I just got my brand new 2011 Ralliart this past weekend and one thing I've noticed is that when you start the car for the first time on any particular day, the idle is kind of sporatic, bounces within about 500-600 RPMs of what I guess would be a normal cold start idle range. I only have 500 miles on the car so it's not broken in yet. This is also my first turbocharged vehicle I've ever owned.

Once the car is warmed up it idles normally. Is this common and/or normal with turbo'ed vehicles?

 

My cars idle is usually high at first then as the car warm up it begins to idle down to 500 or so, never jumps low to high or is erratic.

 

Definitely shouldn't be jumpy or erratic, might want to have the dealer check it out.

A normal cold engine idle will be between 1,000 - 1,500 RPM depending on ambient temp.

 

Great. Just got the damn thing and already I need to take it to the dealership for service.

My first thought is a vaccuum line somewhere, maybe one related to the Idle Air Control if there is one?

 

well ... my tacho needle does bounce in idle... but not as much as 500 rpm..

 

You mean idle all the time or just on a cold start?

 

Ok I recorded a couple of videos and uploading them to Youtube, I'll link them here so you can see. The car will start up ok then about maybe 10-20 seconds later the tach needle bounces about 400 or so RPMs. I checked on my way home and after the car is warmed up and even at a stop while in gear, the RPM's bounce a hundred or two RPMs. Checked it in neutral and in park when I got home, same thing. I'm going to say unless this is normal or typical, something is going on with the Idle Air Control or a vaccuum leak.

 

Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGUF2y7Dn-E
It starts about 29 seconds into the clip, notice the bouncing of the tach needle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE1Y9PLJ3SU
This one is a few minutes of idling and warming up a bit. The tach needle still bounces around at the 1000 RPM range, and I do tap on the accelerator to see if it stops, nope.

I've never had a vehicle do this before, new or 200,000+ miles on it, four six or eight cylinder.

 

looks normal to me. mine does the same thing, ill record it in the morning.

 

Yeah I have a 2009 and thought it was weird at first.... but mine does the same thing. Mine does it when warm too.

 

Really? Interesting.

2Many2Mod, does it still behave this way with the GST Basemap flash?

 

exactly like mine..
(that's not 500-600 rpm! =P)

I find it strange at first.. but I guess I got used to it.

 

Haha, I thought it was at first, 300-450 max then I'd say. I have to go back up to the Dealership anyway since they never checked the alignment on the car, need to have them fix that and I will have them check the idle and see what they say. If they say its normal, then so be it I will live with it.

 

Same on mine. Before and after tune with no mods yet.
I thought about it the first times, but then meh

 

That's funny cause mine doesn't do that, the needle is steady and then revs slowly come down when car begins to warm up.