Engine idle.

Topic: Engine idle. (Read 1913 times) previous topic - next topic

Engine idle.

February 13, 2007, 06:47:53 PM

I have a problem with my 87, Cougar. The idle on my 5.0 is too fast, most of the time, and some times it's ok. I have checked my throttle, and cable, and replaced my throttle position sensor. The repair manual I have dosn't have enough information on this issue. I shure could use some help finding the cause. Thanks, Big Mike .

Engine idle.

Reply #1 – February 13, 2007, 08:24:21 PM

does it jump in idle as its sitting?

Engine idle.

Reply #2 – February 13, 2007, 08:36:21 PM

It is not jumping.

Engine idle.

Reply #3 – February 13, 2007, 08:52:48 PM

where the throttle cable goes to the throttle body, is there a stop screw that it rests one, never played with a 5.0 FI,

Engine idle.

Reply #4 – February 13, 2007, 09:00:04 PM

The cable snaps on a pin on the throttle body.

Engine idle.

Reply #5 – February 13, 2007, 09:08:41 PM

ok im out of ideas wait for someone else to chime in.

Engine idle.

Reply #6 – February 13, 2007, 09:27:07 PM

One more thing I forgot to add. when I take the negitive cable of the battery for 15 min. or more, the idle is normal untill the next time it acts up again.

Engine idle.

Reply #7 – February 13, 2007, 09:40:15 PM

that resets everything, thats why i asked if it was jumping usually you can disconnect it for 15-20 mins, fire it up, and do not touch the gas for about 5-10 mins let it reset itself, but i guess it doesn't work for you

Engine idle.

Reply #8 – February 14, 2007, 12:11:34 AM

disconnecting the battery cable does nothing and i dont know why people cant seem to get this. People have no problem being perfectly happy with spreading missinformation,, but feel like its too much work to spread the proper information.

why would anyone say disconnecting your battery clears everything?
This goes inline with what i whitnessed today where a guy was helping a lady out and jump starting her car. He is in a mid 90s F150 and she is in an escort. He hooks his battery cables up to his truck,, and,,, with the other two ends,,,,,
HE SMACKS THE TWO LEADS TOGETHER
I said,,, "why did you do that?"
his reply........"i wanted to make sure there was FIRE",, . I thought he was joking so i said "she's the one with the problem , not you,, you know you have fire,lol. "

to beat all there were a couple other bystanders who were hovering and one of them chimed in and said,,,, "yeah,, aint you ever heard of that before"

Perhaps he's gonna need a jump start here in a couple days.

pull the codes,, that might be a decent place to start.

check out my diy link above my sig and follow those steps.,, its all in there.

Engine idle.

Reply #9 – February 14, 2007, 08:20:27 PM

Thank you for the help. This is a dead issue now. Mike..

Engine idle.

Reply #10 – February 14, 2007, 10:44:19 PM

big Mike: So you fixed it?

Scott, I've got news for you: Pulling the battery cable on an EEC-IV car, at least an MPFI one (perhaps CFI is different), WILL cause the car to have to relearn its idle, and if you don't do it, the car will idle like shiznit until it does. I've had this experience with my '87 Sport, '91 V6, and the current '88 T-Bird. In fact, it was almost dangerous in the '91 V6, as every time the A/C compressor kicked on with the car idling in gear the car would surge ahead - could be dicy in drive thru lineups. I fixed it by pulling the battery cable, reconnecting it, and doing the relearn thing correctly.

From Mitchell ONDemand:

Engine idle.

Reply #11 – February 14, 2007, 11:03:02 PM

this is completely unrelated to our Fox's, but last week..the chevy truck had the brake warning light come on in the dash. I discovered that snow had gotten in or on the abs sensor, so i drove it a few miles to warm the brakes up enough to dry it out, then had to pull the battery cable to reset it.

Engine idle.

Reply #12 – February 16, 2007, 12:44:57 AM

Quote from: Thunder Chicken;129640

big Mike: So you fixed it?

Scott, I've got news for you: Pulling the battery cable on an EEC-IV car, at least an MPFI one (perhaps CFI is different), WILL cause the car to have to relearn its idle, and if you don't do it, the car will idle like shiznit until it does. I've had this experience with my '87 Sport, '91 V6, and the current '88 T-Bird. In fact, it was almost dangerous in the '91 V6, as every time the A/C compressor kicked on with the car idling in gear the car would surge ahead - could be dicy in drive thru lineups. I fixed it by pulling the battery cable, reconnecting it, and doing the relearn thing correctly.

From Mitchell ONDemand:

actually,, i owe daboss351 an apology, (SORRY for my screw up there man), he never said "it cleared everything",, he said it resets everything. that being said,, yeah i do agree with the car relearning its idle. It happens everytime you unhook/rehook your battery up. I was mentioning the fact that it does not clear all your codes that could lead to the cause of bad idle. I should have paid better attention.

Engine idle.

Reply #13 – February 16, 2007, 05:59:06 PM

Quote from: jcassity;129870

I was mentioning the fact that it does not clear all your codes that could lead to the cause of bad idle. I should have paid better attention.

Disconnecting the battery clears the KAM (keep alive memory).
This also includes the CM codes.

Engine idle.

Reply #14 – February 16, 2007, 06:09:22 PM

its ok thats what i ment, i as gonna say i can use my bros escort as proof his car would surge with the heater on, so i disconnected the battery and let it be cleared it up, cause it sucked wed be sitting at the light after school cold, and the car would try to jump. Like i said no harm done.