My new to me 02 6cy Extreme has a weak feeling idle. It hasn't died but feels like it is going to. Like every five seconds if falters a little. The RPM stays steady though. When I shift to neutral it smoothens out. Car has 53,000 miles.


Is this normal and if not, what suggestions?

 

Is the service engine soon light on? If so, have you had the trouble codes retrieved? As far as engine performance, what work has been done?

 

My Blazer has been doing this for about the last two years now. I have forgotten now what it was that I repaired but afterwards it began to have this same behavior.

I have never determined why the idle is a bit rough and unsteady when in Drive, smoothes out in Neutral. The only thing I have not checked is the torque converter....just too much work involved. Mileage on the Blazer is just over 111k now.

Hey if you find the solution, please let me know.

Good luck.

 

After I got the car I gave it a double dose of gasoline cleaners because it had been sitting up for two years, maybe those screwed something up. Shifting into neutral helps, I'm noticing, but does not completely work. I'm thinking something is wrong in one of the cylinders, like the injector, plug coil or wire, but not bad enough to set off the CEL.
BTW LannyL81, my ABS is still working flawlessly thanks to you.
Tom

 

I wonder if it isn't inherent in the design of this particular V6. It is a Chevy SB V8 with 2 cyl . lopped off. I have read this is why it doesn't idle smoothly. They added a 'balance shaft' to make it smoother. I don't think it will ever be as smooth idling as a Chevy SB V8.