[Meatmans86]

My car recently started to lose idle power when warming up. Normally, when it is warm it will idle around 1000-1100 rpm. Yesterday I started it up and when it got warm stopped giving it gas and the engine idle slowly starting dropping down. It finally got to about 400 rpm and the engine started sputtering until I gave it a bit of gas. It also started making a whistling sound under the hood, when after opening the hood and listening, it appeared to be coming from the pulleys somwhere. This happened today as well and I am not 100% sure what it is. Could it be the idler pulley going bad? I am a bit stumped right now and am gonna poke around with it in the next day or so. Any advice or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

I was thinking my engine may just be mad at me since it knows its going to be replaced with a 302 soon. :P

Thanks

[moostang1104]

Originally Posted by 86toupgrade

I was thinking my engine may just be mad at me since it knows its going to be replaced with a 302 soon. :P

Thanks

haha that's about how my engine must feel right now, doing the 2.3T though. My car was doing something similar when I first bought it, but it was because there was old gas in it. After running some Sea Green through it and giving it a fresh tank of gas, it runs damn near new. Did you happen to notice which pulley was causing the squeel? In an old Starion that I used to have, one of the pulleys froze and was causing a loud screaming sound and the engine bogged to a stall almost every red light...

[Meatmans86]

It sounded, and I didnt get a down deep listen, like it was coming from the middle pulley. I believe thats the water pump. Temp is fine though and the only thing gauge wise that seems different is my oil pressure is a bit low. I am taking it to my neighbors garage tomorrow to give it a good inspection and try and pin point the noise. Its not a loud whine, just noticeable. I am gonna get to it before it becomes a serious problem if it means the death of me.

[sleeper_inc]

When was the last tune up? carb rebuild/clean? Adjust your idle?

There are many issues, check for loose vacuum lines, wiring, etc

[Meatmans86]

I was under the hood today. The carb is pretty clean. There is no screw in the fast idle. I jerry rigged one for now until I can find an actual replacement. It seems to be doing the trick thus far.
About the whistling/chirping noise. I did the auto stethoscope on the outer pulleys and no dice. I am suspecting it of being either the timing or the idle tensioner. They are under a cover so I will save that for a day that I actually wake up early. It only does it when warm and I will try to drive sane for now.

[ethangsmith]

The 86 2.3L computer carb setup is a pain in the butt when it malfunctions. I finally got sick of mine and backdated to a 1980 carbed setup. Anyway, I had mystery noises coming from my Capri for some time and I found it was the dual belt setup that runs the alternator and power steering. Try spraying a SMALL amount of WD40 on the belts and see if the noise changes. As for the idle issues, that could be one of many things. Anywhere from some dirt in the carb, to a failed sensor, to a failed idle speed control motor, or vacuum leak. Check your vacuum harness. The little plastic lines snap once they get old. I found tons of hairline cracks and breaks in mine when I replaced them. Hissing around the intake would be a good indicator of a failed intake gasket. If the carburetor has not been rebuilt for at least 10 years, it's time. If you scan the computer for codes, it may spit out something that can help pinpoint the problem. If you don't know how to get the codes out of the computer, Haynes and Chilton manuals have instructions. I spent 7 years working on that 86 carbed system, so if you need more help with it, I'll see what I can do.

[Meatmans86]

Hey , thanks much. I will check out the vacuum issue as a possible. Like I posted before, I now have a secure fastidle screw in place and its working very well. No more sitting there babying it on a cold day. I also sprayed the belts that are outside of the casing and it didnt change the noise.
About the computer... Hehe...I dont even know where the fuse box is in this car and have yet to find a computer. I am suspecting that I am maybe blind ?
I will check those things and let yall know where it goes from there.

[ethangsmith]

The computer is behind the trim panel below the dash on the passenger's side A pillar. The fuse panel is below the steering wheel underneath the trim (the 'knee panel"). I think you have to take 2 or 3 screws out to get to it. Having a fast idle screw will certainly make things run better. Right next to the spot where the fast idle screw is, there is another screw. That is your curb idle screw (throttle stop screw). This is what controls your base hot idle. Behind that, you will see a small electric motor with 4 wires going into it. That is the idle speed controller. The plunger will extend and touch a screw and bump the idle up. That screw is also adjustable. Here is how to have your screws adjusted: The fast idle screw should get you about 1700-2000rpms when the engine is cold and you pump the gas pedal and then start the car. The idle controller motor screw should yield 1100-1300rpms with the plunger fully extended (once the car is started but the engine is still cold, the plunger will be fully extended) and your foot off the gas. The curb idle screw should be set to 700-900rpms (engine hot, idle motor plunger fully retracted). This is how the computer likes the idle set and will get the best drivability.

[Meatmans86]

Ahhh...ok..thanks much. Yeah, the idle is much better now. It is almost exactly around the numbers that you stated.

[ethangsmith]

Good. Sounds like it's running better for you. That has to be one of the strangest systems Ford made. A computer control system used for EFI vehicles adapted to control a fuel solenoid on a carburetor. It's complex, but when it does run, it runs very well and gets good fuel economy.