I have a 90 F-150 that is hard to start and has an up and down idle between 500 and 1500 rpms. It only has 46,000 miles on it. Do I need to look and some sensor or is it some aux fuel injector. I had a similar problem with an old VW Rabbit I owned a number of years ago and it was a cold start valve gone haywire. Any suggestions?

 

What engine do you have? first thing I would check for is vacumm leaks...

 

Have the fuel pump checked had an 88 with similar problems fuel pump was going out and eventually you could be driving down the road and it just shuts down it took me weeks to figure this one out. Bill

 

It's the 302 5.0 liter. Fuel pump huh? Thats interesting. I suppose it's in the fuel tank like a Mustang. It's going to a local mechanic Monday. The Ford garage thouroughly screwed it up the last time they "Fixed" it so we're going to someone we trust a lot more. I'll tell him to look at that.

 

I'd say the IAC motor. Idle air control. Little 1 1/2" round can that mounts right there at the throttle blades. It opens/closes to control idle. MIght be screwed up, stuck open? Got some soot in it maybe? Two small bolts hold it on, take it off and spray some carb cleaner thru it. Make sure it's clean inside. Put it back on and try it? Better? NOT? Might be faulty all together?

 

Actually it came out of the shop last week with a new map sensor. But I'm also gonna check the suggestions I've recieved as well. It's running very well but since the Ford garage fixed a fuel injector last year, it went from 16 to 8 mpg. So theres still more going on. More to come I guess....

 

I'd agree with Freightrain on the IAC.

 

It does idle a bit funny when it's cold. I'll make sure to take it apart and clean it. Sounds like a good suggestion.

 

Shoot, Bryan...didn't realize you're in Akron. I'm in Canton, work in Barberton.
Let me know if I can help in any manner....since I'm close.

 

Really? Wow. I grew up in Wadsworth and actually live in Kenmore. Yea, I'll have to look you up sometime. You'll like my truck. It's not your typical Ohio truck. Still pretty clean. Do you ever go to Winks in Barberton on Friday or Saturday night? Maybe we could meet there sometime. My 1972 Chevy C-20 should be out of the tranny shop next Tuesday and I want to take it to Winks. That one only has 29,000 miles.

 

Ya, I hit Wink's a couple times a year or so. If you've been there, you might recognize my black 64 galaxie with 390/6-71 huffer/4 spd, or my 69 blue/white F100 shortbed with 428/quads/4 spd.

Do ya ever eat at Hodges? It's my lunch hangout at noon 'bout every weekday.

 

Yea, I think I remember both of them. It's been a bit since I've been to Winks. My 72 Chevy truck is orange/red and the only one that color in the area so it's pretty distinctive itself. I used to go every weekend until it broke down. But that was like 3 years ago. Just haven't had the time to mess with it. But it will be back on the road next Tuesday. We'll have to hook up sometime at Winks and I'll drive the Ford. I spent a whole day on it a couple of weekends ago so it's pretty clean right now.