EF Idle speed - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

kempster1 · 05-20-2003, 03:25

What is the procedure for setting up the idle speed and the ISC unit??

EDXR8 · 05-20-2003, 03:58

As far as I know, you just unplug the ISC wiring, start the engine and set the idle speed, and then stop the engine and reconnect the plug. Make sure the engine is at running temp.

mongrelEB · 05-20-2003, 05:09

eh..... I think you have to disable the elf-adjust on the computer first. Can't remember how, though :)

TopGhia · 05-20-2003, 11:55

You should get a code 411 or 412 for idle speed irregularity. If not, could be something else. You should always read the codes before attempting any adjustments.

kempster1 · 05-20-2003, 17:00

I am getting those two codes and if I disconnect the ISC conector the engine just stalls.

SiX_iN_a_RoW · 05-20-2003, 17:06

I know for an EA the procedure is

disconnect ISC
start car and idle for 1 minute without touch gas ( if yours stalls like mine u will have to turn the idle screw up until u can get it to idle)

set the idle so it is above 750rpm
Switch the engine off for a minimum of 10 seconds
Start the engine and let it idle for one minute ( again no accelerator )
adjust the idle so it is between 625rpm and 675rpm
Switch engine off and reconnect ISC

sbcarden · 05-21-2003, 04:45

The proceedure is:

Disconnect the ISC
Place a 0.75mm feeler guage in between the idle stop and the idle adjust screw
Start the car in self test mode (bridge the first top and bottom wires of the diagnostic connector) you now have 2mins to complete the adjustment
if the idle is not at 700rpm +-50 then adjust to 650 rpm
turn car off
un-bridge diagnostic wires
reconnect ISC
happy motoring with a nice smooth idle.......so long as your ISC is working.
Many people forget the 0.75mm feeler guage, so their idle is erratic. You need the 0.75mm gap so that the ISC has something to work with. If everything is set right the car will not start with the ISC disconnected!

SiX_iN_a_RoW · 05-21-2003, 15:27

is that the same for an EA sbcarden?? because my manual says nothing about putting it into self test or using a feeler gauge (???)

sbcarden · 05-21-2003, 18:34

I'm not sure. But when I have a think about it, it makes sense that it would be similar. First, in self test mode the computer leaves all settings at a base mark. Second, the way the ISC works, it needs to be able to raise and lower the idle to be able to fully control the idle speed. If you set the idle without the feeler guage then the ISC could only raise the idle. But then again maybe the computer in the EA's is not setup to control the idle, but to mearly raise the idle when under load, ie Air Con, etc.

Hey it can't hurt to try it with the feeler guage, just to see what happens. You never know, you may get a better idle......or your car may not start....50-50 chance I guess, but if you remember how many turn it took for the idle to be adjusted, it'll only take a few mins to get it back to how it was. I say try it, you've nothing to lose!