the 3.8 in my windstar is idling at 3000 RPMS. What might be causing it?

 

Have you tried cleaning off the throttle body vavle with spray cleaner?

 

hi, try checking for vacuum leaks it is the most probable cause. good luck. bokker.

 

Can cleaning it really make a difference? What l mean is if it's caused by a dirty throttle body wouldn't it have to be caked pretty thick to hit 3000 RPMS ? l am not sure of the correct number here but l would guess it should be idling at 900 rpms so wouldn't it take some heavy deposits to make it jump up another 2100 rpms? l could be way off on my line of thinking though so i will give it a try and clean it but if l remember correctly it says not to clean it because it will damage it? Also should note that this engine is a 1995 shortblock with the heads and intakes from a blown up 1996. I also had the heads ported. When l got the engine installed Monday and started for the first time it ran very well but idled at 1100 rpms. I chalked up the slightly high rpms at the time to the pcm relearning since van had sat with a blown engine and no battery from 2005 until I purchased 3 weeks ago so l just hoped that once the pcm relearned the settings that it would correct the idle. Ran fine for 127 miles.

 

Ran great for 127 miles but on wednesday l started it to go to work and it instantly hit 2500 rpm so l tapped the gas pedal to kick it down but it jumped to 3000 and has been stuck there. l should note that l used the 3 mil. intake manifold gaskets vs the 4 mil. Also not sure l have the cmp sensor set properly,l set it using a Snap on brand multimeter. Also I found 2 loose fuel rail bolts and when l wiggled the fuel rail noticed the injectors moving so could that be casuing the high rpms?

 

IMRC , sold a couple hundred of these.

F65Z9S514CC radiator side

F5RZ9F955AB bushing

 

After 3 days of searching for a phantom vacuum leak,testing sensors,checking and cleaning the IMRC and intake manifolds l was truly about to give up for the day and concede defeat at the hands of the 3.8 engine gremlins. l had put my tools away and climbed into the drivers seat of the Windstar to think for a minute before going in to watch the Preakness. l got an idea to try pouring Seafoam into the ldle air control valve and let it soak while l watched the Preakness. When l came back out l hooked the IACV back up and like magic the engine idled perfectly and was running as smooth as ever!! l put 63 miles this evening and it never missed a beat!!

 

hi, it sounds like good news. being a brit i had never heard of seafoam until reading this forum, what is it. bokker.

 

Hi bokker, sorry for the long delay.

I have been out of town a lot over the last few weeks.

here is some info on Seafoam

Sea Foam

 

hi, thanks this stuff does it all. nothing here quite like it. bokker.