1991 Cold Start/Low Idle

[Triton46]

It was 20 degrees here this morning, when I started up my X the engine sounded really bad. I looked at the RPM and it was idleing around 500.

I pressed the accelerator to get it up between 1000 and 1200, every time I let off it would drop down to 500.

After I got under way, it would idle at 1000 at the stop lights (normal).

I know there is a sensor that tells the computer the engine is cold and to raise the RPM until a certain temp is reached. What is the sensor/sensors that I need to check?

 

[TPLYNCH]

IAC?

 

[Triton46]

Can I get one from Autozone or do I have to get this from Ford? How much?

 

[Jag]

You have two temp. sensors. One is the coolant temp. sensor, the other is the air temp sensor.

The coolant temp. sensor is located at the front of the intake manifold, down low, near the thermostat housing. Careful, there is another temp. sending unit close by for the temp. gauge (it only has one wire going to it).

The air temp. sensor is located on the driver's side of the upper intake manifold.