98 mustang idle trouble

[abmjax]

I am told that the " Idle Air Control Motor " is most likely the problem for my 98 v6 mustang's rough idle. The engine often shuts off. I have located the part and wonder how difficult the remove and replace will be.

[dougbfresh]

It's easy but why do you think it's the IAC? You can check this out:
http://www.muscularmustangs.com/iac.php

[FieroSpeeder]

You should first do a carbon cleaning of the throttle body, and follow up with an intake cleaner that 3m sells. If that doesn't help, then there is another device on your motor which can contribute to your problem.

[justen]

you should have a check engine light, and the egr valve can make the idle bad also almost like the engine is missing.

[abmjax]

You guys are right. Changing the IAC was easy as changing an air filter. This is my daughters car and I hadn't seen it yet when I posted for help. She had been quoted a price of $250 from a mechanic so I suspected more difficulty. The IAC was only $59 so this guy was ripping her off. Only took 10 minutes to change too. I changed the spark plugs and think that may have been most of the problem. The old plugs were gapped at .035 instead of the recommended .052.

[Scolagiaco]

IAC is a piece a cake to replace. Make sure after you remove to take a q-tip and clean the opening into the intake plenum where the IAC goes into. I have a 98 mustang also, although mine is a GT. After I start the car it would die almost instantly unless I floored the gas and crossed my fingers.

[Hizhonor]

Originally Posted by abmjax

You guys are right. Changing the IAC was easy as changing an air filter. This is my daughters car and I hadn't seen it yet when I posted for help. She had been quoted a price of $250 from a mechanic so I suspected more difficulty. The IAC was only $59 so this guy was ripping her off. Only took 10 minutes to change too. I changed the spark plugs and think that may have been most of the problem. The old plugs were gapped at .035 instead of the recommended .052.

I had to change out the IAC on my wife's 2001 Grand Marquis, my 1992 Lincoln Town Car and my 1992 Mark VII LSC. The one thing I did learn from that was to make sure and pull the negative battery cable off after you change out the IAC or even after doing a basic tuneup. The PCM needs to re-learn the new signals coming in from all the sensors. After 5 minutes or so, reconnect the battery cable and take the car out for a 10 minute run. Prefarably on a long stretch of highway/interstate with no lights. That's what I did and not a shake, shudder, spit or spurt. The old timers will remember this.... "I can balance a nickel on the engine and it won't fall over"

[capriceman]

Its a Ford its normal...

God My 69 mach 1 was a pain in the behind! after about 2 cans of stater fluid it would just start to fell like starting.

Im glad that you fixed your own problems than get raped by a mechanic.

[abmjax]

I did remove the positive battery cable because so much corrosion was forming so I removed it long enouth to clean it up. I did notice the check engine light went away and the Mustang runs great. Now We have to get the brakes reworked. I tried to remove the front brake calipers and the lower bolt will not budge. I used a 1/2" breaker bar and a sledge hammer and still would not break lose. I even tried scraping away an ounce of flesh in the process. Now we will have to trust a brake shop and their impact wrenches. My daughter thinks the Mustang has no more trust in it because it now has 138000 miles, but dang this car will scat!!!

[Hizhonor]

Originally Posted by abmjax

I did remove the positive battery cable because so much corrosion was forming so I removed it long enouth to clean it up. I did notice the check engine light went away and the Mustang runs great. Now We have to get the brakes reworked. I tried to remove the front brake calipers and the lower bolt will not budge. I used a 1/2" breaker bar and a sledge hammer and still would not break lose. I even tried scraping away an ounce of flesh in the process. Now we will have to trust a brake shop and their impact wrenches. My daughter thinks the Mustang has no more trust in it because it now has 138000 miles, but dang this car will scat!!!

Soak that lower bolt with PB Blaster and about an hour later hit it with some heat and then try removing it again. Mileage isn't relevant that much these days. My '92 Town Car with the 4.6L has 178,000 on it and it purrs like a kitten. My '92 Mark VII LSC with the 5.0 HO has 159,000 on the clock and it's a s strong as the day it came out of Wixom! If you are obsessive about routine scheduled maintainence like I am, and you don't beat the vehicle to death, then you'll have a car that will last and last. I know of a cab driver that has over 400,000 miles on his 1998 Crown Vic; original engine and trans and nothing more than regularly scheduled fluid changes and tune-ups.