Hello friends.

I just completed a LIM gasket replacement on a '02 SE.

The manifold and valve covers were coated with snot when I got them off.

I douched them at the carwash, let them dry thoroughly next to a fireplace for two days.

Replaced plugs, wires and therm while in there.

Got her all back together, she pretty much fired right up.

Warmed her up, took a gentle test drive.

Now the idle is surging between 500-800.

Can't find any vacuum leaks.

Did not replace PCV, but did clean it.

Have not bled air out of cooling system yet (could that be the problem?)

Any thoughts or suggestions appreciated.

you change the oil? certainly sounds like a vacuum leak you check with carb cleaner?

Thanks for the reply.

Drove it a couple of more times and it seems to have worked itself out.

I did change the oil, and I will probably change it again very soon. I used a combination of 5W30 and 10W40 for the "clean out" oil. It'* what I had on hand. When I change it out soon, I'll use 10W30.

Pretty sure there'* no vacuum leaks. There'* only so many places to have one, and I'm intimately familiar with this engine now. At least her top end.

There seems to be an exhaust leak now that I didn't have before. Sounds kind of throaty when you let off the throttle. Hopefully it either works itself out, or is no big deal. It'* not loud enough to be annoying.

Car has a couple of other issues, but both were present before the LIM gasket job. Weak starting sometimes needing a jump. Don't know if it'* a dying battery or a bad alternator. Also the "Service Engine Soon" light came back on again. It was on before the job. Having the battery undone must have reset it, because it stayed off for a little while, but came back on during a test drive this morning.

disconnecting the battery causes all of your saved idle and learned shift values to reset and that takes a little while to smooth out.

the resonator on the wbodies like to leak that a pretty common thing to check. it was bad on my 03 monte and my moms imp. i just strait piped mine and it wasnt any different except slightly louder at idle.

the battery is likely dieing, most alts last a while as long as you dont let the battery put the extra strain on the alt for too long

as far as the code i would have to get the number to be any help

Idle worked itself out.
Exhaust was leaking because I'd forgotten to reconnect the EGR tube.
All better now.