Mom's car is stupid (strange idle issue)

Starlite528 · Post by **Starlite528** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 6:53 pm

I'm not quite sure what to make of this. Whenever the car is idling, regardless of actual speed, the engine will rev up for a quarter of a second then drop back down, about every ten seconds. It's extra effort to make sure the brake pedal is down so she doesn't accelerate into a parking curb or the car in front of her.

The only reliable way to make it not do this is to put it in neutral.

90's-ish mercury tracer.

The Dark Side of Will · Sat Mar 29, 2008 6:55 pm

How far does it rev? Is it stable otherwise?

p8ntman442 · Post by **p8ntman442** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:33 pm

1.8 - 2.0 SPI?

Good little motor.

Clean the iac with a little carb cleaner. it may be sticking. Irradic idle is usually caused by irradic idle control devices.

90's ish means it could be MAF so check your MAF and clean it too.

Do the pistons slap yet?

Starlite528 · Post by **Starlite528** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 12:58 am

The Dark Side of Will wrote:How far does it rev? Is it stable otherwise?

Just a little. It sputters and stumbles when you accelerate.

p8ntman442 · Post by **p8ntman442** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 5:29 pm

Sputtering under acceleration is Plug wires Garunteed.

check the #4 plug wire, by the alternator. In fact check all the plug wires. I drive a 2.0 spi 100 miles a day and I can tell you they are bullet proof, except the damn #4 wire, 4 sets I have had arc through. I think there needs to be a heat sheild from the alternator. I just keep buying $20 sets of NAPA wires, Last time I decided Lifetime warantee was the way to go.

Also, check her tie rod ends for her, I think they are made of penut butter, cause they slop around so much after 1000 miles.

Starlite528 · Post by **Starlite528** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 5:31 pm

p8ntman442 wrote:Sputtering under acceleration is Plug wires Garunteed.

Also, check her tie rod ends for her, I think they are made of penut butter, cause they slop around so much after 1000 miles.

You're right about the steering! had a chance to drive it, once it was up to speed, turning was........strange.

Starlite528 · Post by **Starlite528** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 5:56 pm

p8ntman442 wrote:Sputtering under acceleration is Plug wires Garunteed.

check the #4 plug wire, by the alternator. In fact check all the plug wires. I drive a 2.0 spi 100 miles a day and I can tell you they are bullet proof, except the damn #4 wire, 4 sets I have had arc through. I think there needs to be a heat sheild from the alternator. I just keep buying $20 sets of NAPA wires, Last time I decided Lifetime warantee was the way to go.

Sorry, it is a 1.9.

Here's where the plug wire was rubbing up against the alternator, I slipped that plastic shield down and slid the clip that was on the wire down, because it wasn't helping before (the pic is after).

This is the IAC? the arrow points to what looks like a knob that can be turned, and I'm afraid it might have been.

p8ntman442 · Post by **p8ntman442** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:43 pm

yeah same fucking motor. Turning shouldnt be affected by the tie rod ends unless they are fubar.

That is the IAC, no idea what that knob is, but dont touch it until you have a factory service manual. The car must be pre 97 because I think they went to 2 liters at 97.

The wire was rubbing? or was it arcing? Mine fall apart inside the boots.

Starlite528 · Post by **Starlite528** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:52 pm

p8ntman442 wrote:yeah same fucking motor. Turning shouldnt be affected by the tie rod ends unless they are fubar.

That is the IAC, no idea what that knob is, but dont touch it until you have a factory service manual. The car must be pre 97 because I think they went to 2 liters at 97.

The wire was rubbing? or was it arcing? Mine fall apart inside the boots.

No it was pressed up against the alternator. I could see a sooty white spot on the wire too, but it wasn't melted. My mom reports that it wasn't spontaneously accellerating today, so I guess that shield was the fix.

I believe it's a 94. The timing belt got chewed up real good at the end of last year and had to be replaced.