2.3 Stalls when cold...?

MSC58 · 07-16-2008

Ok I have an 87 Notch with the stock 2.3 auto in it. Everytime I start it up, it will jump to about 2,000 rpm and then idle down after a minute or two. Once it gets under around 950, it boggs and stalls out. I can keep it running if I give it gas before it goes under about 750 rpm. But after that it just cuts. It will do it in gear as well as park. When it warms up it idles at a steady 950 rpm. Wich is kinda high. I want to figure this problem out soon because I want to take out that stupid air silencer without causeing a bigger problem. Does anybody know what this can be?

Slumlord · 07-17-2008

It is likely your IAC (idle air control), Little tube hanging off the back of your intake near your thottlebody with a wire hanging off of it towards the drivers side. Ford 2.3's are notorious for a bad idle once they get over 50,000 on them, or 20 years for that matter...

Take it off and clean it out. Also clean the connection with some contact spray. If that is no good, try replacement... But before you do that, just verify that your O2 sensor is not cooked.

NavySVO · 07-17-2008

Could be the IAC as noted. Clean it using a can of CRC Fuel injection cleaner. Try to set it up on a work bench (or the ground) with the holes pointed up and fill the cavities with the cleaner. Let it soak as long as you can allow. Then wait until you see all the crap come out after that.

Another thing it could be is the ECT sensor. It tells the EEC (computer) how to schedule fuel delivery during various engine temps. During a cold start, the engine should run richer to keep it running until warm up........sorta like a choke on a carburator.

mustangpro · 07-17-2008

Does an 87 have an IAC? I don't think SD cars have them do they? I took my TB off my 90 last night and there wasn't an IAC. Hmmm.

MSC58 · 07-17-2008

Can somebody please take a pic of there IAC So I know what needs to be cleaned?

MSC58 · 07-17-2008

I'm going to try and clean out the sensor and that area when I go to my dads shop tommarow. I'll take a look at the o2 sensor also. How do I verify that it is fried or not?

MG-42Porterlll · 07-19-2008

one Qin? your car has lost of power we you drive it? if so wen you get it running see if the air flow out the teil pipe is stedy flow if not and theres gaps like pup pup pup then your not banging right in one or more of your celinder chambers it can be a bad valv or a leak in head gaskit

MSC58 · 07-20-2008

I couldn't tell if theres a loss of power or not because I only drove the car while this has been occuring. So I couldn't tell you if there was a loss of power or not. The pistons are not nocking at all and its not vibrating like crazy like it would If I lost 2 cylinders.

I will get this problem fixed while its back in the shop this week. The first night I had it on the road I ended up blowing the front seal of the tranny.. It leaked all over and on the exhaust.It started smoking like crazy too. I got a little scared because I didn't want it to catch on fire. That would have sucked.. Thats what you get when you power shift an auto.. and also down shift.. on 20+ year old seals.. Yea I wont push it like that again.

Slumlord · 07-20-2008

are you running an A4LD trans? I had an 88 drop top with one of those once and actually sold the car because of it.. The A4LD cannot handle much power or being pushed. In fact Ford even dropped the boost on their auto Turbocoupes because of that. Luckily, I found another car just like it only with a standard.. I was amazed at the difference. In case you want to push it again...

MSC58 · 07-20-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slumlord

are you running an A4LD trans? I had an 88 drop top with one of those once and actually sold the car because of it.. The A4LD cannot handle much power or being pushed. In fact Ford even dropped the boost on their auto Turbocoupes because of that. Luckily, I found another car just like it only with a standard.. I was amazed at the difference. In case you want to push it again...

Yea thats the trans I have. I'm planing om doing a V8 swap one of these days so spending a lot of money on something I'll just take out later wouldn't make sense. Unless I could find one really cheap

I'm going to start looking at a Tremec 5 speed for it and also see what I have to do to make that work with the 4 cyl(change the bell housing, cut the tranny tunnel to fit the bigger tranny, etc..) until I swap it out for the V8. I want to get all the bugs out until that day though.

NavySVO · 07-21-2008

Here is a pic of the IAC (square around it)

MSC58 · 07-23-2008

Thanks for the pic Navy! That made it a lot eaiser. So basically I have to take that off the throttle body and clean that out with carb cleaner?

NavySVO · 07-23-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSC58

So basically I have to take that off the throttle body and clean that out with carb cleaner?

Yep. I let mine soak overnight with the holes facing up on a workbench. A lot of black stuff came out.

92'Grey-Ghost · 07-23-2008

When was the last time you changed plugs and wires? Check timing also.

MSC58 · 07-23-2008

Plugs, wires, and timing were all changed/set about 3 weeks ago.

So how exactly does fuel/grime get in there(IAC)?