Rough/Surging idle... smoke

[WriterJWA]

I've been having some idle problems. Basically, before the motor warms up the idle struggles around 500 rpms. After it warms up it does a little better.

I cleaned the ICV and after a few seconds, the idle sat just around 1000 rpms, but every so often the motor will go into a surge pattern. Additionally, I get what kinda smells like exhaust smoke from the back of the motor at inconsistent volumes.

I thought maybe I have a vacuum leak, but when I pull the dipstick while running and the idle rpms drop. Any thoughts?

[CASixer]

Maybe time for a new oxygen sensor?

[JoelR]

After I cleaned my ICV, the car went into a surge problem at idle. I had to go buy a new ICV to cure the idle. (I had cleaned the ICV in an attempt to get the idle speed down, but it turned out to be the TPS was incorrectly adjusted instead. Expensive mistake.)

[slofut]

I've been having some idle problems. Basically, before the motor warms up the idle struggles around 500 rpms. After it warms up it does a little better.

I cleaned the ICV and after a few seconds, the idle sat just around 1000 rpms, but every so often the motor will go into a surge pattern. Additionally, I get what kinda smells like exhaust smoke from the back of the motor at inconsistent volumes.

I thought maybe I have a vacuum leak, but when I pull the dipstick while running and the idle rpms drop. Any thoughts?

Still suspect a vacuum leak, the big rubber plenum between the afm and the intake, and the 1in diameter hose off the side of it. Squeeze it good if you don't think it's cracked... Unless you've already replaced it. Also, a couple small hoses attached to the underside of the intake manifold, not uncommon for them to come off, but I suspect a larger leak.