How to PROPERLY fix the idle surge and stalling issue when putting a cam in a Foxbody Mustang. Whether you have an E303, B303, TFS1, etc…..this will get you running better.
Finally, someone who shows the right procedure for an idle reset. The only advice I would offer is disconnecting the tps while performing the base idle reset. I've learned through tuning these cars that tps voltage is a myth. There's a wide range that the voltage can be set in. I think it's .70v-1.2v, and it'll be fine. The reason the .98v was thrown out there is because it's in the middle of that range. There's nothing wrong with setting the voltage to .98v just not necessary. Also, for those curious what SPOUT stands for. (SP)OUT= SPARK OUTPUT. Good video explaining how idle works and how timing directly affects idle.
So glad you’ve posted this video. I was battling my 95 GTs surging idle before it blew the head gaskets in 2022. I’m rebuilding the 302 as a 306 and hope to make these changes when it goes back together soon!
Very similar to my 89 build, i built mine into a 331 scat stroker with a trickflow top end kit 170 heads stage 1 cam holley systemax upper and lower, mine had mac shorty headers also and at that point during breakin it did great, had stock distributor and throttle body, the issues showed up after a bbk 75mm throttle body and bbk 1-3/4 longtube install, i have a dead cylinder i think so i just got everything to upgrade the fuel and fire componets - procomp distributor and msd coil and adjustable fuel regulater also high dollar 24lb injectors with motorcraft o2 sensors and the correct o2 extension wires, i made the ones on it now, hope all this stuff helps
Hi, Joe- just got my new, new new INNOVA timing light with the built in tach. Word of confession here...I'm working on a Cal 88 thunderbird with 5.0 engine. ALL STOCK. My car does not come with the sensor you have on yours that runs through the air intake (MAS air sensor). Going to take your advice and hook up and check the timing with spout disconnected to verify 10° and do the idle stopper screw with IAC disconnected to 750. After adjustments are made, turn off car and replace spout and IAC and I should hopefully stop the surge!
Thank you for this information. I have a 93 Hatchback with a 331 trackheat heads and intake with a Comp Cams 276H-R14 cam. This procedure worked very well for the most part. Once the car is up to temp and it is shut off, it will not idle. It has a giant surge or two and stalls. It does seem easier to catch it with the throttle now. It is idling at around 850 rpm. If you have any suggestions, they would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Larry W.
Joe, thanks again for your advice. My issue starts when I start the car, which starts fine. As you know, when you start the car, it runs a little rich for a while, then leans out for the fuel econo my. On either a hot or cold start, when the leaning begins, it surges and loses power. It won't shift (automatic) unless you put the pedal to the floor and it shifts hard and could damage the trans. If I disconnect the EGR hose to the diaphragm, this issue is greatly reduced to a point where you can drive the car without pulling over and waiting 30 to 45 seconds for this terrible condition to stop. After 30 or 45 seconds of hell, the computer adjusts the issue and the vehicle drives normally until I start the car again. I don't like driving with the EGR disconnected because the vehicle is not tuned for it, and I do not know a hot dog tuner in Cal that will delete the process from my ECM. I have replaced the CAT, tune-up, and all the EGR components including the brittle plastic tubing. The fuel pump was replaced a few years back, and it has no trouble starting. I have a new fuel pump relay but again, she starts fine. Replaced the PCV and the nasty screen below it. No check engine light, and the vehicle is an 88 which is OBD 1. I bought the car with a cold air intake and when the condition started I was able to find the original airbox off an 86 Mustang and verified it was the correct part. The thing is, when I tried to do a base idle reset I followed Brew2L advice and did not have a tach, and just did the reset "by ear." I would replace the o2 sensors, but no Check engine light. I'm getting my new timing light with the built-in tach tomorrow from Amazon and I'm going to give your solution a shot. I figured if the base idle was set too low the "lean episode" which might be a normal thing for the ECM, might be my problem. The fact I was only disconnecting the IAC and not the spout should make a difference, because all my "former adjustments" would just return to the same state after stopping the car. Thanks again for the great informative content, for answering my questions, and if you have ever encountered a vehicle that shows my symptoms and you were able to solve it, love to hear it.
This is extremely helpful. Going to give this a go tomorrow. Installed my cam in October and still havent gotten it exactly how i want it. Once you plugged your IAC and timing spout back in, did you do the base idle reset procedure when you run it with loads off for 2 mins, shut the car off for 2 mins and then run it with electrical/hvac loads on for 2 mins?
Great tip on this I have an e cam in mine do you know what setting to set my timing ? Should I start with 10 degrees BTC and go up from there? Thankyou for the input 👊✌
Mine is close, it's a 331 stroker trick flow 170 heads stage 1 cam holley upper and lower 75mm throttle body 24lb injectors and mine had Mac shorty headers but I convinced myself it needed more flow so I put bbk 1 - 3/4" longtubes and the sound isn't as good, shorties just sound way better, I'm thinking of putting dumps right at the ends of the mufflers but still keep tail pipes in place
Thanks I will try that I was just removing iac I still couldn’t get the car below 1000 rpm’s without shutting off. I will try your way and see what happens thanks
@@Joesmusclecargaragedid you disconnect these while the car running and then connect them after adjusting the idle screw also when the car running? Thank you
I used this method to adjust the idle on my 94 F-150 (same cam, but stock heads and intake) and at initial startup it runs fantastic, but now as soon as the speedometer senses movement the idle shoots up to 1,700 rpm...any ideas?
Thanks for the video I just went through a mess trying to get my 88 supercharged notch to start. I set the idle at around 750 with the spout and iac unhooked. Shut the car off and plugged them back in and let it run for a bit. It's idling nice and smooth but staying right around 1k RPM. Should I do it again or is the iac off? I do have a 306, b cam, paxton supercharger not sure about the heads. Has a maf conversion too.
A B cam might like to idle at 1000, depending on the heads, compression, idle vacuum, etc. My TFS1 idled at around 900-950. Any lower and it would surge with the air on.
@@Joesmusclecargarage that makes sense. That's about where it idled when I bought it. I only drove it a few times then started fixing everything wrong with the car. It just wouldn't start last week so I ended up deleting the msd 6 al box, msd distributor and coil and just putting a new distributor in it. I think it was built 20 plus years ago and been sitting a long time. Thanks again 👍
It still idle surges with the spout and iac disconnected. I’ve tested every sensor ran codes got computer refurbished. Previous owner said it has a b cam. Also have checked for vacuum leaks. Been chasing this problem for months. Iac adjuster plate is the only way to get it to run halfway decent.
How low are you able to get the idle with the IAC and SPOUT disconnected? What is your base timing at? The B cam isn’t a big cam. I just set one up in a buddy’s car a few weeks ago. Idles smooth as can be at 800rpm with no surge.
Hi Joe...appreciate all your help. Okay, the Smog guy says my idle should be 850 RPM...so, grabbed a tach, as my thunder chicken did not come with one, and with spout and IAC disconnected, set my idle at around say...700 or 750, as after replacing spout and IAC plug, the IAC will elevate the RPM to around 800 or 850, or should I adjust the RPM to directly 850? with IAC and SPOUT disconnected? Thanks in advance.
So did you fix it with the iac plate or remove iac wire and timing plug. I have the same problem right now and I’m losing my mine I can’t get it to idle below 1300 rpm’s. I checked everything. I have a 347 afr 185 head holy intake and Anderson 41 cam this is driving me crazy
I remove the adjustable IAC plate and set the idle with the IAC and the SPOUT disconnected. Get it to operating temperature, turn the car off, disconnect the IAC and SPOUT, set the idle as low as you can get it without dying out. Then shut the car off, plug everything back in and let the EEC learn and the IAC will control the idle speed. Try to get the RPM under 700 when you set it though. It’ll go up to around 850-900 on its own once it’s all said and done.
Hey! When you did all that you said in the video did you adjust the tps sensor with the volt meter? Thanks in advance. My 88’ gt is surging pretty bad especially when it’s cold.
So when do this, do you still unplug the battery like all the other places suggest? So the process would be, start car, get to operating temp, unplug iac and spout connector, set idle using idle stop screw, shut off car, unplug battery, reconnect everything, start car?
The TPS gets reset just like any base idle reset. Shoot for .090-.098 once minimum air is set. The factory TPS is technically “non adjustable”, but they have wiggle room. I always drill the holes a bit larger to allow movement.
Any tips for a 1988 with idle surge. It's a customer's car and I'm running out of ideas and hair lol. I see it has all kinds of trick flow accessories and even trick flow heads. I'm not sure what's on the inside and the customer has no idea as well.🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
Is the car SD or MAF? The Commiefornia 88s were MAF. If the car has aftermarket heads, odds are it has a cam. SD cars don’t play well with modifications, and most people convert them to MAF. It’s an easy conversion and is much more forgiving.
Will this work on a 5.8? I swaped a 5.8 from a 92 bronco into my 86 tbird a while ago and in park/N it runs around 2100 rpm. I have checked vacuum lines, tps, and iac.
Will this fix it running rich at idle? I installed a trick flow stage 1 cam and it runs and idles great just the richness at idle ive checked fuel pressure, adjusted tps, it was fine before I did the cam i dont get if.
Any aftermarket cam is going to smell fat at idle. The EEC is going to keep the A/F stoich, but the “richness” at idle is cause by the overlap of the cam.
So just to clarify, start car up get it to operating temp, pull iac and the spout connector set rpm turn car off reconnect everything and done? Then restart car
What if the set screw is an Allen wrench type and the bolt is ceased? Should I hit it with a little penetrating oil? Cause I did the iac and spout disconnected and attempted to use the screw but it wouldn't budge And my fox is idling at 1100 pm just about
Letting it sit now, I tried firing the car back up and now it's back below 1000rpm idle, also gonna leave it sit for now, my crank pulley is wobbling really bad and FedEx delayed my part till tomorrow, and it's going into the shop for a new tie rod, I don't wanna damage something in the engine
