V6 Petrol Idle Issues

[apole]

Hi guys,

I have an issue with the engine stalling on idle when warming up.

I've checked on lushprojects etc and can see no sign of an idle control valve.

Further research would indicate that the throttle body housing could be gunged up which would give rise to the symptoms I'm getting.

On my car it's not an easy job to get at this, ideally it should be removed and cleaned on a bench, before refitting.

I've come across this product and it seems to get good reviews, not just from itself !!!

http://www.ecotekplc.com/PowerBoost.htm

Anyone had any dealings with this or another similar product?

[francophile1947]

I'd be surprised if there wasn't an Idle Air Control valve somewhere.
We used to bung a good dose of injector cleaner in the tank of cars that had similar problems - it tended to give a temporary improvement, but there's no substitute for removing and cleaning the valve.

[bigdaddycain]

Is the air filter clean?

[cheffy34]

Hi guys,

I have an issue with the engine stalling on idle when warming up.

I've checked on lushprojects etc and can see no sign of an idle control valve.

Further research would indicate that the throttle body housing could be gunged up which would give rise to the symptoms I'm getting.

On my car it's not an easy job to get at this, ideally it should be removed and cleaned on a bench, before refitting.

I've come across this product and it seems to get good reviews, not just from itself !!!

http://www.ecotekplc.com/PowerBoost.htm

Anyone had any dealings with this or another similar product?

Hey apole It's not just me having issues at mo then i have used it before in another car in my boy racing days with i suppose some success, i've read alot on the power boost gear in car moding mags way back, alot of peeps do give good reports but on the other hand i've also heard it can help in the early demise of valves if used to often (it helps to burn them out apparently) didn't do my festa any harm but i didn't really care about that heap tho
Can't comment on idle control i'd have thought it would be there somewhere tho, i'll have a butchers see if i can chuck out up in lush for ya, 2 pairs eyes "n" all that Sure it not connected to your gas, trying to cut in to early or summit or does that not really matter

Goodluck with it

Dar

[apole]

Hi,

Air filter quite recent but will check. Not the LPG either as it does it on petrol. Been doing it a while but now the colder weather is here the problem is more noticeable, sometimes cuts out when you are doing 30 or more and coasting up to a roundabout.

I think I'll take a look at the TB if I get chance this weekend to see how dirty it is, but I do remember it is a real pain to get at on this engine.

I guess I was being lazy, need to chuck in a new air filter, clean the TB and the pipes leading to it and see if that improves things. May also need to try and clean the MAF carefully if that doesn't improve things. One of those problems that is probalby quite easy to fix, just knowing what is causing it.

If you can see an idle control that would be great, remember mine is the H4 model under lush, I've done my eyes in trying to find it.

Thanks for the help.

[manners]

The air control valve is on the throttle body at the back of the inlet manifolds 20990 on the lush project.

[hogggman]

strangely,my v6 is running a bit rough in the cold weather,too!
jamie

[cheffy34]

strangely,my v6 is running a bit rough in the cold weather,too!
jamie

Strange mine goes like the clappers in the cold, cold air helps combustion

[manners]

No probs with mine either apart from a small oil leak Ive not had chance to look at

[hogggman]

hi,
it always starts first time,and never stalls,but sometimes`hunts`when cold.it`ll tickover at 750 rpm or whatever,and every 10 seconds or so there`ll be a`blip`where it drops slightly.very ocassionally i`ll start the engine in the cold and it`ll tickover at about 1200rpm for a bit.mind you,it`s still never had a new air filter(just knocked the muck off it!!)and never had new plugs(cleaned and put them back!)
jamie

[apole]

Thanks for finding the valve, I've been looking for ages for that as that is the number one suspect on a web search.....

Mine runs well other than just occasionally stalling when warming up, starts fine, set's off fine, then say a mile or so into a journey if you coast or stop at a roundabout it sometimes just stalls, very quietly too so you don't notice until you try and start off, or if you are coasting the steering gets heavy !!!

Be glad to get this one sorted as I've looked on and off for a while, not found anything and let it ride. Will give the TB a good clean too if it looks mucky whilst in in the area.

Thanks again for the help, much appreciated.

[dandywarhol]

I've had no experience at all on the V6 but a common problem with F.I. petrols with mucky throttle bodies is the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor gets gunged up and sends false readings to the ECU.

A simplistic way of describing the MAF operation is that its usually a hot wire element which is fed a current supply from the ECU to heat it to a predetermined temperature. As the incoming cold air cools the wire, the ECU sends more current to keep it at the predetermined temperature, that way the ECU "knows" the engine is drawing in more air and therefore requires more fuel. If the hot wire is coated in gunge then the ECU is kidded and can make the engine running erratic. A good clean out can repair it but its worth finding out the resistance values of the MAF sensor and checking yours.

Some good bumf here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_flow_sensor

[cheffy34]

Informative dandy would it be poss to spray a cleaner in it, or is it an apart job



Sorry to rob your thread apole but i'm interested in this one for if and when mine runs ruff I'll be asking you for advice on it at sometime

ps reckon i've nailed mine part ordered

[apole]

Hi Darren,

Cleaning the MAF should be fairly straightforward, plenty of tips on the web.

One is here:

http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/cleanmaf

When I get time/chance to do mine I'll try and take some pics and make them available, same with the throttle body and the idle control valve.

A while back when I had that coolant leak on the throttle body, I recall seeing the inside was a little gungy so for me I think it's worth a shot at cleaning all these things. So long as I don't break anything it shouldn't cost much at all, carb cleaner is about £4 a can, other than some cloths, cotton buds and time that (hopefully) should be about it.

I'll keep you posted but it may be a week or two till I can get round to it.

Hope you get your issues sorted soon.

All the best and thanks everyone for your help.

[cheffy34]

Thanks apole speak soon

Dar