bad warm idle problem....help!

[spotted dogs]

I have a 87 v6 4x4 that suddenly developed a strange idle and running problem. When warm, the rpm's jerk from 150-500 up and down, I get almost no response from the throttle.... then it dies. (this happened after about 10 minutes running in the driveway..and followed the same pattern about three times) We checked all the filters...fine, pulled and regapped the plugs etc but no go. The cat was glowing and you can smell the fuel so its getting too much fuel ( and not burning it) It is the weirdest thing...it runs great (maybe a little high rpm) when cold then as soon as it warms up, it starts crapping out with NO power at all. Any ideas out there?
thanks

 

[FourXFred]

Idle Air Control valve (IAC valve). It is located on the side of your throttle body, and what happens is that all kinds of crap gets built up in there, and the valve that allows more air to enter becomes stuck. Do a search and im sure you can find plenty of information on cleaning it or replacing it.


EDIT: im not sure if the 2.8 V-6 had a IAC valve, but i think the 2.9 did.

so first, which v-6 is it? the 2.8 or the 2.9?
is it carbeurated or fuel injected?

 

[Rangerboy]

The fuel pressure regulator is shot. (cat glowing is a sure sign)

 

[TRILBYREDNECK]

idle problem

i have an 04 ford ranger with the 3.0 and 5 speed when i am going down the road and have the air conditioning on and press the clutch to shift the idle increses to 3,000 rpms if i turn air off it still runs bad till i turn the engine off and back on. it has done this off and on for a few months but for the first time it stalled while going 55mph would idle but when i pushed gas pedal it would die out { no check engine light on either} someone please help