Q: Car rpm bounce at idle

asked by on February 17, 2017

My car runs perfect acceleration is great. At idle my car rpm occasionally bounce. A few times the car has totally stalled. Recently after getting gass car was hard to turn over and rpm bounced and stalled once started car ran fine. I've pulled code p2195 (o2 sensor lean) as well as p0441(incorrect purge flow). Wanting to make sure that there's nothing else I could check before replacing sensor?

My car has 124000 miles.
My car has a manual transmission.

Evaporation Vent Solenoid Replacement $127.55 - $417.61 Get a Quote

Hi There, Your car has a small purge valve called a purge solenoid in the Evaporative Emissions system that controls the venting of fumes from the fuel tank as these fumes build up inside, particularly when you are refueling the car with gas. The EVAP system prevents fuel vapors from the fuel tank from escaping into the atmosphere. The EVAP system collects and temporarily stores the fuel vapors in the charcoal canister. The charcoal canister is filled with activated carbon pellets that can absorb the fuel vapors. When the engine is running, the fuel vapors are purged from the canister and burned in the engine. The vent control valve (solenoid) controls the flow of outside air in and out of the charcoal canister. The vent valve is controlled by the engine computer (PCM).

I think you are on the right track in terms of things to check. The RPM fluctuation is likely a result of the faulty purge valve. When there is a leak present in the EVAP system, this can cause the mass air flow sensor to read incorrectly causing the RPM fluctuation you describe. The code related to the O2 sensor being lean is also likely a result of the affect the problem described above relating to the mass air flow sensor due to an under fueling problem. I would suggest having an expert from YourMehcanic come to your location to take a look at your vehicle.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How does the HomeLink® transceiver work?
If you drive an EX-L V6, then your car came standard with Honda’s HomeLink® universal transceiver. It’s a handy device that’s built right into your car and is designed to work with other things around your home, like your garage...
How do the seat belts work?
Seat belts, also called safety belts, are vital components for the safety of the driver and passengers alike. The purpose of the seat belts is simple. If the vehicle is in an accident, there are extreme forces involved trying to...
Car died, but restarts immediately
Many different faults can cause the vehicle to shut off while running like this. The most common problems for this is the ignition switch (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-ignition-switch), battery cables (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-battery-cable), intermittent electrical issue, wiring fault, or the battery (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-battery) itself. These kind...
Car won't start - 2006 Mercedes E350
One common issue that occurs when the battery cables are not removed while doing service on ABS brake systems is that it may trigger a few error codes to be stored in the ECU after removing the calipers. In most...
Engine noise when cranking. P0011 and P0021 codes
Hi there. The P0011 OBD-II error code (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/p0011-obd-ii-trouble-code-camshaft-position-a-timing-over-advanced-or-system-performance-bank-1-by-jay-safford) indicates that you have an over advanced timing issue, which might be the reason why your engine stumbles for a brief moment when it's cold and first starts. Ignition timing is typically...
Exhaust Manifold Hot/Exhaust Leak
Hello. To say that they catalytic converter is good or bad is impossible without having the car here. If the manifold is heating up, and the catalytic convert has failed, you will see bigger signs of failure in the near...
White smoke from exhaust, pretty sure its not head gasket?
With the information given, if the vehicle smoked before getting the fuel in the tank, then the head gasket could be blown causing the coolant to get into the exhaust system. If the smoke occurred after getting fuel, then it...
Steering wheel jerking
Hi Karen, What you are describing sounds like a problem with the rack and pinion gears. The rack and pinion gear set does two things: It converts the rotational motion of the steering wheel into the linear motion needed to...
With engine off. Crankshaft pulley spins freely with belt on or off. 96 Taurus 3.0. What could cause that?
I can think of a few possible causes to this issue. 1. You are trying to replace the belt with a new one and may have got the wrong size belt. There are two different 3.0 V6 engines that are...

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander
The The smaller size and aggressive styling make the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander a great choice for those who want an SUV, but don’t want to deal with some of the large behemoths available. With numerous tech options and all-wheel drive...
A Buyer’s Guide to the 2009 Mazda Tribute Hybrid
2009 2009 marked the end of the very short life of the Mazda Tribute Hybrid. All told, the automaker produced fewer than 700 models, and it was ultimately retired well before the Tribute itself ceased production in 2011. For the...
A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Mitsubishi Galant
If If you’re in the market for a midsize sedan and want the best price possible, you may be thinking about visiting a Honda or Toyota dealership. Before you do, check out the 2012 Mitsubishi Galant. Key Features Considering how...