1. What is the ignition timing supposed to be right at cold start? It is ridiculously advanced at start up and needs to be warmed up in order to be at 16 +/-2 BTDC. This is normal right?

2. My idle drops to around 800 rpm when I've been driving and I come to a stop, then it gradually drops to about 600-650 rpm and shudders like it wants to stall. At first I had oil leaking between the spark plug grommets onto the plugs, but now that I've replaced them and there's no more leaking, I still have the same problem. Any ideas as to what it could be?

Thanks for the help.

 

Yes you adjust ignition timing once the car is at Normal Operating temp.

Have you cleaned your IACV? Also FITV if it's an obd1

 

Thanks for the response for #1.

The motor is a stock 2001 B18C1. I replaced the IACV with a freshly cleaned known-working one.

Since we're going in this direction, I might as well turn this into a more complicated question. Just prior to this problem, I got cel codes p0300, p0301-304, and p1399. Then I got a p0505, which is the IAC system code. The codes so far have not come back after being cleared and now I am left with this low idle problem. Any other ideas would help. Thanks.

 

Have you re bled your coolant system? Ignition timing could also affect your idle.

 

I haven't re-bled the coolant yet because I just did the headgasket and everything should be fresh. The car warms up normally, fan comes on when it should, and temp guage never goes past halfway.

Yeah, I was concerned about my timing, but it's at 16 +/-2 BTDC when warmed up. Funny thing is the idle was perfectly normal at 750 rpm when I pulled into my garage after it had been pulling the low idle **** at every stop in between.

 

Any other suggestions or should I just re-check everything that has been discussed?

 

Yes I can attest that 16* BTDC is where it should be at.

Check all those codes still even if they havent come back.

 

The codes were misfire codes, and now that I have changed the valve cover and spark plugs, the codes haven't come back yet. And I'm pretty sure the IACV is not the problem anymore. Any other suggestions to the low idle problem?

 

when it drops to 6-650rpm, does it stay there? or does the idle lope?

 

The idle stays there for a little bit while the car shudders like it wants to stall. I never let it stay there for too long to see what it does from there; I don't want to stall at the stop and look like an idiot, so I normally give it some gas and hold the rpms at 1000. Now that I think of it, after I get to wherever and let it sit, it sometimes just stays there and sometimes it idles perfectly at 750.

 

and you're not getting any codes now?
try checking for vacuum leaks

 

So far I haven't gotten any codes yet, I could try and let it idle for a long time after I've driven for a while to see if any codes pop up. I'll try checking for leaks, but won't vacuum leaks cause a high or surging idle?

 

they'll cause idle fluctuation. does that sound like what's going on?
look for any collapsed lines as well
also, test the pcv valve. at idle, gently pinch the line between the pcv valve and the intake manifold. you should hear a click from the valve. if not, replace the valve

 

The idle doesn't really fluctuate, it's pretty much low but stable when it's been warmed up. I will check the lines though and update tomorrow. Thanks.

 

oh. ok. then try adjusting the idle