lately my motor has been acting up on me lately. when i startup the car it has a weird idle. it starts at 1.5k then drops to 1k then rises again but when i drive it gets fubky. if im slowing down to a stop the rpm drops way below the 1k, if i stop hard enough the car will just shut off. ps alot of smoke comes out the exhaust....please help!!!!!

 

hmmmmm, there are others that can probably answer this better than I can, but your idle problem could be a vaccuum leak. The smoke and RPMs may not even be related.

 

i found the problem with the rpm issue now i just need help in how to find where the vacuum leak is coming from

 

What color is the smoke coming out of the exhaust?

 

i believe the smoke is black

 

If its black smoke you are running rich (fuel).

 

really? when i was running rich not much smoke came out of my exhaust more gas came out when i stepped on it lol!

 

there are levels of "rich". some extra gas flow is not bad but more gas than can be ignited will produce smoke and poor performance.

 

sometimes when im driving say im in first gear below 3k the car feels sluggish then after 3k the car some how have a boost of power and with the fule issue what should i do to fix that problem.

 

did u use some kinda octane booster? if u did....take it out or idle ur engine till the gas tank is empty .....next buy new fuel filter....then fill new gas....whatever u want 87.....bla bla.....it might help..........

 

http://www.alldata.com/service_provi.../20000713.html
this website explains a solution for the rough idle for sohc.

 

i didnt use any kind of octane booster or nothing i was thinking of changing out the fuel filter.. or is it the gas im using for the car been using premium ever since i got the car..ps its a dohc

 

Check your spark plugs and wires. If one of your spark plugs is not firing properly it will cause heavy smoke because it is not burning it all. Also, hold a paper towel to your tail pipe and see if anything wet is coming out. Is your antifreeze level dropping at all or looks like it is getting dirty or contaminated? If it is, then you have a head gasket leak.

 

i have the idle issue too....it's gone now...but it's weird when i drive it...run at 20 mph the engine acted like no fuel in the tank....like this ---run---engine off---run---engine off---run---engine off-------////i don't have the problem when it goes to 3000 RPM....every time i have to do that when i drive it.....