engine hard to start, and when it starts, idle fluxciates fo

mechjames · Post by **mechjames** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 2:46 pm

my 2.9L in my 1989 bronco II is hard to start. usually requiring 3 - 4 turns of the key ( 3 - 4 secs each) before it will start up.

1st turn usually does nothing. 2nd turn, it may start to fire, but will sputter and die. 3rd turn, it will usually start, but stall out after a few seconds. 4th turn it starts up fine.

Once it starts, the idle speed will fluxicate up and down, every 5 seconds or so, then after a minute it steadys out.

i've tried cleaning the IAC valve, and didn't make much difference.

i should also mention that when the truck is warm the engine starts fine.

any ideas?

EBSTEVE · Post by **EBSTEVE** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 6:48 pm

Check the vacuum lines to the air box.

mechjames · Post by **mechjames** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 6:56 pm

there's only one vaccum line to the air box, and its secure at both ends

i've also noticed if i sit and hold the throttle steady while idling, and this is at all times, it'll rev up, and then come down a little bit, then stay steady there.

mechjames · Post by **mechjames** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 9:53 pm

i found out how to retrieve the codes and will be doing it tomorrow morning

mechjames · Post by **mechjames** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 11:11 pm

there looks like 2 hookups on the air box and only one has a line attached, is this right?

EBSTEVE · Post by **EBSTEVE** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 6:16 am

mechjames wrote:there looks like 2 hookups on the air box and only one has a line attached, is this right?

IIRC there should be two, I don't own a BII so I can't tell you for sure but a friends was doing weird idle stuff and the line was the problem.
HTH

djadjective · Post by **djadjective** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 12:40 pm

theres two lines coming out of the air box, one hooks up to the intake and is your vacum line while the other is just a drainage line for the air box.

mechjames · Post by **mechjames** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 4:47 pm

code 13 with engine running

nothing without engine running

mechjames · Post by **mechjames** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 5:40 pm

i've cleaned the IAC valve out, and when i unplug it while the motor is running, there is no change. When i have it plugged in, it hums a bit. I guess this means the IAC is hooped.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 5:11 pm

the iac can be cleaned with carb and choke cleaner, but just a reminder the PVC valve can cause the same problem for any who doesnt know.

mechjames · Post by **mechjames** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 5:27 pm

nah its not working. pluggin it in and unplugging it and there's no change. the weird thing is, it used to stall out before i cleaned it out when i unplugged it. now it does nothing. Is there a certain way that little rubber oring goes?

ranger5.0 · Post by **ranger5.0** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 6:14 pm

Sounds like you are lacking fuel pressure.

DBrown · Post by **DBrown** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 5:08 am

Sounds like you are lacking fuel pressure.

I second that...check pressure at the rail

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 4:04 pm

guys ....... he said it runs fine when the motor is warm, so it is hard to believe it is the fuel regulator......... i would recommend that he pulls the IAC off the truck and take it apart and oil the O-Ring inside ..... when the Oring dries it will bind it usually coated with a vacuum greese ...... but a light oil will do the same thing to tell if thats the problem ....... besides if he cleaned it and didnt re coat it with greese then im positive that can cause the problem .........to me it sounds as the O-Ring is binding ... and make sure you clean it thoroughly with carb and choke cleaner, when your done, grease the O-Ring, that should fix your problem, if it doesnt then you need to make sure it isnt binding inside, take it loose form manifold, key off and use a jumper wires from batery you should visually see it move, do not use the key to try this because it may spray fuel into your eyes.
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Please Be Advised: You Should Always Wear Safety Glasses when working on the fuel system!

mechjames · Post by **mechjames** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 6:48 pm

yeah, well thanks for your help. the solenoid isn't moving at all. IAC is dead. o ring has been lubricated.

also the truck has a blown headgasket too, so i'm thinking thats why it might be so hard to start, and doesn't run right til its hot. water getting into the cylinders

thanks for your help!