i always thought that was a dummy light..
a multimeter would be the thing to check it, or a datalog.
I would disconnect the negative terminal and reset the computer. It might be a long shot but it may help or fix the problem and cost you nothing. My 02 has had a bouncing idle lately and after I disconnected the battery for a while and took my stock air silencer off it actually helped. Granted I think my car needs a good tune up, but might be worth a shot.
i had my last stang towed to a shop because my car wouldnt start. i tried jumping it and everything.
well $200 later i had my battery replaced. the old was so bad even hooked to another car it wouldnt do anything. i was pissed cause i could have spent less than half that doing it myself.
If you disconnect the battery while the car is running it will die. The alternator converts AC voltage to DC voltage. The battery output voltage is DC. This is why the alternator needs power from the battery. Older cars had generators instead of alternators. The generators output voltage was DC from the start. You can drive a car forever with a generator if the battery went dead. However, when you come to a stop you would have to keep the rpm's up so the car wouldn't die. This propably more than you wanted to know. I've had cars with generators and they work well. Alternators are able to keep up with the demand of all the electronics of the moderm cars much better than generators. Have the battery checked. Pearl02.
Also look at the IAC like Urban96 suggest. A clogged or particailly clogged EGR valve will cause Idle problems. I would think the EGR valve problem would throw a check engine light. You could pull both of these off and try to clean them. The IAC is easier to clean but the cleanings don't last long. The EGR valve itself is harder to clean. Good luck man. Pearl02.
Not true. My car died a few weeks ago while on the highway. Battery was drained so I assumed it was the alternator. Just to check I did the good ole method of unplugging the battery from the alternator while its running. If the alternator was dead the car would not run, well it did. It continued to run while the battery was unplugged, it was just rough. *WARNING*** DO NOT do this with newer cars!! It will run on just the alternator however it is dangerous to the electronics. The battery basically grounds the whole system, without the battery your alt volts and amps can go outside of the parameters and damage your cars computer or wires. It did end up being my alternator that was the prob, for some reason it was putting out amps but not volts, or vice versa can't remember. Point of the story, never unhook your battery on a running car.
Also Brian, it is your IAC they are peices of ****. I am having the same problems.
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