[Ryen01234]

Good morning! This is my first post on this forum, and I apologize in advance for any terms I misuse or simply don't know. I'm here to learn, so feel free to correct me! I'm not much of a car guy (yet).

I've got an '03 XTerra 3.3L with a VG33E V6 engine, just over 203,000 miles. For the last couple of months, she's begun to idle relatively high, around the 1500rpm mark. In addition, I've noticed a louder-than-usual "blowing" sound when I start her up. I'll link a video of the idle. It just recently got nice and cold here in the city, and two days ago she began idling at about 3000rpm between 15 and 30 seconds after startup. The idle goes down to around 1000rpm once I put her in either Drive or Reverse.
To add on, for the first 5 minutes or so after startup, she revs up while slowing down by about 200 and while stopped. I think one could describe it as a stutter, as if I'm lightly pressing the gas pedal then lifting off immediately.
As you can imagine, it's pretty darn annoying and probably wasting a good amount of gas. Not too long ago she got a bit of an exhaust leak, so the revving is even more audible.
I have yet to check for codes, but the check engine light isn't on.

Looking for some ideas and suggestions on where to start, or if there is a known solution. Again, I'm new to the forum, so apologies if this has already been discussed. Thank you in advance, and feel free to ask any questions!
(I'll probably get a video of startup and revving while slowing down and upload them, assuming I can get the latter safely)

 

[kms1990]

when was the last tune up? pop the cap and rotor off the distributor and look for metal shavings, red dust or nastiness down the rotor shaft common failure on high mileage vg engines is the distributor eating the self lubed bearing. can also be a bad throttle body or idle air control valve, might try this relearn and adjustment after checking the plugs, wires, distributror and fuel filter (as i bet one or more of these is the issue): https://www.nissanhelp.com/diy/xter..._nissan_xterra_idle_air_volume_adjustment.php the fule filter should be on a frame crossmemebr near the tank with a u shaped hold down holding it. change it now, cheap and often neglected until too late. had 2 vg33 engines with similar issues caused by failing dizzy at about 200k miles this is always my first check on these motors, then condition and milegae on plugs and wires and fuel filter

 

[LMS1959]

You might take a look at your throttle body position sensor. There is about a 1/4 in. adjustment in it. Just loosen the two screws and move by hand. These things have spring inside that adjust your throttle position that can weaken and wearout. It's the sensor on your throttle body here's a pic with prices https://www.google.com/search?q=HITACHI+TPS0006

 

[kms1990]

Thats part of the instructions in the link i provided him, good add though

 

[Ryen01234]

Thank you for the advice, KMS and LMS! I'll be sure to put it to good use. To answer your question, KMS, the last tune up was done a little over a year ago.

 

[kms1990]

did it include a new wire set?