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HELP! My '87 Mustang is idling high...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Quijibow_69
  • Start date Start date Apr 4, 2005
Q

Quijibow_69

New Member
Apr 17, 2004
44
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0
Mechanicsburg, PA
Apr 4, 2005
#1
  • Apr 4, 2005
  • #1
My '87 Mustang is idling really high right now. It actually just started tonight. I only owned the car for about 3 weeks now and this is the first night I got to really drive it (more than an hour of so). I was cruzing around with friends of mine. When I came to a stop tonight and pressed the clutch in, it idled at about 2000 RMPs. Then, when I went to park at my house, it idled at about 1500 RPMs. What could this be? Idler control? As far as mods, I have none except MAC Catback right now.
 
T

That50

New Member
Apr 4, 2005
44
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0
Houston,Tx
Apr 4, 2005
#2
  • Apr 4, 2005
  • #2
Same here, just mines an auto...
 
8

89white50

Member
Nov 16, 2004
440
1
18
central MA
Apr 4, 2005
#3
  • Apr 4, 2005
  • #3
mine idles right under a grand, which is fine with me cuz it sounds like it wants to die if it idles lower. im pretty sure its the tps, but im just going to wait when i do the whole top end in a few months
 

AUBURN1111

Founding Member
Oct 17, 2000
560
20
49
Mobile, AL
Apr 5, 2005
#4
  • Apr 5, 2005
  • #4
could be your idle air control valve located on the side of the throttle body, sometimes they stick.
 
I

Insane3D

New Member
Jul 21, 2004
310
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0
Apr 5, 2005
#5
  • Apr 5, 2005
  • #5
A high idle can be caused by a lot of things. One of the main causes is a vacumn leak, so check all your vacumn lines. If they are original, those hard plastic lines that look like straws might have cracked/broken over the past 18 years. Also, check on your IAC, MAF wires, and the 10 pin connections (salt and pepper shakers) near the firewall behind the intake.

Here is a good link for tracking down a pesky idle issue...

http://www.muscularmustangs.com/iac.html

One thing though, on the part where you clean your MAF wires, I would suggest using simple rubbing alcohol and q-tip rather than carb and choke cleaner...it's a bit too harsh for those wires IMO.

Good luck!

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Apr 5, 2005
#6
  • Apr 5, 2005
  • #6
Insane3D said:
One thing though, on the part where you clean your MAF wires, I would suggest using simple rubbing alcohol and q-tip rather than carb and choke cleaner...it's a bit too harsh for those wires IMO.
Click to expand...
good info.

also, if one has electrical contact cleaner around, that should work pretty well.
 

RED92VERT

Founding Member
May 31, 2000
74
0
0
Apr 5, 2005
#7
  • Apr 5, 2005
  • #7
It sounds to me like you have a small vacume leak. I had one that caused my idle to jump and it took me a few weeks to finally find a cracked hose.
 
I

Insane3D

New Member
Jul 21, 2004
310
0
0
Apr 5, 2005
#8
  • Apr 5, 2005
  • #8
HISSIN50 said:
good info.

also, if one has electrical contact cleaner around, that should work pretty well.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's also good. I actually used something called "Air Intake Cleaner" from Prestone that's labeled as being safe for sensors on fuel injected cars, and also won't harm the teflon coatings on the inside of some throttle bodies.

I almost forgot, here's a link for cleaning the 10 pin connections. There was actually a TSB on this issue for pre '90 cars IIRC. Ford put in a extension harness because the pin connections in those connectors didn't make a good connection from the factory...

http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2002/01/tenpin/index.shtml

Good luck!

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Apr 5, 2005
#9
  • Apr 5, 2005
  • #9
Insane3D said:
Yeah, that's also good. I actually used something called "Air Intake Cleaner" from Prestone that's labeled as being safe for sensors on fuel injected cars, and also won't harm the teflon coatings on the inside of some throttle bodies.

I almost forgot, here's a link for cleaning the 10 pin connections. There was actually a TSB on this issue for pre '90 cars IIRC. Ford put in a extension harness because the pin connections in those connectors didn't make a good connection from the factory...

http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2002/01/tenpin/index.shtml

Good luck!

Click to expand...
right on. the TBC should not have toluene, which takes off the teflon coating. i just look for something that does not leave residue. and after reading what some folks use, i think many, many products work alright. LOL.

and also right on with the ten pins.
 

squeeeg

Founding Member
Jul 4, 2000
1,905
0
0
Michigan
Apr 5, 2005
#10
  • Apr 5, 2005
  • #10
You need to scan for codes, see if your computer is telling you anything. Also you can try resetting the idle http://www.muscularmustangs.com/idlereset.html
 
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