Idle surge then dies.

HiFlow5 0 · 11-14-2002, 01:52 PM

My car had been running great for awhile since I installed new heads a few months ago. Now just recently upon start up, it will surge pretty bad then die. But that only happens sometimes, usually after the car is warm. Other times it starts up fine but idles at 1100 rpms, them a moment later drops to 900 and is fine. I've cleaned the IAB and even swapped it with my other mustang and it still does the same thing. Anybody have any clue what is going on here?

PKRWUD · 11-14-2002, 02:58 PM

Dirty MAF, fault in the TPS circuit, grounded O2 sensor, there are several possibilities. Have you tried to pull any codes?

HiFlow5 0 · 11-14-2002, 06:00 PM

I haven't checked for codes yet. I hadn't gotten a check engine light so I didn't bother, but I'll check tomorrow. My O2 sensors were new as of last year, about 10k miles ago. I cleaned the MAF sensor it didn't help too much. I did try taking the stock MAF sensor and put it on the Pro-M meter. The engine didn't surge nearly as bad, but ran very rough. The only thing I haven't tryed is replacing the TPS. I have a spare in the garage, I'll give that a try.

Mach 1 · 11-14-2002, 09:39 PM

sounds like the infamous e-303 cam surging idle . is the crane your running the same as the e-303?

HiFlow5 0 · 11-15-2002, 08:01 AM

Yeah its the Crane version of the e-cam. Thing is though it was never this bad before. I can see if I had this type of surging when I installed the cam a year and a half ago, I could say it was the cam.

MEDIK418 · 11-15-2002, 09:42 AM

Just a suggestion, The 89 did this same thing immediately after installing a new TB, EGR spacer and K&N filter. I had to reset the computer to get it to quit doing it. Maybe it's having to relearn the fuel/air curve with the new heads. Also, it did it again the other night just all of a sudden like. After some head scratching in the dark I found the air filter has fallen off. You have a cold air kit. . .might the filter have fallen off?

Mach 1 · 11-15-2002, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HiFlow5 0
Yeah its the Crane version of the e-cam. Thing is though it was never this bad before. I can see if I had this type of surging when I installed the cam a year and a half ago, I could say it was the cam.

Logically, that would make perfect sense, but we are talking about the infamous e-cam surging idle. it has baffled many a tuner.

I had the e-cam and the car would idle great at times, surge like a rabid dog at other times. The computer doesnt like the 110 lsa of the e-cam.

speaking from personal experience, i had the same problems you describe and I tried EVERYTHING to remedy it and nothing short of a cam swap worked. Maybe youll have better luck.

later

HiFlow5 0 · 11-15-2002, 03:04 PM

Maybe I'm in denial about the cam? I initally thought about the infamous e-cam surge, but was really hoping it was something else. I really don't feel like tearing down the motor again at this moment for a cam swap just to make the surge go away. I've heard that certian custom burned chips can help. Maybe I'll give "Tweecer" a try? Anybody had good luck with "Tweecer"?

Mach 1 · 11-15-2002, 04:06 PM

yeah, a custom burned chip or something like the "tweecer" should be able to take care of it, but In my case, i wasnt happy with the e-cam so opted for a swap anyway.

USMC302 · 11-16-2002, 08:32 AM

Not sure about the eldelbrock heads, but my TW heads needed the longer threaded spark plug vise the stock length ones. When I put the stock ones but cooler in the heads I had bad surging, when I went to the longer plug for that head, no more surge. What kind of plugs are you running in your heads right now? When you did the head swap froms stock to the ones now, did you retain the same plug?

HiFlow5 0 · 11-16-2002, 02:13 PM

Yup had to switch spark plugs. I run autolite 3924's now cause of the longer reach.

spankaveli · 11-16-2002, 05:44 PM

doesn't the ignition module cause problems whenever its going out when the car is warmed up?

slantman · 11-17-2002, 05:08 AM

had the same problem tried everything iab, mass air the works and no codes after new o2's no more problem. worked for me.

Mach 1 · 11-17-2002, 09:29 AM

The 02 sensors didnt work for me. I tired the MAF, 02 sensors, Idle air bypass adjuster from ford, all kinds of tuning, etc.....in the end, the cam change was the answer.

11-14-2002, 01:52 PM	#1
HiFlow5 0 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Springfield, Ma, usa Posts: 706	Idle surge then dies. My car had been running great for awhile since I installed new heads a few months ago. Now just recently upon start up, it will surge pretty bad then die. But that only happens sometimes, usually after the car is warm. Other times it starts up fine but idles at 1100 rpms, them a moment later drops to 900 and is fine. I've cleaned the IAB and even swapped it with my other mustang and it still does the same thing. Anybody have any clue what is going on here? __________________ NewEngland Auto www.baystategearheads.com -91 Mustang Coupe, ex 4cyl (sold) -99 F150, 3" lift, 35" Procomps, Magnaflow exhaust

11-14-2002, 02:58 PM	#2
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	Dirty MAF, fault in the TPS circuit, grounded O2 sensor, there are several possibilities. Have you tried to pull any codes? __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!

11-14-2002, 06:00 PM	#3
HiFlow5 0 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Springfield, Ma, usa Posts: 706	I haven't checked for codes yet. I hadn't gotten a check engine light so I didn't bother, but I'll check tomorrow. My O2 sensors were new as of last year, about 10k miles ago. I cleaned the MAF sensor it didn't help too much. I did try taking the stock MAF sensor and put it on the Pro-M meter. The engine didn't surge nearly as bad, but ran very rough. The only thing I haven't tryed is replacing the TPS. I have a spare in the garage, I'll give that a try. __________________ NewEngland Auto www.baystategearheads.com -91 Mustang Coupe, ex 4cyl (sold) -99 F150, 3" lift, 35" Procomps, Magnaflow exhaust

11-14-2002, 09:39 PM	#4
Mach 1 Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Location: Georgia Posts: 3,866	sounds like the infamous e-303 cam surging idle . is the crane your running the same as the e-303? __________________ 2002 GT 1993 GT (SOLD) '93 Mustang GT RHC member #142

11-15-2002, 08:01 AM	#5
HiFlow5 0 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Springfield, Ma, usa Posts: 706	Yeah its the Crane version of the e-cam. Thing is though it was never this bad before. I can see if I had this type of surging when I installed the cam a year and a half ago, I could say it was the cam. __________________ NewEngland Auto www.baystategearheads.com -91 Mustang Coupe, ex 4cyl (sold) -99 F150, 3" lift, 35" Procomps, Magnaflow exhaust

11-15-2002, 09:42 AM	#6
MEDIK418 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Amarillo, Texas, USA Posts: 780	Just a suggestion, The 89 did this same thing immediately after installing a new TB, EGR spacer and K&N filter. I had to reset the computer to get it to quit doing it. Maybe it's having to relearn the fuel/air curve with the new heads. Also, it did it again the other night just all of a sudden like. After some head scratching in the dark I found the air filter has fallen off. You have a cold air kit. . .might the filter have fallen off? __________________ 1986 four-eyed LX coupe, 358 Cleveland, Tremec TKO600/centerforce clutch, dish cut Probe forged pistons, comp cams hyd.roller cam, .579/.588@224/230, Edel.performer, 670 holley street avenger, CPR custom built long tubes, ported and polished 4bbl heads, manley valves, beehive springs, MSD peo-billet dist/MSD6AL, fluidamper, 5 lug conv. with 17x8 bullits there's more but it's still not finished yet. Oh, and the oldest boy is turning his 89 GT into a FFR cobra this next summer.

11-15-2002, 03:04 PM	#8
HiFlow5 0 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Springfield, Ma, usa Posts: 706	Maybe I'm in denial about the cam? I initally thought about the infamous e-cam surge, but was really hoping it was something else. I really don't feel like tearing down the motor again at this moment for a cam swap just to make the surge go away. I've heard that certian custom burned chips can help. Maybe I'll give "Tweecer" a try? Anybody had good luck with "Tweecer"? __________________ NewEngland Auto www.baystategearheads.com -91 Mustang Coupe, ex 4cyl (sold) -99 F150, 3" lift, 35" Procomps, Magnaflow exhaust

11-15-2002, 04:06 PM	#9
Mach 1 Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Location: Georgia Posts: 3,866	yeah, a custom burned chip or something like the "tweecer" should be able to take care of it, but In my case, i wasnt happy with the e-cam so opted for a swap anyway. __________________ 2002 GT 1993 GT (SOLD) '93 Mustang GT RHC member #142

11-16-2002, 08:32 AM	#10
USMC302 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Gallatin, Tn Posts: 1,326	Not sure about the eldelbrock heads, but my TW heads needed the longer threaded spark plug vise the stock length ones. When I put the stock ones but cooler in the heads I had bad surging, when I went to the longer plug for that head, no more surge. What kind of plugs are you running in your heads right now? When you did the head swap froms stock to the ones now, did you retain the same plug? __________________

11-16-2002, 02:13 PM	#11
HiFlow5 0 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Springfield, Ma, usa Posts: 706	Yup had to switch spark plugs. I run autolite 3924's now cause of the longer reach. __________________ NewEngland Auto www.baystategearheads.com -91 Mustang Coupe, ex 4cyl (sold) -99 F150, 3" lift, 35" Procomps, Magnaflow exhaust

11-16-2002, 05:44 PM	#12
spankaveli Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Gonzales, Louisiana Posts: 153	doesn't the ignition module cause problems whenever its going out when the car is warmed up? __________________ Old car - 87 LX Pics New car - 02 WRX Pics & Mods

11-17-2002, 05:08 AM	#13
slantman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: north augusta SC Posts: 12	had the same problem tried everything iab, mass air the works and no codes after new o2's no more problem. worked for me.

11-17-2002, 09:29 AM	#14
Mach 1 Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Location: Georgia Posts: 3,866	The 02 sensors didnt work for me. I tired the MAF, 02 sensors, Idle air bypass adjuster from ford, all kinds of tuning, etc.....in the end, the cam change was the answer. __________________ 2002 GT 1993 GT (SOLD) '93 Mustang GT RHC member #142

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