Engine wont idle/ Runs rough Volvo 5.7 GSi

Hello everybody,

I am new to this site. I have read some really good posts so I am going to post one for some answers.

This is just the tip of the iceberg.

I had my 2001 Striper with 5.7 GSi with TBI worked on by a shop here in San Diego (I wont mention any names) for oil pan replacement. After further review I decided to do some preventive maintenance while the engine was. The mechanic ran it on the floor for me and I had noticed it was running rough it was like wobbling. He tried to tell me it was the ICM and I should replace it.

OK when I got it back and tested it on the water here were the symptoms. Major vibration loud exhaust sounded like per-detonation it was miss firing. I ask them to look at it again and they declined. I brought it home and started to review some of his work. The timing wasn't even close to where it should be. TDC and the harmonic balancer were almost 90 degrees different with the timing light. The plug wires were installed incorrectly of the firing order. I don't know how it even ran. The engine ran like crap no power and all the plugs wound up becoming fouled.

I fixed the timing by removal of the dist. and re installing. New plugs,cap, rotor ICM,wires. I performed the timing per Clymer Volvo Penta Service Manual. Now the engine runs rough at idle and I can't seem to get it to hold 650to750 idle without holding the throttle control on the TBI. Is the TPS bad? How about the IAC?

Sorry for the long post

There is more to come,

Best regards to all,

Dean

Re: Engine wont idle/ Runs rough Volvo 5.7 GSi

Is your distributor cap flat on top?

Re: Engine wont idle/ Runs rough Volvo 5.7 GSi

Aloysius said:

Is your distributor cap flat on top?

Click to expand...

Everything is put back properly. Not quite sure what you mean by flat.

I ran it again this morning and it appears as if the injectors are dumping too much fuel. They don't look consistent. Is the IAC causing this?

I need some help here please.

Thanks,

Dean

Re: Engine wont idle/ Runs rough Volvo 5.7 GSi

Have a diagnostic check tomorrow and the throttle body rebuilt. I hope this does the trick.

Thanks for the help all I thought this was a forum to help each other out.

Maybe not.

Seaya

Re: Engine wont idle/ Runs rough Volvo 5.7 GSi

The IAC (Idle air controller) won't cause that problem.

Some GM 6/8 cylinder engines used a distributor cap with the wires coming out the sides, not the top. These caps are notorious for internal problems.

Re: Engine wont idle/ Runs rough Volvo 5.7 GSi

Aloysius said:

The IAC (Idle air controller) won't cause that problem.

Some GM 6/8 cylinder engines used a distributor cap with the wires coming out the sides, not the top. These caps are notorious for internal problems.

Click to expand...

No the cap has the connection on top not at the sides. I think I understand what you meant now.

Re: Engine wont idle/ Runs rough Volvo 5.7 GSi

For those of us coming to the site and finding our problems explained by someone else gives us comfort that we are not the only ones experiencing the same problem. However, please come back and let us know how you solved the problem, what the real problem/fix was.... so we don't have to start a new thread to rehash old problems. At least we can narrow down our troubleshooting or know what to eliminate from our testing.

So how did you fix the rough idle?

Just had a reman long block put in my Albe 242. Changed from a 5.0 to 5.7. Runs great but either idles at 600 rpm, then up to 1200, back to 600 and then cuts off - or - it idles at 1200 rpm all the time and doesn't cut off. Makes it tough shifting at 1200 and hard to finesse at the dock.