Idle issue?
 

I only have about 170ish miles on my FRS, but lately, at a few lights or under deceleration while clutch is pushed all the way to the floor, the RPMs have dropped below 500 (maybe even 400), and the car shakes for a second or two as if it wants to stall, then bounces back up to about 900-1000 RPMs before going back to the normal 700ish. Could this be part of the break-in period? Computer still learning? Normal for boxer engines?

I wasn't worried about it the first time or two, but it happened again today on my way to a car meet. Today was roughly the 5th or 6th time.

I am a bit stumped :iono:

edit:

Those having this issue, I suggest at least calling Scion and reporting the problem, if not just bring it into the dealer. This issue is still very new to them.
There are plenty of us on here having this issue, and the sooner we report it, the sooner the ball will get rolling.

Here is the number if you plan on calling 1-866-707-2466
Make sure you have your vin and miles on hand when you call!

bad fuel?

Boxer engines act just like any other engine and should actually run smoother

I recall that happening to me a few times as well. But so far since my trip to Vegas it hasn't done it. I guess continue breaking it in and see what happens. I think I'm at around 760 miles now?

Hmmm didn't think of that. I am 99% sure it was premium from the dealer when hey filled it up. They told me about 3 times to make sure I only put premium as if I knew nothing about cars. Could just be bad gas in general tho. I'll cross my fingers.

Hmmm sounds like it is part of the break-in right there. Shew.

Is the AC on? It could be the compressor kicking in.

Off or on I've noticed it.

Not all dealers do use premium. I havent gotten mine yet but i do know my dealer only has 87.

My fr-s is MT so im expecting the same thing:thumbup:

Mine went across the street to the gas station. I was there when they walked in for the card.

Try and have them do the same for yours. The car takes premium only, and isn't good for the car to take anything under.

i have confirmed that the dealer where I bought my car from puts regular gas on all toyotas and midgrade gas on all lexus vehicles. Lexus vehicles required premium.
regular gas must be even worse for the fr-s since they ask for 93 on the manual

I have had this happen as well. It was on the first tank of gas from the dealer. I'll keep my eye on it since I've now filled up with premium.

I don't think premium or regular would make a difference.
At idle there is no load on the engine and the higher or lower octane won't matter at all.
I think maybe it's the ECU still learning the idle.. hopefully it is.

Mine's doing the same thing, been doing it from 12km to now 212km!

Hmmmmm. Hope its just the ECU learning some stuff.

I have noticed this on my mine as well. It's only done it a few times.

I'm having an issue with coasting in neutral though. I was going down a hill the other day in neutral and the stick shift started to vibrate(badly)--the engine also made a noise sort of like a lawn mower sound. It immediately stopped when i pushed the clutch in. I haven't had the stick vibrate again but I have heard the "lawn mower" noise a few more times while coasting in neutral. My car has about 300 miles on it.

I've had this same issue on my Celica and it almost never happens regularly, but exactly as you mentioned as either at a stop or approaching a stop. Maybe it's a toyota thing although the motor is mostly subaru on the FRS so I'm not even sure about that one. I'd keep an eye on it since you said its happened 6 times already (I had it happen 6 times over 10 years probably). It could also be bad gas so try switching up brands and see if anything changes. Oh and stay away from any cheapo brand gas stations.

Mine has done the same thing...I am on my first tank of gas after the dealers first tank. I notice it with or without a/c on. I have a manual as well. Not sure which gas station the dealer used for the 1st fill up, but all of my cars use Chevron...Uncle worked for them for 30 years. If we had Exxon I would use them as well. I believe it is normal. I am at 355 miles.

did this to me too, the fact the engine can recover from 400 rpms is pretty impressive lol...

I'm a little concerned with this issue, not quite acceptable to have idle dip or stability issue.. for a direct injection car with modern ECU idle should be rock steady... didn't they test these cars besides thrashing them around the track?

they did, its a part of the calibration i guess, engine trying to figure out how low it can idle without dying i guess :P new engines and ecus are weird...

Well I am glad I'm not the only one with this issue. It may be part of the break-in tho, but the only way we will ever know for sure, is a thousand or so miles after its over. It may even become a recall if so many people are having this issue even after the break in.

More likely it'll become an ECU flash update "campaign" to be done whenever a customer brings their vehicle in for other reasons.

Mine does the same thing only just at start up for a very brief moment after the cold start idle up it states in the owners manual that this sort of behavior is normal during start up. If it bothers you I would have it checked out, a good dealership should be willing to check it out maybe open a tas case could result in a ecu reflash for everyone ; ). Btw it's not uncommon to see multiple tsb updates for ecu reflash for drivability, throttle response, fuel consumption etc .

There is almost no way this is part of a new ECU learning how to idle. This isn't 1986 and electronic fuel injection isn't exactly rocket surgery. I also don't think it's a normal part of break-in.

Sounds like there's a hole in the stock tune. Somewhere, probably closed loop, possibly in an independent clutch-in map. I know the GM PCMs would crack the throttle a bit independently if you started to release the clutch and didn't add any gas at all.

:popcorn:

let's start a recall
 

What you are experiencing is not normal, I have started the same thread on another forum. I picked up my car this last week and within about 20-30 miles I started to experience the same problem you are describing except my car actually stalled and the car displayed a check engine light. I took my car to a local toyota dealership and the car stalled in their bay. After restarting the car every light in the dash was illuminated including the check engine light. I have not had the FR-S even one full day, I haven't pushed it beyond any normal means and have only hit 65 MPH. They had to have a scion and toyota rep stop by the shop and now the car has been with them for 2 days and they still don't know what is causing this issue. They are doing a live diagnostic with a rep from California on Monday to determine the ECU fault and possibly correct the problem. If you are still experiencing this issue you should take it to your dealership before further damaging anything in the engine. Ill keep you posted on the outcome.

even with the ac off the unit will still kick in. see if it still happens with the interior fan switched off as that will turn of the ac also. ( i just found this out in my evo as i was having a similar issue.)

Keep us updated ^.

I gonna be a bit lazy and not read all the posts... but if you same OP problem start the counting along w current mileage. If we have enough, I gonna send email to higher up SCION rep (prob Monday) & see if they can answer any concern of these.

So has anyone with an AT experienced this issue, or is this just a MT thing?

I don't know about the second part, but I agree on your first part, it's not break-in.

My RSX has done this a handful of times after 100k miles. I assumed I needed a new fuel filter due to the mileage, but it went away by itself. It shouldn't be happening. It is possible the problem is bad gas though, maybe the guy a few posts up who has had his car in for 2 days can suggest trying fresh/good gas.

tagging for update.

Mine only low idles (dips idle harshly) after plugging the ECU back in.
(I've unplugged my ECU a couple of times)

Drives funny for a bit and a block or two later all normal.

Ishii

As for other peoples talks of dealer gas;
I didn't accept my free tank of gas, I picked up the car and took it to the gas station I trust at my own expense. No-thankyou to having a lot porter end up putting regular or even diesel into it!

I have owned a lot of cars in my life and this is absolutely not normal.

Thanks for this. It looks like there are quite a few of us having this problem, and one who's car is even stalling and in the dealer. I am a bit worried to take mine to the dealer right now tho. I don't see any harm yet, just a little frustration. If their is a flash upgrade on the other hand, then by all means, I'll be at the dealer.

Mine did it a few times but hasn't for a little bit now... I'm at ~800 miles

Is anyone having this issue with the automatic, or is this just the manual?

I would absolutely bring this to the attention of your dealer's service department. Toyota and Subaru are paying very close attention to this car and that is definitely not supposed to be a normal occurrence. They will definitely want to have a record of that happening so if it is indeed a problem, it can be rectified for the existing cars and on the assembly line, as soon as possible. I wouldn't wait; contact them tomorrow and let them know what's going on.

ok this is how i see it
 

Ive only had this happen to me once or twice, this happened at below 500 miles, im at 2k miles and still hasnt happened to me yet, my car idles at around 550-650 but when idling never moves(isnt searching for a good point to idle at)

it would be better to start a new thread and post specific symptoms with the mileage it happened at with the before/after situations(what did you do before the fact; turn on ac, drive it hard, started it in hot weather, ect ect)

i have an auto, happened once or twice before 500 miles, hasnt happened since (hasnt happened in the last 1500)

but also i dont stay stopped for very long anywhere, when i get somewhere the car is turned off, hmmm

I am doing as much stop and go as I can for its break in period so it may be why I have seen it as much as I have as soon as I have.

I may call the dealer soon tho :/