• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

surging idle, am i on the right path?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Cobra_Dusten
  • Start date Start date Apr 25, 2009

Cobra_Dusten

Member
Aug 7, 2005
246
0
16
Marysville, Wa
Apr 25, 2009
#1
  • Apr 25, 2009
  • #1
Ok, the car is an 89 vert. 5 liter with a 5 speed.
Motor is fresh with approx 2500 miles. GT40 heads, e cam, 24lb injectors, explorer intake, bbk 65mm tb, c&l maf for the 24's, short tubes, no cats, no ac, no smog pump, no egr, no can purge. All the emission stuff was off when i bought the car. I built and installed the engine. Problems have shown up in the last month.
I started following the check list.
Pulled codes, got 41 and 91(along with the egr codes) showing lean.
Car stumbles when started(warm or cold)(some times) but seems to idle ok when cold, once it warms up the problems arise. i can run down the freeway all day, without a cel, it only shows up in traffic.
from reading the checklist, its possible i need an iac, but i could clean it first. but, without getting my AFR's read, is it possible that at 105K on the car it needs both 02 sensors?

Anyways, i have stopped at this point, looking for a little advice before i go buy parts.
when the rough idle starts it will bounce from like 400-1200 a few times and die, i can stab the throttle and keeping it running, and sometimes after a quick stab it will settle down and run fine for a while.
 
G

GTOreturns

Well-Known Member
Oct 1, 2003
51
17
59
West Coast Best Coast
Apr 25, 2009
#2
  • Apr 25, 2009
  • #2
Loosen up but sides of the MAF and twist both ways while it is running, and bring it to the position that idles best then lock it. If that doesn't work go through this thread for idea's.
http://forums.stangnet.com/698148-help-me-create-surging-idle-checklist.html
 

Cobra_Dusten

Member
Aug 7, 2005
246
0
16
Marysville, Wa
Apr 25, 2009
#3
  • Apr 25, 2009
  • #3
i've gone through the thread, and got to the point of pulling codes, but the only thing i got was lean. but my idle symptoms fit the that. i'll play with the maf and then go from there.
 
G

GTOreturns

Well-Known Member
Oct 1, 2003
51
17
59
West Coast Best Coast
Apr 25, 2009
#4
  • Apr 25, 2009
  • #4
When I put in a 75mm bullet the same thing was happening. So I twisted the maf and the idle smoothed out very nicely. Give it a shot.
 

Cobra_Dusten

Member
Aug 7, 2005
246
0
16
Marysville, Wa
Apr 25, 2009
#5
  • Apr 25, 2009
  • #5
the idle issues seems to have cleared up quite a bit, however my father thinks lean on both banks is a vacuum issue... oh the joy
 

Cobra_Dusten

Member
Aug 7, 2005
246
0
16
Marysville, Wa
Apr 27, 2009
#6
  • Apr 27, 2009
  • #6
does it sound normal that with my MAF at certain "clocked position" i lose a ton of power, but regain it with a slight turn of the maf?
 

93 LX

Founding Member
Jun 2, 2000
3,081
3
0
Norwalk, CA.
Apr 27, 2009
#7
  • Apr 27, 2009
  • #7
Cobra_Dusten said:
the idle issues seems to have cleared up quite a bit, however my father thinks lean on both banks is a vacuum issue... oh the joy
Click to expand...

+1

If you still get lean codes and its running rich then you do have a vacuum leak! Start looking at hoses under the intake and around the brake booster...
 

Cobra_Dusten

Member
Aug 7, 2005
246
0
16
Marysville, Wa
Apr 28, 2009
#8
  • Apr 28, 2009
  • #8
well, i got to thinking, its throwing EGR codes due to not having one, won't that cause it to go lean(the car leaning itself out to accommodate the EGR, when its not there?)
 

jrichker

StangNet's favorite TOOL
In Remembrance. Thank you for your contributions
Mar 10, 2000
27,512
2,813
234
Dublin GA
Apr 28, 2009
#9
  • Apr 28, 2009
  • #9
Cobra_Dusten said:
well, i got to thinking, its throwing EGR codes due to not having one, won't that cause it to go lean(the car leaning itself out to accommodate the EGR, when its not there?)
Click to expand...

No. Evidently when the computer sets an EGR code, it disables all EGR functions and runs the non EGR normal parameters.
 

SMOKEDYA

20+ Year Stangneter
Jul 13, 2003
3,637
8
79
Tucson AZ
Apr 28, 2009
#10
  • Apr 28, 2009
  • #10
If you have zero vacume leaks then yes the MAF is what i'm thinking. I had a C&L also on my 95 and like everyone else said just by turning it it smoothed out and ran good.I doubt it's the 02's my car has 146,xxx miles on it and as far as i know still the stock 02's? BUT you could also might need a tune to get stuff in line. You might not gain any power out of it AND you could loose power but it would be a good A/F ratio and you would have driveability. Do you know what your fuel pressure is at? jrichker is correct about the EGR it wont run any diffrent if it's not hooked up,mine isnt hooked up and i just had mine tuned with the chip and everything was flying colors, just sucks cause i didnt even think of the tuner to program my chip to turn off the CEL light because of it peace





john
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
Engine Idle cuts out
  • claypoolxx
  • Mar 7, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2
Replies
22
Views
622
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jun 5, 2026
KRUISR
7
Engine Random hanging idle
  • 706 Saleen
  • Feb 11, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
9
Views
601
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Feb 19, 2026
86HO5.0
8
K
Resolved Need some assistance. Holley Terminator X alongside H/C/I. Very rough/inconsistent idle
  • karhoot
  • Jun 6, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
0
Views
79
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jun 6, 2026
karhoot
K
9
Electrical F150 ECU in a Foxbody? Idle surge help
  • 93royalblue
  • Sep 10, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
6
Views
396
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Sep 17, 2025
Mustang5L5
G
Idle surging after warm up
  • GALLY3309
  • Jun 10, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
1
Views
98
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jun 10, 2026
Noobz347
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 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?