EA1191

Is detailed technical information about the Falcon anywhere on the net?
My car has a few problems and without understanding the causes there is not much hope of fixing them. One difficulty is that there may be a number of causes for the same fault. And the faults are intermittent.
The engine has stopped sometimes when the accelerator is released. I am sure one cause of that is water in the tank. When the car was driven on a rough country road where it was necessary to dodge potholes and bump over some bumps, the engine stopped often when the accelerator was released. The rough ride would have disturbed any water and the design of the tank concentrates it near the pump intake. After that trip the problem disappeared for some time, perhaps because most of the water had gone, and has not been as frequent but now happens on occasion. There could be other reasons.
Another problem is that after standing for some days the engine does not turn over when the ignition key is turned, the starter does not run on the first turn of the key but needed exactly three turns. The starter switch was pulled apart and adjusted to give a more positive contact and that seemed better but the problem is still there but now it needs exactly two turns. It does not happen if the car is started more often. ISC motor? Fuel pump?
Ford must do OK selling lots of unneeded parts.
Another problem is that after standing for a long period when hot after running, the engine does not start easily. There was a note from someone who said that they fixed that by tricking the temperature sensor into detecting a lower temperature. How was that done? But my engine has valve stem seal leaks and after standing for a time the oil could leak onto the plug. But that does not stop a cold start. Or is it the dizzy.
It would help a lot if there was an internet site where many questions asked could be answered to lead to a probable cause.

AUII_Forte

I'd say your stalling problem is just a matter of adjusting you base idle and if that doesn't fix it, try and get an ISC off another car to test out.

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EA1191

The idle speed has been increased and that did help and that also suggests the ISC. What are the symptoms of a faulty ISC?
Could the computer be some of the problem. Could the contacts in the computer connector be faulty. Some problems with older computers could be solved by cleaning all the contacts on the plugin boards. Or can the computer be reset completely.
Looked at the ISC motor and could not see how to take it apart. Is it easy to do that?

EA1191

A local mechanic said that the starter relay circuit was battery, inhibitor switch, starter switch and the relay coil. The relay coil contacts in the relay socket looked like a weak link and may have been the trouble because after making those tighter, it seems OK for now. Simple fix for a strange problem.
There must be a simple way to test the ISC motor. It should maintain the idle speed with changing load such as air cond.and changing from neutral to drive etc. Is that a test?
Should the plunger follow the throttle lever as the speed is changed? Should the plunger remain in contact with the lever when the engine is stopped? Is there some way to operate the ISC motor with the engine running and the car stationary?

jajig

Mate it sounds to me like you need a manual for your car. It only costs about $40 from k-mart and will save you heaps in time and money. Has step by step trouble shooting guides and tells you how take apart and rebuild most things.

EA1191

The local library has the manual which is for loan, but there is not enough detail, or the information is not easy to find. It also repeats the answer to any problem as 'replace unit'. The City library has the large service manual, but it is not very convenient to use that. It should be on the internet.
There must be a simple practical test for the ISC motor.

EA1191

The starting problem is still there but it needs less turns of the key. The following two starts were normal but after standing for a few days it had the problem. It sounds like the battery could be low but it is almost new and was OK a few days before. Perhaps the computer is leaving something switched on.
If no reader has had this problem it may have to wait until something fails.
A useful item would be a twin cable with two lugs to plug into the starter relay socket with a switch in the cabin so that the starter solenoid could be switched directly to the battery.

WhiteOx

The procedure for testing the ISC is in the workshop manual (Gregorys).
If the motor and/or switch is found to be faulty (CFI Models) the unit will need to be replaced.

If you have water in your tank .. pour 1/2 a cup of metho into it

Gravvie

Check your fuel pressure if you suspect the pump (your mechanic should have tested it). Mine had similar probs, fuel pump was shot, now it starts first go, every time, and HEAPS more power. I do get an intermittant problem tho ; sometimes the idle goes high (1,500) then low (400) then back to normal. Iv'e changed, fuel pump, fuel filter, plugs, leads, map sensor (freebie), checked all voltages for all sensors (even ohms test on temp sensor), cleaned injectors, problem still there.

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EA falcon S BROCK 5 speed, white, no.117, 03/1990

EA1191

Gravvie,
The idle speed change problem would have to involve the Idle Speed Control.
There was a post about the MPFI ISC solenoid some time ago. I think it was easy to take it apart and after a wash in kerosene worked much better.