Fast Engine Idle

[Guest]

My TBird has always idled at 750rpm - today I start her up and it stays at 1200 and won't lower. I drove her around the city (mix of highway and city roads), and still the idle stuck up around 1200. Now I love my Borlas and I sure can hear them loud and clear, but this isn't normal.

And tomorrow she has to go in for her "clean air test".... what timing....

Any suggestions?

[snowbird]

Re: Fast Engine Idle

My TBird has always idled at 750rpm - today I start her up and it stays at 1200 and won't lower. I drove her around the city (mix of highway and city roads), and still the idle stuck up around 1200. Now I love my Borlas and I sure can hear them loud and clear, but this isn't normal.

And tomorrow she has to go in for her "clean air test".... what timing....

Any suggestions?

Mark: For cars that run on premium, When I go for my clear air test, I put in some regular gasoline prior to the test. That will bring your readings way down. Not sure if it will lower the RPM however.

[Treken]

Re: Fast Engine Idle

Mark: For cars that run on premium, When I go for my clear air test, I put in some regular gasoline prior to the test. That will bring your readings way down. Not sure if it will lower the RPM however.

How does the low test gas help? just wondering, never heard that before. I heard products on the market help like a product called GTP (guaranteed to pass) or something like it.

Sorry Mark about RPM's, when you go there for the Drive Clean, I am sure they (mechanic) will adjust if you mention it to them before the test.

[snowbird]

Re: Fast Engine Idle

How does the low test gas help? just wondering, never heard that before. I heard products on the market help like a product called GTP (guaranteed to pass) or something like it.

Sorry Mark about RPM's, when you go there for the Drive Clean, I am sure they (mechanic) will adjust if you mention it to them before the test.

When I had my '91 Cougar, 5 Litre engine that used premium gasoline, I compared my readings to previous readings from two years prior when a mechanic friend told me to put in regular gasoline for the test, it cut my readings in half. could not believe it myself but that is what it showed. Then I took in my wife's '98 Lincoln LS that runs on premium, and had the same results. Will do the same when the time comes for the '03 Bird.
MartinB.

[Guest]

Re: Fast Engine Idle

thanks for the information Martin and Steve. I took the Bird over to my trusty mechanic earlier tonight (awesome chap), and he hooked it up to the computer and got an Idle Air Control Malfunction code (on the way over, the dreaded engine light came on). So it's back to my mechanic as soon as possible - I want to fix this before doing the Clean Air test.

As we say up here, "c'est la vie".....

[luvbirdz]

Re: Fast Engine Idle

Last E Test for mine at 42k Km, all readings were zero.

[louhari]

Re: Fast Engine Idle

Sounds like a bad Idle Air Control Valve. I've replaced them on several Ford engines. Don't know where it's located on the 3.9L engine but they are usually near the manifold on top of the engine, very accessable and held in place buy two bolts. Also has an electrical connector.

[Duke583]

Re: Fast Engine Idle

AFTER GETTING NEW THROTTLE BODY AND COPS, WHEN I PICKED UP THE BIRD THE IDLE WAS RUNNING HIGH. I HAVE TO HOLD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO KEEP THE CAR FROM MOVING. IT IS RUNNING ABOUT 1000-1100 RPM. I HAVE AN APPT WITH DEALER NEXT WEEK. IS THIS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE AFTER GETTING A NEW THROTTLE BODY? THE IDLE WAS FINE WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN? THANKS

[MATBird]

Re: Fast Engine Idle

Earl, my '02 runs about 750 RPM's which seems about right

[V8 Cat]

Re: Fast Engine Idle

That idle is too high. As George mentions 750 RPMs is about right. You need to take it back to the repairer: especially if it doesn't correct itself after several start-ups. Possibly disconnecting the battery and reconnecting it might reset the correct idle.

[Duke583]

Re: Fast Engine Idle

INTERESTINGLY, YESTERDAY THE CAR STARTED IDLING AT 750 RPM. I HAD STARTED IT ABOUT 5-8 TIMES SINCE THE REPAIR. CAN SOMEONE GIVE ME A POSSIBLE EXPLANATION FOR THIS HAPPENING?

[DBeaton]

Re: Fast Engine Idle

Magic!

[JAB02LHS]

Re: Fast Engine Idle

[Lindy]

Re: Fast Engine Idle

When engine is started from cold, the idle will be about 1100-1200 at first, as warm-up proceeds, idle will "ratchet" downward till the normal 750 or so. Is your engine completely warmed up, when high idle occurs? e.g., when stopping for an interesction stop light, does the engie still idle higher than normal? Just a guess...a Ford dealer could make sure PCM program is correct (via a reload) and that no glitches have developed, if that were possible. Perhaps the fuel sensor in the air intake needs cleaning etc., etc.

[Ediron]

Re: Fast Engine Idle

INTERESTINGLY, YESTERDAY THE CAR STARTED IDLING AT 750 RPM. I HAD STARTED IT ABOUT 5-8 TIMES SINCE THE REPAIR. CAN SOMEONE GIVE ME A POSSIBLE EXPLANATION FOR THIS HAPPENING?

I always say "these cars have a mind of there own"