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wont idle when cold

Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 11:55 am
by col2560
wont idle when cold, and when its warm it still fluctuates between about 1,000 and zero and almost stalls, up and down like a yoyo swapped the stepper from my son's car but still the same, so it's not that.
any suggestions welcome.

thanks guys.

Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 5:22 pm
by fto95
I also have this problem with mine, especially in the cold tassie winters. I've had it investigated a couple of times and have also had the stepper motor replaced. I have so far been told that its just something the FTO does due to an automatic choke? I find that if i get in and hold the revs at about 2,000 for a minute or so its fine! But i'm not sure if it is indeed a problem with the car or just the Automatic choke struggling in the cold weather! Maybe some one could help us both out with an answer to this! Any help appreciated Guys & Gals!

Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 5:39 pm
by col2560
my son's car has never had this problem, it's a '96 gpx auto, my one is a '95 gpx manual.

Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 7:11 pm
by aza013
what are the ECU codes?

Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 7:14 pm
by col2560
beats me, how do i check them?

Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 7:33 pm
by aza013
this will give you all the info you need :D

http://www.ftowa.com/html/workshop/workshopart07.html

Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 7:38 pm
by aza013
oh and if you look 4 threads above this one its a sticky post you will find this :- Error Codes Diagnosis - Engine - ABS - TCL - Auto Trans.

That will give you all the info on the codes, well every thing you need to know.
hope that helps :D

Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 7:52 pm
by col2560
thanks AZA i'll try it tomorrow

is it easy to tell the difference between say, 13 and 31??

Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 8:10 pm
by Bennoz
Yep, the slow & short flashes are quite easy to distinguish.

Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 1:46 pm
by col2560
ok. read error code as 32-vacuum sensor.
swapped it for my son's sensor, still the same problem. so i swapped it back and re-set the codes by disconnecting battery for 30 odd seconds. tried restarting the car, still the same and error code now says no errors (fast flashes continuessly)

what's next?? lol

it's so handy having the other car for parts, saves buying and trying.

Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 2:19 pm
by I8A4RE
O2 sensor, ecu, or maybe a blocked or leaking vacuum sensor line

Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 8:30 pm
by col2560
can i just swap my ecu with my son's one? his is 96 tip, mine is 95 manual.

Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 6:37 am
by Bennoz
So long as they are both Mivec, yep.

Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 6:52 am
by payaya
first check the coils on the stepper (both could be screwed). If it tests out find check the stepper harness.

Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 9:02 am
by col2560
my son's car has no problems with stepper, but when i put it on my car it still had the same problem, so can't be the stepper.

Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 9:36 am
by FTEvolution
wiring to the stepper

Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 2:51 pm
by col2560
is there some way to test the stepper? like take it off the manifold but leave it wired in then start the car??? will it just spin?
i noticed when i took it off the manifold the spring recoiled, i pre-loaded the spring before i reassembled it.

Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 2:34 am
by payaya
do a search, you can test the coils using a multimeter.

Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 9:26 pm
by col2560
it was the stepper motor, makes a difference when you actually know what the stepper looks like lol ooops. trouble is, i buggared my son's car now, see new post "no electrical power"

Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 7:38 pm
by col2560
i got a stepper from the wreckers and it worked 1st time, then 2 days later it was running rough again like before. it looked pretty new, any ideas??