Engine Performance problem
1988 Ford Taurus 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 2000 miles
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I have a 1988 Ford Taurus 3.8 V6, automatic, with an idle issue. Until recently, the engine usually ran without issues when driving, or when stopped with the transmission in Drive or Reverse, but as soon as the transmission is shifted into neutral or park, the engine RPM’s increase and then decrease by several hundred RPM’s. This cycle usually continues until the engine eventually quits running. Sometimes the engine recovers and idles normally for a few seconds, but eventually returns to the fluctuating RPM situation. When the engine RPM’s are fluctuating with the transmission in Park or Neutral, the instant it is shifted into Reverse or Drive, the engine RPM’s recover and run steadily. But as soon as the tranny is shifted back into neutral or park, the RPM fluctuation starts all over again until the engine dies. It has recently began to die while rolling along idling or using very little throttle. Does anyone have any suggestions or experience with this type of issue?