PI Intake Swap - Dying at Idle

raginglunatic77 · Nov 16, 2008

I installed a PI intake on my 1996 GT using hps adapter plates with gaskets on both sides. When I start the car it dies at idle unless i give it some gas and then I can get it to stay running but it is far from smooth or what I would expect it should run like. The first two times I started the car I didn't have the coolant hose on the rear connection on top of the intake, so it sprayed a bunch of coolant into the engine bay. I used an air compressor to blow off the majority of the coolant and blew out the spark plug wells, but it is still dying even with that coolant hose reconnected. Does anyone have ideas as to why it wont stay running?

grthayer · Nov 16, 2008

is it whisling real bad or sucking air? you mite have a leak somwhere.

raginglunatic77 · Nov 16, 2008

It's not whistling. What do you mean by sucking air?

Marvin97 · Nov 16, 2008

I would look for a vacuum leak. Make sure your tb, plenum, and cai are all bolted up nice and tight.

1996mustangGT · Nov 17, 2008

look for a vacuum leak as well. when i was changing my plugs and wires i busted a vacuum line and my car wouldnt idle worth a crap.

raginglunatic77 · Nov 18, 2008

The general consencus seems to be that it is a vacuum leak. I've checked all the connections and I believe that I have them all in the correct locations, but if someone would upload some pics of their engine bay, specifically the vacuum lines and connections that would be a great help so that I can double check all of my connections.

vermilion · Nov 19, 2008

spray some carb cleaner around. where it idles up is the leak.

grthayer · Nov 19, 2008

what did u tork the bolts to. when i changed mine i torkd them to specs but still had a coolant leak. so i snugged them up a lil more and it stop so try that but dont snap it off

nyuk98gt · Nov 20, 2008

raginglunatic77:

Here are some things to look at:

Are you sure that you have the plug wires connected to the correct terminals on the coil packs?

The plug boots may have slipped on the wires, too. Take an old plug and test fit each boot. If the wire doesn't click onto the plug then you need to slide the boot up the wire.

While you're at it, measure the resistance of each wire and the length of the wire and calculate "ohms per foot". If you get a wire that has higher than average resistance then it is a good idea to replace the whole bunch.

Even if you dry out the plug wells, the coolant stays wet and will cause arcing of the boot to the well.

The IAC may not be working well either. Clean it thoroughly or, better, replace it with a Ford OEM part (see Randy Stinchcomb for best pricing & delivery).

A vacuum leak would cause the idle to run high. I have a feeling that residual coolant or a plug wire is giving you trouble.

HTH,

Chris

raginglunatic77 · Nov 20, 2008

I figured it out. I had all the connections in the right place, I just didn't have the EGR valve tighten all the way to the plenum (I got distracted when I was putting it on and guess I forgot to finish).