I am an on call fire fighter and we use our own vehicles to respond to scenes. Sometimes this means my 05 will idle for a long period of time. (lights running)

Something I have noticed lately is my car kind of shakes while it idles, not in a rhythm, it'* pretty random and almost "feels" like a jump, like it'* idle is to low.

I guess I will need to fix that if it is a problem but on another note is there something I should be doing to make my car happier about idling for long periods of time?

Thanks!

A suggestion that I noticed on my own car is I didn't care for where the fans kick on.

If the car is idling like you mention, it is merely sitting there generating heat until the fans come on, cooling, generating. The temps were 200-225ish. Personally higher than I'd like. You may want to consider having the fan temps lowered in the PCM. This will keep things cooler and happier.

As for your idle issues, please post in the 2000-2005 mechanical section and we'll help you out in a jiffy.

If, by lights on you mean emergency lights and headlights, I'd look for a way to keep the idle up around 1200 rpms to keep the alternator putting out enough amps. The difference between 800rpm idle and 1200 as far as amp output can be a lot! I haven't examined the pedal setup, but I would think you could make some mechanical means to do this rather easily.

I'd also get the PCM programmed and use a 180 thermostat. In the meantime, leave the A/C ON, so that the fans run (they'll run with the A/C on, but wait for the 215 degree mark otherwise). In a case like yours where you ONLY want to run the fans during extended idle (and aren't looking for other improvements via programming), you might just do a manual switch to the fan relay(*).

Thanks! I noticed on our rescue when you set the emergency break (pedal) the rescue runs in high idle. I haven't asked anyone how this was done, this may be a bit extreme in my case. I didn't know running AC runs the fans, that'* good to know although I thought having AC on in hot weather was a no/no while idling.

I will definitly check on getting the sensor changed, that I think would help.

Update: I should note my lights mostly consist of LEDs and are very low amperage. My OH does have 2 strobes and I do have wig/wags so at the most those two items would be the most draining.

Yeah, if you just let the car idle with the A/C off, the temp gets too high (for my taste) before the PCM commands the fans come on. That'* not good for the engine or trans, as the trans fluid is cooled by a cooler in the passenger side radiator tank. On this car with stock programming, I'd run the A/C at idle if the car was stock, as long as the outside temp was above freezing. The PCM must be reprogrammed to change the temp at which the fans come on otherwise.

I think I'd do the manual fan switch. You can buy one here:

http://www.zzperformance.com/grand_p...=194&catid=107

although it'* for a Grand Prix. A search in the 2000-2005 section shows that it was installed on a Bonneville successfully.

As far as amperage, if you have the headlights, wig-wags on the high beams, OH lights, etc AND both fans running as they should be, you're taxing the system pretty heavily at 800rpm idle. I do think the cooling is the bigger of your concerns, though.