idle problems (spuddering)

[Ldub]

also! my check engine light is flashing on and off at me. i've never seen it do that beore.

Take it to O'Rillies or somewhere that will read your OBD code & find out why it's flashing.

A check engine light isn't a major concern....UNTIL IT STARTS FLASHING.

[WormGod]

Ditto what Dub said.

If it is "flashing", that is NOT a good sign. The only time I would drive on that would be to get it to the shop.

The airbox doesn't have a drain so that is fishy. The only other close plumbing I can think of that runs to that is from the intake that runs to your passenger valve cover. That needs to breather, so if it is getting "too much" breathing without a line/filter, it will run rough.

[brainwashed]

ok i figured these pics would help out more. i live 30 miles from town and we don't have an o'rillies anywhere close. i don't want to drive it in to town with the risk of permanent damage to my baby.

alright this is the hose i was talking about. it comes up by the air filter housing which is on the left. the windshield washer fluid reservoir is the bottom right and the power steering fluid reservoir is on the top. i have no idea what this hose is for. but when i followed it down...(next pic)


it led down to this. i have no idea where this is supposed to connect to. it was connected to something. but i can't find it or see where it goes. i have a feeling this could be my problem.



also this is all on the drivers side.

[MSHardeman]

I think that is the breather tube for the front axle, but you may want to wait for others to confirm that. I don't think that that being disconnected would have anything to do with you sputtering. I don't know what the flashing check engine light is all about, but have you ever changed your fuel filter or fuel pressure regulator? If either of those is bad that could cause the sputtering. Also, have you changed your PCV valve (it tends to get clogged), or cleaned your EGR? All of these could contribute to sputtering, but you'll probably have to have the engine code read to find out why the CEL is flashing.

[tom4bren]

That loop in the hose made me think the same thing ... axle breather. Since I still don't have the VX in the driveway yet, I can't check for sure.

[brainwashed]

ahh alright you guys were right. the hose was the axle breather. after feeling around on the axle i found the hole it went into. as much as i was hoping that would have been the problem it certainly wasn't. major bummer for me. but i'll try replacing the fuel filter and pcv valve and see what else i can do. it also kinda smells like gas while it's running too. so maybe there is a leak somewhere or something. i'll figure it out somehow haha.

[Buffy]

I would vote for and EGR issue. I had a new truck suffer the same symptoms and it turned ou to be a bad EGR valve.