Stalling after header install
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Ohio
Stalling after header install
Just put headers/dual exhaust on my '89 302 and now it's kinda playing games. When cold, coming off high idle it will stumble and faulter, regain itself for high idle another minute then slow down to idle.
Had it stall a couple times idling, in neutral. I'll coast into driveway, hit parking brake and go to put in park and it would stall. Caught me off guard first time.
Cleaned IAC the other day since it had been a while. Seems to run okay overall. Put new O2 sensor in with headers.
Anyone else run into this with exhaust upgrade?
Had it stall a couple times idling, in neutral. I'll coast into driveway, hit parking brake and go to put in park and it would stall. Caught me off guard first time.
Cleaned IAC the other day since it had been a while. Seems to run okay overall. Put new O2 sensor in with headers.
Anyone else run into this with exhaust upgrade?
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,728
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From: Cleveland, TN
I don't have a good answer for you, but, did you check all the connectors to be sure nothing was left unplugged or not plugged in properly? Could there be a damaged plug wire?
Most of the time I find it's the little stuff that causes the most grief...
Most of the time I find it's the little stuff that causes the most grief...
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Ohio
Didn't really tear too much stuff off getting headers on. Just plug wires. Guess I'll recheck to make sure.
Just strange that it has idling issues(Like it is much lower then it used to be). It does idle in gear fine, doesn't stall going down road. Just when in neutral. No miss(like bad plug wire).
Just strange that it has idling issues(Like it is much lower then it used to be). It does idle in gear fine, doesn't stall going down road. Just when in neutral. No miss(like bad plug wire).
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Sand Lake, MI
Did you disconnect the battery while working on it, clear its memory of times gone by, allowing it start from scratch with the headers on it, let it rebuild it's adaptive strategy?
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Headers themselves will have no effect on engine idle, and by your description you have a vacuum leak that was either created during the header install or was pre-existing. Check the vacuum canister(juice can) on the passenger inner fender to see if it holds vacuum, it should obviously, and also the line leading to it should also have a steady vacuum with the engine running.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Ohio
I couldn't see any real reason the headers/exhaust would screw with idle, but it has got me wondering.
I rechecked everything this afternoon. No wires outta place. No hoses hurt/outta place. I checked vacuum canister(good to it, holds it, and good out).
I did spray some carb cleaner into the throttle body(motor running) and it seems to like that. Not that it was really dirty, but just to wash anything that might screw with it(stock air cleaner housing/filter. NO K/N). Will drive it tomorrow and see how it does. Never had this issue til last week when I did the exhaust. Go figure.
I rechecked everything this afternoon. No wires outta place. No hoses hurt/outta place. I checked vacuum canister(good to it, holds it, and good out).
I did spray some carb cleaner into the throttle body(motor running) and it seems to like that. Not that it was really dirty, but just to wash anything that might screw with it(stock air cleaner housing/filter. NO K/N). Will drive it tomorrow and see how it does. Never had this issue til last week when I did the exhaust. Go figure.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
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there is way less backpressure when duals are installed over a single exhaust. less restriction. to compensate im thinking you might need larger fuel injectors, im still thinking way too lean. Have a shop do some diagnostics.
In the old days headers and duals usually meant rejetting the carb richer to compensate.
In the old days headers and duals usually meant rejetting the carb richer to compensate.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Rhode Island
Headers won't make it lean. The computer can alter the fueling by +/- 30% before running into the adaptive limit and throwing a CEL code.
I'd clean the throttle body real good, especially the back of the throttle plate. Next I'd unplug the IAC valve with it idling, it should maintain a very low idle - almost to the point of stalling.
I'd clean the throttle body real good, especially the back of the throttle plate. Next I'd unplug the IAC valve with it idling, it should maintain a very low idle - almost to the point of stalling.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,893
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From: Ohio
With what little cleaner I had left in the can, seems to help but will find out today. I'll pick up a few new cans for the shelf also.
I cleaned the IAC, unplugging it makes truck stall immediately.
I cleaned the IAC, unplugging it makes truck stall immediately.