nancy1212

Hey all - I was rear ended a few weeks ago. I just got it back from Lexus Collision Center and now it idles rough when I'm at a stop light, etc. Last month I got a tune-up, tires, etc. Do you think the accident is causing the rough idle? The back bumper was replaced. Also one of the mufflers was damaged so they replaced it. Would that have anything to do with the rough idle or do you think it's a coincidence and I should get the plugs checked. Maybe the accident knocked something loose???

kickin8

iTrader: (1)

how many miles on the clock?

pheonix72

iTrader: (6)

What do you mean the idle is rough? Does the RPM fluctuating? Or you are feeling more vibration? It is possible that the accident cause a loose hose some where; check for loose hose inside the engine bay (especially those vacuum ones). If you are feeling more vibrations then it might be a damaged engine mount or tranny mount. Good luck and hope you will figure out the root cause.

tomiv9

Is it just idling high? Has it gotten colder since the accident? If so it could just be car hasn't fully warmed up yet. There are numerous threads about how our cars idle very high when cold, and take a while to warm up.

nancy1212

Thanks all... It has 110,000 miles on it. I got a tune-up, plugs, etc. in December. They did an induction (??) clean too when I got my oil changed about 6 months ago... When I say "rough idle" I'm probably explaining it wrong. It doesn't idle high - the rpms don't rev up or anything like that... it's just when you are sitting at a traffic light or stop sign, it will kind of buck or shake a little. It feels almost like it might stall but it doesn't. The rpms don't fluctuate. Phoenix, I'm taking it back to Lexus because they put the wrong color muffler cover on (gray Teflon instead of chrome like the other one) so when they change it out I will have them check what you suggested. Thanks so much!

nancy1212

One more thing.... When I got to work this morning and was backing my car in to my parking spot, I was backing in slowly and it sort of "jumped" or bucked a little when I was backing up. Is that a transmission problem maybe??? Everyone always says "your car will never be the same after an accident." Maybe these things are a coincidence.......

pheonix72

iTrader: (6)

Definitely have the dealer checks the engine and transmission mounts. I am also wondering if the dealer disconnected the battery and the car's ECU is in the process of relearning your driving style. If that is the case then it should settle down soon (not sure the exact mileage and driving cycles).

nancy1212

Funny you should mention the battery, Phoenix. It won't start this morning!! I got in to leave for work and pushed the button... the lights came on for half a second and then totally dead. Think its the battery??? I'm waiting on my service advisor to call me back. They are sending a tow truck.

nancy1212

Turns out they just didn't tighten a battery cable.... However, that being said, I have a new issue - a new sound that I'm hearing. It's coming from the rear passenger side that was hit. When I apply the brake with a significant amount of pressure and the weight of the car sort of shifts when you brake...it makes sort of a crunching or buckling sort of noise.... Instead of taking it back to Lexus, I took it into Toyota because they service my car. They can't find anything wrong. Anyone have any idea what that could be?? It isn't the brakes. It's coming from like underneath the car and not really the tires or brakes....

Mike_1GO

iTrader: (2)

might be alternator failure causing the rough idle.