97 3.8 LX Hard to start when warm and now idles rough

S

Sprocket

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Joined
Mar 1, 2017
Thunderbird Year
1997
Hi I have a 97 V6 with 176K on the clock. A few months ago (2K miles) I swapped out the plugs, wires, and distro cap (if you can call it that) hoping to get rid of this issue. It seems to be getting worse now.

When the car is cold it starts fine. When it' hot, it starts fine. When it sits for about 20-30min and it's in between, it usually starts and wants to stall and doesnt settle down into a normal idle (very rough and missing).

If I give it gas and run it up to about 1500 rpm for a minute then it's fine. It has done this off and on since I got the car at 140K. Over time it has gotten worse and finally on Sunday I just wouldn't start for 5 or 6 tries and then finally did and like above had to give it throttle for a minute before it would idle ok.

Today it's a little colder here (60s vs. 80s) and although it started fine cold after work it was idling really throbby (car was shaking).

I'm going to guess there is either a vacuum line broken or a sensor is going bad. Any ideas on which sensor may be faulty? Wife is planning a 1000mile one way trip in it in a few weeks and want to feel good about it making it.
 

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Sprocket said:
Hi I have a 97 V6 with 176K on the clock. A few months ago (2K miles) I swapped out the plugs, wires, and distro cap (if you can call it that) hoping to get rid of this issue. It seems to be getting worse now.

When the car is cold it starts fine. When it' hot, it starts fine. When it sits for about 20-30min and it's in between, it usually starts and wants to stall and doesnt settle down into a normal idle (very rough and missing).

If I give it gas and run it up to about 1500 rpm for a minute then it's fine. It has done this off and on since I got the car at 140K. Over time it has gotten worse and finally on Sunday I just wouldn't start for 5 or 6 tries and then finally did and like above had to give it throttle for a minute before it would idle ok.

Today it's a little colder here (60s vs. 80s) and although it started fine cold after work it was idling really throbby (car was shaking).

I'm going to guess there is either a vacuum line broken or a sensor is going bad. Any ideas on which sensor may be faulty? Wife is planning a 1000mile one way trip in it in a few weeks and want to feel good about it making it.
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First thought? clean/replace IAC (idle air control) clean MAF and TB (parts stores sell the right stuff).
 
there is a vac line that looks like it goes from the charcoal canister up and into the manifold. Found the line was split just next to the manifold. As a quick fix, taped the end up and put it back on. Seems to run a little better now. need to replace the line as it has cracks all over it.
 
Hi everybody! I have a Ford Thunderbird and the same interests as yours. I live in Russia, we have little information about the repair of these machines. I want to establish contacts with you.
 
Hi Antony, welcome to the forum. Yes, by all means. Would be great to know what TBird you have and have pictures also if you can send. Good group of people here ready to help you.

Doug
 
Thank you 64ZCODE!
Приятно общаться с единомышленниками! У меня супер купе 1991 года. Только сейчас он не заводится после ремонта проводов двигателя. Если отключить датчик распредвала, то запусти. Что бы это могло быть?
 
88Antony88 said:
Thank you 64ZCODE!
Приятно общаться с единомышленниками! У меня супер купе 1991 года. Только сейчас он не заводится после ремонта проводов двигателя. Если отключить датчик распредвала, то запусти. Что бы это могло быть?
Click to expand...

Translated: Nice to chat with like-minded people! I have a super coupe in 1991. Only now it will not start after repairing the engine wires. If you disable the camshaft sensor, then run. What could it be?

Я не знаю, но я держу пари, что другие на форуме смогут помочь вам, Антоний. Покажи нам
 
Hi Antony, very cool car.

What wires did you replace before the problem began?

You might want to start a new thread for this problem?

Doug
 
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