• Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

New battery, Higher idle

  • Thread starter Thread starter Black GT
  • Start date Start date Jan 29, 2020
B

Black GT

Active Member
Sep 8, 2018
148
9
28
Jacksonville, Florida
Jan 29, 2020
#1
  • Jan 29, 2020
  • #1
I installed a 700 cca battery in my GT yesterday and now my car idles at around 1100 rpm's. When I give it gas while idling it wants to hang at around 2000 rpm's for a couple of seconds. Anyone have any idea why this is happening? My old battery that was in the car died and had this brand new NAPA legend laying around so I used it as a replacement. The battery is taller and longer than the battery I took out, but I don't think that would have anything to do with the problem.
 
Z

zlightlystoopid

Member
Jan 29, 2020
18
3
13
California
Jan 29, 2020
#2
  • Jan 29, 2020
  • #2
Is your check engine light on?
 
B

Black GT

Active Member
Sep 8, 2018
148
9
28
Jacksonville, Florida
Jan 29, 2020
#3
  • Jan 29, 2020
  • #3
No, check engine light is not on. I replaced the IAC valve with a new motorcraft one about 3k miles ago so I do not think it is the problem. The idle would do the same thing it is doing now every once in awhile before I changed the battery. Turning the engine off and restarting it always fixed the problem though. Since the battery swap it does it all the time. When I push in the clutch or put the car in neutral idle stays at around 2 grand for about 20 seconds and slowly drops down. Before it would drop to around 700 rpm's but now idles at around 1100. I have made no adjustments to anything.
 
A

Admiral_peck

Member
Feb 3, 2020
7
1
13
Midland, tx.
Feb 3, 2020
#4
  • Feb 3, 2020
  • #4
I'd guess the bad battery might've been creating a high load on your alternator, and now it's not creating much of a load at all, meaning a much weaker magnetic field in the alt. My 96 does idle around 1100 in N or park if I let it sit. Drops to 700 in gear. Before when my alt was shot it would idle around 800 putting out 11.9 v from said alt. Likely battery didn't want to charge to 12v and pcm was looking for 12v and only ever getting 11.5 or so and is therefore loading the alt as hard as it can to try to charge said battery.
 
Reactions: Black GT
B

Black GT

Active Member
Sep 8, 2018
148
9
28
Jacksonville, Florida
Feb 4, 2020
#5
  • Feb 4, 2020
  • #5
Since I have been driving it the idle is getting close to more normal. The old battery I think was going bad for awhile. It used to turn over slower and take a second to start. Now when I turn the key it spins over faster and starts instantly. I am hoping its just a matter of the PCM relearning the extra charge and it will go back to normal soon. I hope anyway.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

K
Engine 2000 Mustang GT - Fuel issue post-blown spark plug repair
  • kenster1092
  • Feb 26, 2026
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
4
Views
296
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Mar 10, 2026
kenster1092
K
P
Electrical 2001 GT Overcharging
  • PseudoGT
  • Dec 3, 2025
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
1
Views
214
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Dec 13, 2025
Noobz347
A
Rough idle - cylinder 1 and 6 misfire HELP
  • austindavies935
  • Jul 24, 2025
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
12
Views
653
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Jul 24, 2025
gkomo
E
2007 GT Stalls when lights or a/c turned on
  • ejscarfo
  • Jun 22, 2026
  • 2005 - 2009 Specific Tech
Replies
2
Views
66
2005 - 2009 Specific Tech Monday at 10:58 AM
ejscarfo
E
7
Engine Random hanging idle
  • 706 Saleen
  • Feb 11, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
9
Views
455
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Feb 19, 2026
86HO5.0
8
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?