Hey guys, here in Michigan it got to 72 degrees yesterday from being in the 30's and 40's just a few days earlier. I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but when I got off the freeway and stopped at the off ramp, my RPM's were dipping down, and making the truck seem as if it might stall, but never did. My GF's 3.0 vulcan taurus did something similar, it would idle like it has a hot cam in it. WTF is going on? They both have new fuel filters, the mass air flow sensors are clean (just did it a few months ago) and the air filters are new within the last few months. Does this have anything to do with winter blend gas? I am at a total loss here.

Thanks,
CB

 

i would look into the IAC see how dirty it is and clean it with some electric parts cleaner

 

Ok, I will look into it tonight. Any other ideas?

Edit: I just remembered that I cleaned the one on the taurus 4 months ago....

 

i can almost garrentte you thats the problem.... you can eather use eletric cleaner or, go to the store and pick up some IAC cleaner, just becareful when taking the IAC apart....

 

Do you know where it is? I don't have a chiltons for my truck, I suppose I should go buy one now that the miles are starting to get up there......

 

its with your throttle body, i dont know if its a removable peice or just all in one with the T/B...

 

^^^^ Thanks, I knew that, but I will stop and get a book this evening. Better safe than sorry! :)

Edit: any ideas about the Taurus, since I cleaned the IAC in that not too long ago. They both did it just when the weather got warm all of a sudden, I thought that was weird for sure....

 

I think it's EXTREMELY unlikely.. *but* I've seen faulty transmission torque convertor lock up solinoids do exactly this same thing.

The chances it would happen to two of *your* cars at the same time would be a one in a million shot. But.. it could be a cause. You change the tranny fluids lately?

IMO I'd look into IAC cleaning and changing fuel brands.

Rich

 

My truck is a stick, so no go on the trans. I have been running Shell premium v-power these last few tanks and I usually run BP/Amaco or Mobil. Maybe its the gas. Although that doesnt explain the taurus because my GF religously runs Bp.

 

yeah i live in mich to mine did the same thing after runing about 85 for an hour and i cleaned out my tb and iac and runs great now

 

Yes, it is very possible. Using winter blend fuel on an unseasonably warm day can cause hot driveability problems like you saw. Conversely, summer blend fuel can cause cold starting problems on an unseasonably cold day. This is precisely why seasonal fuel blends exist.

 

where exactly is that solenoid for the torque converter??

 

My truck ('93 4.0 auto) hasn't been idling right and the CEL stays on most of the time but goes off randomly for a little while. I've cleaned the IAC and MAF but it still does it. Also, when the CEL is on it won't shift into overdrive. It gets pretty annoying with it always winding out. My truck has no EGR valve that everybody suggests is the problem. Any chance that torque converter solenoid would make it do this?