Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Zetec Maintenance Set Idle RPM's?

Hi, I own a 96 Mystique Zetec 2.0 Auto. How do I increase the Idle? Thanks

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think the idle can be adjusted.

If I may, you sound like you are experience the same symptoms everyone else on this board has with their zetec.

It seems like the idle is too low. There have been several suggestions made on the remedy. New fuel filter, new tensioner pulley, new plugs, new wires, new coil pack...

Different things work for different people. Provide more details for the other guys about your car. Miles, model, routine maintanence performed, etc...

Well... The car is a 96 Mercury Mystique 4cyl with 89,000 miles on it. It has had regular maintance on it, (oil change, tune up, etc.) and had an engine overhaul about 6,000 miles ago. The idle has never been a problem before, but recently my A/C has caused the car to die when in idle. I know the sensor that tells that car to increase idle speed has gone bad.... but being the cheap person I am, I wanted to just increase the idle to "bandaid" the problem...

Jon M - Possibly the Throttle Body has been cleaned by wiping it, which is a 'no-no' - threatened by 'death'. I am told it has a 'special coating' and should only be cleaned with Throttle Body Cleaner - or the idle screws up and apparently 'can't be corrected' without a new Throttle Body. Possibly you can verify this with a Ford Service Advisor.

your IAC (idle air controller) probably went kaput

no the hard idle stop is not adjustable, if there is an adjuster screw leave it alone, the computer uses the hard stop as a reference point for the TPS sensor. If you do adjust it you may be sorry.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by contourcross:
[QB]Jon M - Possibly the Throttle Body has been cleaned by wiping it, which is a 'no-no' - threatened by 'death'. I am told it has a 'special coating' and should only be cleaned with Throttle Body Cleaner

part on special coating is right, it is a corrosion inhibiting, erosion resistant super slick coating, if the throttle body was ever cleaned with a rag it needs to be replaced. Actually, the throttle body only meters air, from the air filter, it should never need cleaning.

The coating is there as folks have said to stop the gunk from sticking. Well after 110K miles mine looked like this SO you can see the coating really works

I dremmelled the whole lot and removed a lot of stuff so it now looks like
So I definately have have no coating left and guess what, the car runs fine (if anything better) and it hasn't effected the idle at all

So moral is dont worry about the coating, being clean is more important

By the way, my web site has an article on how to clean out the TB so you may want to have a look, details in sig

Have fun

My Tour idles at a whopping 1100 rpm!!

I'd suspect one of several things then

1) Air Idle Control
2) Sticking throttle cable
3) Engine Crankshaft sensor not picking up every signal
4) Air temp sensor
5) Sticking throttle body or potentiometer
6) MAF

So firstly check the connections on all those sensors, the take off the TB and give it a good clean and lube the cable and then do the same to the IAC

Good luck, it should be that high, its supposed to be 850 +/- 50

Thanks for all your thoughts.... One question for Madmole. Forgive my ignorance, but I am not sure where the TB is and how to remove it for cleaning. Is this a simple thing to do or should I take it in somewhere? Thanks Again.