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Topic: engine revs to 2000 rpm on its own (Read 2975 times) previous topic - next topic

engine revs to 2000 rpm on its own

hello, i have a 1988 tc with 121,000 miles, auto, and k&n installed on vam everything else is stock. engine will rev to 2000rpm on its own for 30 to 60 seconds but sometimes it doesnt idle back down. i have to shut motor off and restart to get idle to come down. this is happening multiple times in just short drives. i cant figure out what it is...
please help

engine revs to 2000 rpm on its own

Reply #1
What do the codes say?
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

engine revs to 2000 rpm on its own

Reply #2
Quote from: Haystack;461561
What do the codes say?
^^^this^^^

Could be a vacuum leak but assuming that has been checked, 99% it's TPS related... The 2.3 are sensitive to voltage setting and 30 years down the road are often defective, won't always give a code...

engine revs to 2000 rpm on its own

Reply #3
Try backing off the timing a degree or two. Idle is controlled primarily by timing. I was having similar issues along with what seemed like a constant mis-fire at idle. I ended up programing a chip to put idle timing to about 23* instead of the 25* it's supposed to have. Mis is gone and no more racing idle. You don't need the chip for this, I had a spare and didn't want to do a global change that will effect all driving conditions by just twisting the dizzy.

John

engine revs to 2000 rpm on its own

Reply #4
I have the Innova 3144 code reader but lost the instructions. I did The key on test and when it cycled through codes they were 11,10,41 and 65 after it was finished memory only showed 65... Taking car to shop tomorrow for a code test...I will also try the timing back off.

engine revs to 2000 rpm on its own

Reply #5
41 is lean o2 sensor, 65 is user error (ignore) 10 doesnt mean anything, and 11 is a system pass.

The lean o2 could be a bad fuel pump or preassure regulator, on v-8's its almost always a map sensor or vacuum line problem.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

engine revs to 2000 rpm on its own

Reply #6
65 is VAF (vam) below test minimum voltage.

Ya sounds like you should just use the paperclip in the test plug and count the CEL flashes.

Here are the codes for reference:
http://www.turbotbird.com/techinfo/eecprint.gif

John

 

engine revs to 2000 rpm on its own

Reply #7
Sorry I'm new to this. I know carbs but this is all new. Do I need a new o2 sensor? Can you explain the paper clip thing? How do i raise voltage on the vam? I'm going to clean the vam and check the tube for holes.

engine revs to 2000 rpm on its own

Reply #8
What you ran is called KOEO  (Key On Engine Off)
This presents two groups of codes. First. On demand codes (O). Then Continuous Memory codes (C or M).
Code 11--No O error codes.
10-- Is the separator between the O codes and the M codes.
Code 41--O2 lean, no switching.
Code 65 Fuel control problem 2.3L Turbo.

It hard to know how old the memory codes are, although they look promising.
Does your code reader have a button or switch to reset memory codes. If so, rerun the KOEO and operate the reset while the M codes are reading out.
Rerun the KOEO again to verify the codes have been reset. Now if they reoccur after you drive the car you know they are fresh.

Run KOER (Key On Engine Running) and see what codes you get.

engine revs to 2000 rpm on its own

Reply #9
hello, thanks for the advice. i will try that after i put car together. Took vam out to clean, removed intercooler to clean throttle body and found the turbo hose was bad.

engine revs to 2000 rpm on its own

Reply #10
Ok, I cleaned vam, vam hose and throttle body. Replaced hose from intercooler to turbo and disconnected battery.. idle was good for about thirty minutes. Ran codes again and got 10,11,41 and 72. Disconnected battery again ran car for a minute idle back down.. Ran code again got 10,11.
Found out from previous owner this started after a top end rebuild. New stock cam, bearings and rockers.

engine revs to 2000 rpm on its own

Reply #11
You really need to do the KOER test. It's possible you just need an O2 sensor. Other possibilities include your actually lean caused by intake leaks, issue with fuel system or previous owner messed around with the VAM spring. You could have an exhaust leak between the turbine  to the down elbow. It may be a poor rebuild and springs are loose. It could even be as simple as the breather grommet on the rear of the valve cover or valve cover gasket is letting unmetered air into the system. Regardless......you need to start with the simple things.

John


engine revs to 2000 rpm on its own

Reply #13
I adjusted the tps had to turn screw in 3/4 of a turn to get rpm to 740-750 and got voltage to .94 volts. With IAC plugged in idle is 950 to 1000. So far no more high idle. I will run koer in another day or two to see if I get any codes.
The o2 sensor is new less then 100 miles. Thanks for all your help..
Next project t5 hopefully I can find everything soon. So if any of you has the parts for sale please let me know. Thanks

engine revs to 2000 rpm on its own

Reply #14
Quote from: Thedivergent03;461639
I adjusted the tps had to turn screw in 3/4 of a turn to get rpm to 740-750 and got voltage to .94 volts. With IAC plugged in idle is 950 to 1000. So far no more high idle. I will run koer in another day or two to see if I get any codes.
The o2 sensor is new less then 100 miles. Thanks for all your help..
Next project t5 hopefully I can find everything soon. So if any of you has the parts for sale please let me know. Thanks
Not exactly the proper method but if it works you're golden...

After owning 15 '87-'88 TC, I learned long ago that a high idle that is usually corrected on a restart is TPS related... Never seen a o2 sensor make any difference(or on any other EEC-IV) and replaced a few because of CEL indicating they were not switching...