Engine is dieing at idle, what gives?

[bigrubberjeep]

It usually happens after a sudden stop, or when the egine drops from a high RPM say over 4K.

Doesnt always happen either, most of the time the motor revs back up to it's idle speed after almost dieing.


Anothe problem I'm having now is no engine start, I hear a hum from the gas pump but not from the starter this is also intermitent.

[jbrinkley]

exact same thing happened to me, it was the battery on it's way out. FWIW the fuel pump only runs if the flywheel is turning. the idle control valve hums a little, maybe you were hearing that

[don911]

I would try cleaning the ICV first. The only time I've had idle issues it had to do with A/F mixture. If the ICV clean doesn't solve it, I'd have your mixture checked.

[bigrubberjeep]

Don - Sorry for the ignorant question, what is the ICV? The check valve? the points south with the little arrow? Use carb cleaner?

[don911]

Idle Control Valve. It's the largish gold cylinder right above the fan. It is the one with the arrow on it.

Carb cleaner is correct. If you do a search on ICV or 3.2 idle, there will be tons of threads on cleaning the ICV and other things to check. Idle issues are common with 3.2s it seems.

My only idle issue was caused when I disconnect and reconnected the air meter. There are 4 wires on the plug and mine push back every time I reconnect. If all wires aren't making good connection, you get really messed up mixtures. If you've taken that plug out recently, check those contacts too.

[450knotOffice]

I had the same exact problem over a year ago, George. It turned out to be my Idle mixture setting and Idle speed setting. In order to get it perfect, you need a gas analyzer (which I don't have), so I took it to Hergesheimer. Their ace mechanic, Jim, got those two values dialed in PERFECTLY and the engine has run perfectly since.

[bigrubberjeep]

thanks Scott