Good afternoon folks,

My daughter bought her first car and I taught her how to do a head gasket replacement. We just finished and the engine is surging and stalls occasionally. The head pasted fluxing, all gaskets plugs etc are new. Strangely enough it is not throwing codes. Scanned the PCM and everything is coming up normal. While it was idling/surging I pulled the hose off the intake that runs to the EVAP/PURGE SOLENOID and it ran like a top. I'm not good with vacuum lines. Does anyone have an idea how whats going on with the surging.

 

OK replaced the cam solenoid, evap solenoid, looking now at the Crank solenoid or the TPS. I hate throwing parts at a problem but cant find someone who is knowledgeable about this motor. Anyone who has successfully diagnosed this issue please let me know what you did,

 

How many miles and why was the head gasket(s) replaced? Was it running before the head gasket replacement?

You may need to revisit the timing marks on both the timing chain and on the cam chain after the head gasket was replaced.

 

Thanks for the reply. Timing marks are accurate. Runs like a top when it is first started up. Guy who sold it to my kid was told bad head gasket by his mechanic. Drove it home and bid compression test. One of six cylinders about 25 pounds less than the others. Started out as a water pump swap for sludge and more than that a learning experience for the kid. Taught her how to do a compression test, top down leak test etc...124,000 miles

 

From the details you noted on 'sebringclub.net', I would suspect the IAC (idle air control) may be sticking. Pulling the evap hose adds air which is what the IAC should be doing.

 

Thanks