Idling up and down

FALISADAY

MEMBER
FORD WINDSTAR

Dear bruce hunt,
i want to thank you for your time. Your suggestion
about the radiator made me think about a time when
my old radiator got real low on water
the car did the same thing reved up and down. At that time I didn't know why that
started happening either. But when I check under
the hood and seen that it was real low on water I figure that was why and added water. Then I drove it and it stop and was okay. So right then I knew that I couldn't let it get that low again. So when you mention the radiator levels. I went and checked it to make sure that my mechanic did have enough water
in the new radiator and there was. But I am happy to tell you that the problem has stop again and my car is running great just like as if it is brand new. I am so happy. But my point is that when I first got my car back from the mechanic and mine you this is a backyard mechanic regardless very smart. When he brought it to me he said that it revs up and down and he wasn't sure why. So I drove it once to see what he meant and wasn't happy with it like that and couldn't afford to put anymore money in to it at the time. So I parked it. Got online with you which made me think, that sense he the mechanic replaced radiator with new one and had to drain all the water that maybe the water had not had a chance to fully circulate and it was in someway causing the same effect as it did when it overheated on me before. And rather that may or may not have to do with it. The problem stop withend two days of driving the car to work. And has not happen again. So I send a big thank you to you for the advice and want you to know you are a very smart person.

sincerely,
falisaday

5 Replies

BRUCE HUNT

MECHANIC
3,753 POSTS

Well, does it happen all the time engine warm and cold or only warm or only cold? Check radiator level and when engine is warm open the bleeders if there are some to release air from the system.

Another thing to try is to look for a vacuum leak.

Did you have any work done on the intake manifold ie the manifold could have a crack or the gasket on the intake could be leaking in air.

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Wednesday, October 18th, 2006 AT 3:14 PM

FALISADAY

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Thank you for reply, It is just once the engine warms
up and idling. Going down the road the rpms are fine.
But once you let off the gas then the motor revs up and down from o rpms to 1,000 rpms. When the timing jumped it was on the intake cam and I did replace the valve cover gaskets. I guess I am not quite sure what you mean by intake manifold.

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Wednesday, October 18th, 2006 AT 6:53 PM

FALISADAY

MEMBER
4 POSTS

I recently had alot of repairs done on my acura intregra 1990 with 185,000 miles. I replace the distributor, radiator, timing belt and tensioner, rotor, and cap, spark plugs. It runs good but when it
is idling it goes up and down from 0 to a 1,000 rpms.
It is mostly annoying and I don' t want to drive it that
way. Please what could it be?

Thank you in advance for your advice

falisaday

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Wednesday, October 18th, 2006 AT 7:04 PM

BRUCE HUNT

MECHANIC
3,753 POSTS

Idle Air Control on the throttle body is one suspect and map sensor. You still need to make sure the cooling system is purged of air. Also check for vacuum leaks.

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Thursday, October 19th, 2006 AT 4:28 PM

FALISADAY

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Dear bruce hunt,
i want to thank you for your time. Your suggestion
about the radiator made me think about a time when
my old radiator got real low on water
the car did the same thing reved up and down. At that time I didn't know why that
started happening either. But when I check under
the hood and seen that it was real low on water I figure that was why and added water. Then I drove it and it stop and was okay. So right then I knew that I couldn't let it get that low again. So when you mention the radiator levels. I went and checked it to make sure that my mechanic did have enough water
in the new radiator and there was. But I am happy to tell you that the problem has stop again and my car is running great just like as if it is brand new. I am so happy. But my point is that when I first got my car back from the mechanic and mine you this is a backyard mechanic regardless very smart. When he brought it to me he said that it revs up and down and he wasn't sure why. So I drove it once to see what he meant and wasn't happy with it like that and couldn't afford to put anymore money in to it at the time. So I parked it. Got online with you which made me think, that sense he the mechanic replaced radiator with new one and had to drain all the water that maybe the water had not had a chance to fully circulate and it was in someway causing the same effect as it did when it overheated on me before. And rather that may or may not have to do with it. The problem stop withend two days of driving the car to work. And has not happen again. So I send a big thank you to you for the advice and want you to know you are a very smart person.

Sincerely,
falisaday