Extremely High RPMs After Maintenance?

Tiny
OKIE_777
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE
  • 3.8L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
This is my friend’s vehicle and I’m attempting to fix her vehicle issues.

Her car was dying at stops and during turns occasionally. After putting a reader on it, it came back that some sensors were bad.

I replaced the MAP, MAF, TPS sensors and the IAC Valve.

When disconnecting the vacuum lines, the rubber connectors were falling apart and some of the spines were so brittle that they broke.

I replaced the lines with a configuration that an AutoZone employee helped me setup, however I’m unsure if the lines are in the right place, and would like a diagram and pictures to show exactly where and how they need to be attached. There is a diagram under the hood, however I can’t understand it, and it doesn’t show me, that I can see, where the vacuum lines exactly connect to the throttle body, as it has a top and bottom port. And I need to know where all the lines specifically run to that come out of the throttle body and exactly how they should be configured.

After doing all this, the vehicle will sometimes start right up, or sometimes I have to give it gas while cranking it, but in either case, the RPM’s (while in park or neutral) shoot up to 3,000-3,500 or more and remain steady or increase gradually after running for a few minutes. While in reverse or drive, which as you may guess is dangerous and challenging to get into, the vehicle will stall without acceleration, and so I must press on the brake while accelerating and moving it from park to reverse and then drive in order for it to move. Once driving, the RPM’s still run high, but at around 1,500-2,000. I have to keep braking as the car wants to increase in speed obviously. And it will occasionally stall if I come to a stop while in drive. It’s a nightmare.

While replacing the sensors, I was going to remove the throttle body and clean it out, and I got two bolts loose and it started spewing coolant, so I tightened them back and left it alone. However I think the seam between the throttle body and upper intake manifold may not have gotten squared back up, or seems not quite straight. So I’ll test for a vacuum leak there. I do hear a hiss coming from somewhere so I’ll have to get to the bottom of that.

The main thing I need I think, is the exact locations and connections of all the vacuum lines from the throttle body out. There’s like 6 or 7 lines connecting to those same lines and I need to know where they all go to be sure I have them right.

On the drivers side, there are two vacuum lines also that are attached to one another but separate lines and I’m unsure what goes where or what to look for. I’ve never messed with vacuum lines before so this is all new to me.

My code reader is also telling me now that my coolant temp sensor is bad, so I’ll have to replace that too.

Any help you can give is much appreciated! I can send you pics etc that way too if you’d like.

Thanks again!

- Jackson
Sunday, October 22nd, 2023 AT 8:37 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,356 POSTS
This hissing is not good, it sounds like you have a gasket leak at the throttle body so I would remove it to see if the gasket is broken. Here is a guide to help you when the engine is cold only:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-an-engine-vacuum-gauge

Here are the vacuum line diagrams as well, also we should run the codes to see if any are stored:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

Check out the images (below). Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem so we can see what's going on.

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Monday, October 23rd, 2023 AT 7:56 AM
Tiny
OKIE_777
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thanks for the reply.

The engine on this car doesn’t have a supercharger, like what’s in that vacuum hose diagram that you sent me. The car has a diagram on it but even like on the one you sent, I can’t tell what’s going to the top and bottom port on the throttle body, can you?

Thanks again.
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Monday, October 23rd, 2023 AT 9:01 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,356 POSTS
My bad, here you go.
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Monday, October 23rd, 2023 AT 12:12 PM

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