1991 Eagle Talon TSi AWD turbo intermittent idle problem

[SloPoke23]

I have a major problem with my Talon that I hope someone here can shed some light on.

About a year ago my Talon started to exhibit the infamous idle engine surge where the engine would rev up and down cyclically when it was idling. This only happened for 5 or so minutes while driving and stopping, and would eventually go away. Additionally, it would only happen when the engine was cold, such as in the morning when left overnight. The garage I took it to checked everything and finally settled on an Idle Air Control motor problem. Not being able to afford to get it replaced, and seeing as the car was still drivable, I waited till I had some spare cash to get it fixed.

So, I take it in to get the work done, and when I pick up the car they tell me that the specs have changed on the IAC motor and the new one doesn't behave quite the same. No kidding! I drive it home and the idle engine surge is more violent and lasts longer than before. I sound like some goof revving the engine at every stoplight.

I take it back to the garage and complain. The put the old IAC back (which tested fine with an ohmmeter, why they didn't check that in the first place is beyond me). Idle engine surge problem is the same, but at least it's not violent like with the new IAC. More checking and now it turns out the coolant temp sensor is not working properly, so they replace the temp sensor, thermostat, and light bulb and some gaskets.

Idle engine surge seems to be mostly fixed now. Very rarely will it happen when I first start it cold with no driving, and it will go away after a few seconds. But now I have a worse problem then before. The engine idles all over the place. Sometimes 1500 RPM, sometimes 1100, sometimes 1000, sometimes 800, sometimes 750, there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason. And when it's idling at these settings, the engine will chug and shudder and sometimes go up 500 RPM, sometimes down 500 RPM. Yesterday, after driving about 20 or 30 kilometres, it was idling just above 750 and every time I accelerated hard and then came to a stop, the engine RPMs would drop below 500 and the engine would stall. It did this 5 or 6 times on the way home. When I finally pulled into my parking spot, the engine stalled again, and I noticed the smell of unburned gasoline coming from the exhaust.

Back to the garage the next day. Of course, the stalling problem didn't occur, the engine idles between 1500 and 1000, and the technician is now stumped. The only thing they can suggest is trying to replace some very expensive parts but of course, I can't afford that now. They suggest waiting till someone with another Talon comes in and they can try those parts temporarily to see if the problem is solved. In the meantime, I have no idea if I'm going to start stalling at stops again, my mileage is terrible, and the shuddering engine is driving me crazy. $1500 dollars lighter, three weeks of back and forth to the garage, and I'm worse off then when I started.

I anyone here has any ideas I would like to hear them.

[msgrntalon]

Yeah, i have an answer. i have a 94 NT ESI and i have an idle surge. If you go to...i think it is dsm.org you can find a page on the site that talks about the idle surge and it gives you like 8 things to check. It has all of the directions for checking everything. i believe that the site will help you out.

[MrZ]

SloPoke253;
Here's the actual link to the article that msgrntalon references. It certainly is interesting reading! I hope it helps. If you fix the problem please post to let every know what it was.

Mark

[jp91tsi]

its most likely the Idle Speed Control (ISC) Sensor, i have the same problem, just ahvent fixed it yet.

[gstlth]

Originally Posted by SloPoke23

I have a major problem with my Talon that I hope someone here can shed some light on.

About a year ago my Talon started to exhibit the infamous idle engine surge where the engine would rev up and down cyclically when it was idling. This only happened for 5 or so minutes while driving and stopping, and would eventually go away. Additionally, it would only happen when the engine was cold, such as in the morning when left overnight. The garage I took it to checked everything and finally settled on an Idle Air Control motor problem. Not being able to afford to get it replaced, and seeing as the car was still drivable, I waited till I had some spare cash to get it fixed.

So, I take it in to get the work done, and when I pick up the car they tell me that the specs have changed on the IAC motor and the new one doesn't behave quite the same. No kidding! I drive it home and the idle engine surge is more violent and lasts longer than before. I sound like some goof revving the engine at every stoplight.

I take it back to the garage and complain. The put the old IAC back (which tested fine with an ohmmeter, why they didn't check that in the first place is beyond me). Idle engine surge problem is the same, but at least it's not violent like with the new IAC. More checking and now it turns out the coolant temp sensor is not working properly, so they replace the temp sensor, thermostat, and light bulb and some gaskets.

Idle engine surge seems to be mostly fixed now. Very rarely will it happen when I first start it cold with no driving, and it will go away after a few seconds. But now I have a worse problem then before. The engine idles all over the place. Sometimes 1500 RPM, sometimes 1100, sometimes 1000, sometimes 800, sometimes 750, there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason. And when it's idling at these settings, the engine will chug and shudder and sometimes go up 500 RPM, sometimes down 500 RPM. Yesterday, after driving about 20 or 30 kilometres, it was idling just above 750 and every time I accelerated hard and then came to a stop, the engine RPMs would drop below 500 and the engine would stall. It did this 5 or 6 times on the way home. When I finally pulled into my parking spot, the engine stalled again, and I noticed the smell of unburned gasoline coming from the exhaust.

Back to the garage the next day. Of course, the stalling problem didn't occur, the engine idles between 1500 and 1000, and the technician is now stumped. The only thing they can suggest is trying to replace some very expensive parts but of course, I can't afford that now. They suggest waiting till someone with another Talon comes in and they can try those parts temporarily to see if the problem is solved. In the meantime, I have no idea if I'm going to start stalling at stops again, my mileage is terrible, and the shuddering engine is driving me crazy. $1500 dollars lighter, three weeks of back and forth to the garage, and I'm worse off then when I started.

I anyone here has any ideas I would like to hear them.

had surging problem which turned out to be the idle compensator