Mustangs hold a place among car enthusiasts for being some of the most popular and powerful muscle cars produced by the Ford Motor Company. Although the Mustang holds a strong place in car culture, some models have transmission or engine problems that can lead to idle problems.
Dirty Idle Air Control (IAC) valves cause more idle problems than anything else. The most common symptoms include the idle rising and falling, or the car stalling when stopped or put into gear. Dirt, oil, carbon and other gunk can jam up the IAC, preventing the part from opening and closing. This results in either a high idle or an up and down idle because the clog does not allow the vehicle to regulate the engine's air intake properly.
The throttle body plate often goes overlooked when a Mustang displays idle problems. However, this car part helps to regulate the amount of air that enters the engine. Too much or too little air can result in major issues with the idle of a Mustang. The normal problem with the throttle body is when a carbon buildup occurs, gunking up the throttle body and requiring cleaning to get the Mustang's idle to return to normal.
Resetting the base idle requires a flathead screwdriver, a wrench and a careful understanding of how the battery and computer work in a Ford Mustang. Only a licensed professional should reset the idle. This is a complex repair, but it is one that oftentimes solves the issue of an improper idle in a Mustang. By resetting the base idle, the car can be reset to run at maximum efficiency for the driver.
