Erratic Idle When Cold
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New User
Joined: Oct 2002
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Erratic Idle When Cold
I have a 93 Ranger (3.0L) that idles erratically when the engine is cold - especially when I first start it up. The engine will rev as high as 1500 rpm then dip to 500 rpm and cycle back and forth. It will correct itself when I pull away or when the engine warms up. Any advice for things to check? Thanks.
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Joined: Sep 2001
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Erratic Idle When Cold
Check your temperature sensors. The computer is probably thinking the engine is warmed up and is not sending the proper enrichment and idle setting info so the idle drops, then the ISC tries to compensate, the O2 sensor goes nuts so everything oscillates back and forth.
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New User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2
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Erratic Idle When Cold
Thanks Eric and everyone else! I just jointed this site because I recently picked up a 92 Ranger LB 3.0 V6 auto with 56K miles, to drive through the Cleveland winter while my '01 Mustang BULLITT hibernates. 
I picked up the truck for a very nice price because it has this problem. After first trying to solve it by replacing the O2 sensor, I will now be replacing the Engine Temp sensor in a second attempt to cure it. Thanks again for the great info!
-Michael
I picked up the truck for a very nice price because it has this problem. After first trying to solve it by replacing the O2 sensor, I will now be replacing the Engine Temp sensor in a second attempt to cure it. Thanks again for the great info!
-Michael
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 39
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From: S. Ontario, Canada
Erratic Idle When Cold
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 26-Nov-02 AT 02:48 PM (EST)]Just Curious... I guess I just realized that I have this same problem I got to looking through the Bible (Haynes Manual) the closest thing I could find was the Engine Coolant Temp. Sensor. Is this the Temp Sensor that is being talked about? if so, It mentions about getting a EEC code 116,117,or 118, Unfourunatley it isnt giving off any codes at all - rephrase - the EEC isnt detecting something is wrong with the sensor. Could it be starting to go bad, or can it be just bad enough to muck up the idle but not trigger a Result Code from the EEC?
Or, Alternatively should I be looking at something else, that might be causing a fluctuating idle when first starting a cold engine?
thanx,
jim
2000 Ranger XLT 4x2 Supercab 3.0 V6
Or, Alternatively should I be looking at something else, that might be causing a fluctuating idle when first starting a cold engine?thanx,
jim
2000 Ranger XLT 4x2 Supercab 3.0 V6
