-20-2003, 06:40 AM	#18
Molson Admininadian! AKA: Jim Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Great White Norf Age: 45 Posts: 3,695 Vehicle: Duramax, C10, MKZ	no one has done it, be a pioneer. Why exacly do you want to do this? Just so you can hear the burble out the exhaust? I really low idle will clog up your cat too. __________________ Sig

09-20-2003, 08:04 PM	#19
deadhorsey DeadHorsey AKA: Jim Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicagoland, IL Age: 40 Posts: 171 Vehicle: 2003 Grand Am GT Coupe	Well I'll give it a try. Maybe monday. I'm thinking of ripping out my cat and placing a dummy sensor there (so there's no SVS light). So that will get rid of that problem. I just hope the emmisions pricks don't catch me. __________________ www.myspace.com/ten32 --Be sure to send me a message along with any friend request, so I don't think you're spam!

05-12-2004, 10:48 AM	#20
deadhorsey DeadHorsey AKA: Jim Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicagoland, IL Age: 40 Posts: 171 Vehicle: 2003 Grand Am GT Coupe	I did mess with the screw I was talking about. It did not do a darn thing! I figured that this might happen, but it was worth a try. If I ever get that custom ECU from DHP, maybe I can talk them into lowering it for me. This is not really a big deal, but I'm a control freak when it comes to my car.

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