Search forum, still have no clue - 86 300E surging when in gear

[jrmd01]

I searched the forum and I still have no clue about my surging problems when the car (86 300E) is "in gear" (D,L1,L2,R).

Question for the techs....my car surges intermittently at stoplights only in gear (car remains running, but the idle just bounces). If in park or neutral everything is fine? WTF?! Seems like I would not have this problem if my car had a manual transmission.

If I was an idiot, I would have thought the transmission has something to do with the idle, but obviously the transmission has nothing to do with the feul system so that's a wrong assumption. So why surge when only in gear?

[neanderthal]

imagine the car is a stick. and your clutch is grabbing a bit. your idle would do the same, no?

it could be the transmission. just probably not.


i am not a tech

[jrmd01]

Thanks to "jim" for guiding me.

Jim illustrated for me how the ICV looks and told me how to clean it. I went in fully prepared to clean out the ICV.

After I removed the air filter housing, it was obvious that one of the vaccum lines was disconnected. I reconnected it and I think that fixed my problem. No more major surgings at the stoplights. I didn't bother removing and cleaning the ICV, but if the problem should arise again, I'll do so. (If it ain't broke, don't fix it)

neanderthal - thanks for your non-tech insight. Just to clear your doubts...fortunately for those with a manual transmission the clutch will grab only when you release the clutch. If your clutch is grabbing while it's depressed, you have a problem.

Majority of the time biggest problems with manual transmissions is slipping. Easily fixed with a new clutch plate.

Transmissions have absolutely nothing to do with the fuel system so as I stated on my original post, it is HIGHLY UNLIKELY that the transmission directly caused the surging.