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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech

rough idle

  • Thread starter Thread starter 50 Proof
  • Start date Start date Aug 18, 2011
5

50 Proof

Member
Jul 14, 2003
43
1
9
Orange County
Aug 18, 2011
#1
  • Aug 18, 2011
  • #1
I have a 94 GT with about 154,000 miles on it. When I'm at a stop, the car idles pretty rough to the point that I can feel the car shaking. When I look at the tach I can see the needle surging up and down between 600-800rpm. The idle air control motor was replaced less then 10k miles ago with an oem motorcraft part. The check engine light never comes on. Should I start by doing a tune up, replace plugs, wires, cap, rotor, and fuel filter? Any other suggestions what could cause this?
 

alleymad95GT

Member
Jul 14, 2009
204
0
16
Okemos, Michigan
Aug 18, 2011
#2
  • Aug 18, 2011
  • #2
Always a good idea to start with the tune-up. Gives you a good baseline to work from.

Don't forget to clean the MAF while you are doing that.

Also, just because there is no CEL does not mean that there is not a stored trouble code. I would pull the codes too just to check.

Finally, with a shaking issue, it never hurts to take a minute to check out the harmonic balancer. They are prone to failure. The backside (toward the block) should be nice and flush - no rubber crap poking out - and it should not wobble as it turns.
 
5

50 Proof

Member
Jul 14, 2003
43
1
9
Orange County
Aug 18, 2011
#3
  • Aug 18, 2011
  • #3
Good suggestion with the balancer. I'll check that out as well. It was recently replaced with a motorcraft balancer because of a bad vibration, but it's possible it might be bad again. I've heard SN-95s tend to have balancer problems? I'll try pulling codes too and see if I get anything.

The shaking feels more like someone is on one side of the car and is pushing on it to rock it back and forth from side to side.
 

JonezySN95

Member
May 18, 2011
206
3
19
J-ville NC
Aug 18, 2011
#4
  • Aug 18, 2011
  • #4
I would just start with the tune up first. It sounds like the shaking is coming from the rough idle issue. The HB wouldnt make that kind of effect, but still a good idea to check it anyways.
 
5

50 Proof

Member
Jul 14, 2003
43
1
9
Orange County
Aug 18, 2011
#5
  • Aug 18, 2011
  • #5
A tune up is definitely in store, going to order everything from rockauto.com this weekend after I get paid. I was able to determine part of the problem tonight. The vacuum hose that goes from the back of the intake to some sort of electrical sensor towards the firewall on the passenger side was all cracked (another section of hose continues from the electrical sensor to the passenger side strut tower). The car is idling much better now.

There is a new problem now that just seems to have started tonight. The car stalls every once in awhile with the air conditioning on. It doesn't always do it but sometimes I can be idling at a stop light, flip the A/C on and within 10-15 seconds the RPMs will drop slightly and it's like it can't compensate so the RPMs continue to drop and the car stalls. It doesn't do this when the A/C is off. My first thought is bad IAC but I replaced the IAC with a motorcraft unit about a year and a half ago, less then 20k miles ago. What could cause the engine to stall at a stop when the A/C is running?
 

JonezySN95

Member
May 18, 2011
206
3
19
J-ville NC
Aug 19, 2011
#6
  • Aug 19, 2011
  • #6
That same vacuum line seems to dry rot pretty fast on these cars. Mine is rough looking as well. I looked it up not to long ago and if I remember correctly it was something to do with emissions or a vapor vac of some sort. The other side of that line should run into your fire wall. I will try to find the info on that again and pass it on. As far as the other issue I couldn't tell you. I am curiouse though. I have a simular problem. I just switched my cam and now when my car runs for a while it stalls when I stop. I am replacing the MAF tmrw so i'll let you know if that works for me (i doubt its the same issue as yours though).
 

JonezySN95

Member
May 18, 2011
206
3
19
J-ville NC
Aug 19, 2011
#7
  • Aug 19, 2011
  • #7
Here you go... Hope this helps a little.

What is this line supposed to be connected to? Pic Inside... - Ford Mustang Forums : Corral.net Mustang Forum
 
5

50 Proof

Member
Jul 14, 2003
43
1
9
Orange County
Aug 19, 2011
#8
  • Aug 19, 2011
  • #8
Thanks for the link, that's exactly what I'm referring to. My hose going to the back of the upper intake is starting to shred. No way in hell I'm removing the strut tower brace or the upper intake the repace that vacuum hose. I was able to bend my arm and reach almost all the way back to where the hose attaches to the vacuum port. I'm going to attempt to fix it with everything still intact.
 
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