Rough Idle in El Salvador

I have a 98 Tacoma 4X4 with 96,000 miles, automatic, 4 cylinder.
It runs great, but when I stop at a traffic light, etc., it idles
rough. Does not seem to be a low idle. I usually put it in neutral and
it helps a little. I'm not tech savvy with the newer automotive
electronics (was shocked to find there was no distributor!) so please
keep it simple. Also, as a missionary in El Salvador, the technology to
test and qualified mechanics are rare if they exist at all. Please
advise.

"ElBob" <caom336@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1149774542.069982.319370@f6g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>I have a 98 Tacoma 4X4 with 96,000 miles, automatic, 4 cylinder.
> It runs great, but when I stop at a traffic light, etc., it idles
> rough. Does not seem to be a low idle. I usually put it in neutral and
> it helps a little. I'm not tech savvy with the newer automotive
> electronics (was shocked to find there was no distributor!) so please
> keep it simple. Also, as a missionary in El Salvador, the technology to
> test and qualified mechanics are rare if they exist at all. Please
> advise.
>[/color]

First thing to check would be plugs and wires, how long sinse the last
tune-up? You may just need the throttle body cleaned, if it has never been
done before.

Mike wrote:[color=blue]
> "ElBob" <caom336@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1149774542.069982.319370@f6g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...[color=green]
> >I have a 98 Tacoma 4X4 with 96,000 miles, automatic, 4 cylinder.
> > It runs great, but when I stop at a traffic light, etc., it idles
> > rough. Does not seem to be a low idle. I usually put it in neutral and
> > it helps a little. I'm not tech savvy with the newer automotive
> > electronics (was shocked to find there was no distributor!) so please
> > keep it simple. Also, as a missionary in El Salvador, the technology to
> > test and qualified mechanics are rare if they exist at all. Please
> > advise.
> >[/color]
>
> First thing to check would be plugs and wires, how long sinse the last
> tune-up? You may just need the throttle body cleaned, if it has never been
> done before.[/color]

I changed the plugs, air and fuel filters and it did not seem to have
any affect. If it we back in the 70's I would suspect a vacuum problem.
Does this seem likely? When accelerating it runs fine, no hesitation,
etc.

"ElBob" <caom336@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1149800111.910799.190240@u72g2000cwu.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>
> Mike wrote:[color=green]
>> "ElBob" <caom336@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:1149774542.069982.319370@f6g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...[color=darkred]
>> >I have a 98 Tacoma 4X4 with 96,000 miles, automatic, 4 cylinder.
>> > It runs great, but when I stop at a traffic light, etc., it idles
>> > rough. Does not seem to be a low idle. I usually put it in neutral and
>> > it helps a little. I'm not tech savvy with the newer automotive
>> > electronics (was shocked to find there was no distributor!) so please
>> > keep it simple. Also, as a missionary in El Salvador, the technology to
>> > test and qualified mechanics are rare if they exist at all. Please
>> > advise.
>> >[/color]
>>
>> First thing to check would be plugs and wires, how long sinse the last
>> tune-up? You may just need the throttle body cleaned, if it has never
>> been
>> done before.[/color]
>
> I changed the plugs, air and fuel filters and it did not seem to have
> any affect. If it we back in the 70's I would suspect a vacuum problem.
> Does this seem likely? When accelerating it runs fine, no hesitation,
> etc.
>[/color]

A vacuum leak may be a possibility. On fuel injected cars a small vacuum
ussualy will cause an increase in idle speed as the computer is able to
compensate to a small degree. A large leak would likely cause a hesitation
and may turn on the check engine light. You can check for a vacuum leak by
spraying carb cleaner at the intake gaskets and vacuum lines. You will
notice a change in engine rpm's if you find the leak. You may need to hook
it up to a decent scan tool that will let you read the sensor values while
the vehicle is running to determine what is wrong.

On Thu, 08 Jun 2006 06:49:02 -0700, ElBob wrote:

[color=blue]
> qualified mechanics are rare if they exist at all.[/color]



Seems to be a universal truth.