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Starting, rough idle

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Old Feb 15, 2009 | 11:10 PM
  #1  
grass happens's Avatar
grass happens
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Starting, rough idle

Hello all,
On my new truck (89 F150 5.8 4x4), the few times i have started it (it's for my business) its starts kinda hard, then idles rough for a few minutes. After 3 or 4 minutes, it idles fine. I have everything for a tune-up, but I don't think its related to that, or else wouldn't it idle rough all the time? I plan on putting the wires/plus/cap&rotor on this week, but I figure if this was a common problem with something else, I could get what ever else it needs and do everything all at once. I have already replaced the air filter and fuel is fresh 2 weeks ago from BP.
Thanks everyone!
 
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Old Feb 16, 2009 | 12:10 PM
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Lazy K
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Two things would strike me, first I wonder if you have a faulty Engine Temperature Sensor, second I wonder if the EGR valve is faulty/dirty.
Might be a good idea to see if there are any error codes stored. Click on Tech Info at the top here and then on OBD1 for how to.
Hopefully some of the EFI experts will chime in soon.
 
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Old Feb 16, 2009 | 06:46 PM
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From: southern md
if ya pull codes it should show a faulty egr that is probably not it-try the EVR valve it's located on the drivers side valve cover the one closest to the firewall-that is what mine was !
 
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Old Feb 16, 2009 | 06:52 PM
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BRay09
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From: Elyria, OH
Go to fordfuelinjection.com and look for the link about pulling codes. Rather simple.

I would go ahead and do the tune up after you pull the codes. It can be alot of things. EGR is possible, vacuum leaks, EVP, EVR, MAP sensor, fuel pump, O2... alot of things can be going wrong. Or maybe it's something simple. This happed to me once and it was the ignition module on the side of the distributor... just something else to think about.
 
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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 05:07 PM
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Late update:
Did the tune up, and pulled codes. (Did this at school with a sweet OTC code reader).It gave me two, one was a Air Pump solenoid issue, so nothing there, the other was an EGR valve position sensor. I talked to the Diesel instructor (who knows just shy of everything gas and diesel related) and said that the EGR sensor could in fact be the cause of my issues. Got a new one from CarQuest ($35) and nothing. After installing it, removing the battery cables and holding the brake pedal down to clear codes, it did the same thing. In fact, it may have gotten worse...
Yesterday when I was at a stop sign in traffic, she died. She wasn't even idling that bad, it's idled far worse actually and never died. I've also noticed that it runs far worse when I am reversing then in park or drive. I would think this would rule out a computer or sensor issue? I'm fearing it may be vacuum related. Any ideas?
 
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