96 wagon rough idle only when cold

[ken288]

I took it to a mechanic and he changed two O2 sensorsand cleaned the MAF sensor then reset the check engine light.

When I went and started the car this morning the same problem started. It never stalls but my idle goes back and forth from almost stalling to racing. This only happens for about 5 minutes every morning then it runs great all day.

Any Ideas??

[TaurusKing]

what code #'s????

[TaurusKing]

How about when you restart it after, say, a trip to the store, where it sits for maybe 10-15 minutes, Run fine??? I want to say when you start it in the morning, it runs on a cold start program designed in the pcm,, I don't think 02 sensors would have an immediate effect on a cold engine, anyone feel freee to tell me I'm wrong, however the newer obdII cars, yours, are designed to start inputting info quicker than the older obdI's,, that could be a reason why after 5 minutes it runs okay.. the maf sensor will cause run issues if cold or hot, at least that's my experience with my son's car, 93 Taurus

[ken288]

The mechanic never gave me the codes...

The car has to sit at least 6-8hrs before it goes thru the 5 minute rough idle period.. I'm thinking that cleaning the MAF sensor didn't do it and it needs to be replaced..

[TaurusKing]

You can try cleaning it yourself, hardest part is getting it off the car,, look inside of it, you'll see some very fine strands, I think maybe 3 or 4, of wire, look like tiny resistors, very small, you can GENTLY clean them with a q-tip and alcohol,, be very careful.. hook it all back up again, give it another go, make sure your electrical plug is tight,, if your check-engine light is on, most major autoparts stores will read them for you... seems the 6-8 hr period would give it time to cool down enough.