Really hope you guys can help me, I'm about ready to give up on this. My car revs all the time when it's idle. When it's first started, it's between 2-3k, then once it gets a little warmer it goes down to 1.-2k, but the range varies some. It does not go away, nor does the temp gauge move in rhythm with the revs. Aside from the revving, there doesn't seem to be any bogging down or lack of power. I bought the car at 143k miles, it's now at 201k, and it's had regular maintenance the whole time, but it's almost entirely stock. This started ~10k miles ago, and has had at least 1 if not 2 oil changes since (using mobil 1 synthetic and fram extended guard filters, changes every 6-7k miles). I did break a timing belt ~30k miles ago (before this started), but the valves didn't seem damaged, and the head gasket was replaced at the time. So far I've checked (not in order):

Air Filter: have both the stock intake and an SRI, does it with both
IACV: had a piece of rubber blocking the screen, cleaned that off, no change
Throttle: does not move when the car revs
Throttle body: replaced the gasket, sprayed some intake cleaner into the intake and cleaned up the throttle body
Vacuum lines: went over all of them, can't see anywhere that the oil get sucked in. There is one line coming into the pcv valve that I haven't been able to trace, it seems to go to the gas tank?
PCV valve: replaced
EGR valve: tested by hooking to +12v, vacuum when connected, none when disconnected (or maybe vice versa)
ECU codes: none, reset the ECU after checking
Spark plugs all look clean, except #2 is stuck (wasn't stuck when the timing belt broke)

Known problems:
Exhaust leak somewhere near the rear, probably the muffler
Power steering fluid canister leaks, so it's empty and the belt disconnected. This just came up a couple days ago, a new tank is on order.

My current line of thinking is a compete overhaul, new rings/bearings/gaskets, an aftermarket header and a new intake manifold, and probably all new vacuum lines while I'm at it, but I'd prefer it not to come to that just yet. Any suggestions on what to look at next?

 

Two things worth trying are:

1) Check the Fast Idle Valve (picture 1)

2) Bleed the cooling system (picture 2; start at step 8)

 

Hey, thanks for the info. I forgot to mention that I put a radiator in this car shortly after the timing belt went, and flushed the antifreeze at the time, so I don't think that's it. I will check the FITV tomorrow.

Out of curiosity, does anyone know approximately how much and of what sizes I would need to replace all the vacuum hoses?

 

trust us its the radiator fluid... bleed the sytem like posted above....

it does help!

 

Thanks a ton! I just took off the FITV, and the white plastic barrel has unscrewed itself! I cleaned it up, put it back together, and the revving is gone! Again, Thanks!!!!