Aha. You've uncovered the latest in IMS warning technology. Squirrels are extremely sensitive to subtle changes in frequencies undetectable by humans and will automatically gnaw through power lines to shut the engine down if failure is eminent. A little known factoid.

 

IMSG=Inhabitable Monitoring Squirrel Guardian

 

Macster: I cleaned my filter this summer (about 4k ago) with the K&N cleaning/oiling kit - whatever it's called. IIRC, K&N warns of cleaning too often and that their filters get better as they get dirty, to a point.

Now, is it under oiled? Perhaps. I followed the instructions. How else could I determine 'proper oiling'? Should I clean it and try oiling again next season, despite the theory that dirtier is better?

BruceP: I totally agree with your view. When I purchased the car, it had the Evo intake and Fabspeed exhaust I was glad to have both as I don't see the point in only increasing flow on one side of the equation. I would have found it hard to justify dropping the extra cash on these two after buying the car, but I was quite happy to get them included. They are probably the two brands I would have chosen myself.

So, I vacuumed out the grass last night. Can anyone save me some time and tell me what the blue wire is for? (this pic below is immediately in front of the passenger tail light, beside the air intake)

Again, I don't think the squirrel is related to the idle problem, but it could be a variable. See my rough idle thread for the latest development.

 

Those are your O2 Sensor wires and yes, if they are chewed through could cause idle issues. Has it thrown a Check engiine light?