Super Simple Questions

[88Vic]

Successful? Yes. Smooth? Not so much. I got it done, but I did move some of the a/c hard lines to make it easier, one of the benefits to having no refrigerant left at all.

The IAC is mounted on the firewall right? I seem to remember it being there on my 87 5.0 Fox, it used to randomly jump to 2000 and stay there, I'd cut the ignition off then on quick and it'd idle normal. I'll take it off and clean it out, see if it helps. I'm sure all the vacuum leaks don't help either.

[gadget73]

mounts on the back side of the throttle body. Its the tubular looking thing with an electrical plug on the bottom.

vacuum leaks make these run real stupid. Fix those.

[88Vic]

I think I remember now, kinda looks like an old camera film canister.

I'll fix the leaks when I get a chance, gonna have to tear it apart to do it since all the gaskets need to be changed too. I'm hoping that'll solve a few issues.

[88Vic]

Here's another:

Sometimes it doesn't want to start. If the engine is warm it'll fire, but if it cools down it doesn't want to crank, most of the time. Like after sitting at work for 9 hours, I'll come out and turn the key but nothing. I'll have to keep trying, sometimes holding it like I'm trying to crank, and eventually the starter will start cranking. It cranks and fires just fine, it's just it doesn't seem to want to initially crank when it's cold. I've checked the battery connection and it's fine, nice and tight. Could it be the solenoid?

[gadget73]

could be, could also just be dirty connections, or the starter itself giving up. If it does this again, whack the starter and see if it goes. if it does, replace the starter.

[88Vic]

It does it on a regular basis. The connections on the battery were cleaned up as it just got a fresh battery, I could try the connections on the solenoid, see if that helps.

[sly]

I have the no start with crank issue on mine when cold occasionally. Typically it's fuel system bleed down and my lack of letting it prime first. Which means I probably need to change the fuel filter.

[88Vic]

That could be it, haven't ever changed the fuel filter and it's on my list. The tank was mostly empty when it sat, didn't put any stabilizer in it. I've got a can of seafoam in it, trying to clean the injectors a bit and need to change the fuel filter soon.

I figure it's something electrical though, because when I try to start it, nothing happens at all, no cranking or anything. When it does eventually crank, it cranks fast and it fires quickly and easily, so by listening to it, it sounds like the starter is fine but it might not be, if it intermittently doesn't crank at all.

[sly]

if it's not cranking at all, then yeah... check the cables from the battery down to the starter along with the wire to the small terminal on the solenoid. Also, ignition switch could be getting worn out.

[gadget73]

Once in a while mine gets sketchy with that little wire on the solenoid. It won't click when it does that though. If it makes a click, either the solenoid itself is dying, or the starter is. usually when the solenoid gives up, its because the starter is giving up too.

[88Vic]

Changed the cap/rotor today, didn't seem to help, still has a miss. I had to bend the tabs a bit that hold the cap on to get them back on, so now it's a bit loose, not bad but not as tight as I'd like, could that be a problem?

Also gonna find a timing light to borrow, see if the timing is set correctly, could be slightly off for all I know, not sure that'd cause a miss, but what do I know?

[DerekTheGreat]

Those tabs can be a bastard. I was almost going to bend mine when I went to put the cap back on but then I thought the OEM's didn't have to so I shouldn't either. If you seat the cap down fully all you should then have to do is press the clip up against the cap and then push firmly on the center of it and it'll pop into place. When's the last time this thing saw new plugs? Could be the that the one closest to the firewall on the passenger side is fouled out. I've heard LoPo's like to eat that valve stem seal and leak oil onto that plug, causing a miss.

[88Vic]

I just changed the plugs about a week ago, so the wires are next but they usually last longer than 86k.

[DerekTheGreat]

Not to mention they can last longer than 25 years. I've seen some pretty crusty stuff still in working condition. Ever look at the EGR valve and stuff? That's next with my car. Found out it isn't opening unless 4x the vacuum required is put on it and it doesn't open smoothly so it's anybody's guess as to if it's actually hung open a little. Stumble off idle is getting worse.

[sly]

I've had wires die in 20K... and others last 200K... so YMMV.