rough idle, hard to get going, wants to stall in lower RPMs

No.11

10 Year Member
Oct 13, 2009
614
10
48
Los Angeles
So after I put the motor mounts in, the car was fine. After a couple days I noticed that when I started the car it would idle really bad, going down to like 300 RPM and spiking up to 1200, and sometimes turning off at the lower point. Once it warms up it stays more constant but I can still tell it's not idling correctly. I also hear something that sounds like air escaping. Sounds like it may be coming from under the upper intake. It also smells of fuel not only from the exhaust but also in the engine bay.

Even before this problem, it always turned right off as soon as I turn it on when it's cold, but I just had to hold the gas a little and it would even out.

One of my spark plug wires had been burned a little from touching the header so I thought that was the problem. I went out and bought new Ford Racing 9mm blue wires and new spark plugs and set to a gap of .050. All said and done, the problem continued so now I'm stumped. Anyone got any idea what it could be? Maybe a came loose somehow? I would really appreciate the help as I am very eager to take her out on the road again. Thanks a lot! :hail2:
 
sounds like a vacuum line broke or came off. Follow all the lines coming off the tree and make sure they are hooked up on the other end.
 
sounds like a vacuum line broke or came off. Follow all the lines coming off the tree and make sure they are hooked up on the other end.

I will check that out today since I get out of school early YEAH!

Thanks.

Also I found the surging idle checklist hehehe...guess I should have looked for that first.