3.0 rough idle. sitting for years

[Boggin]

hey guys im soon gonna be pickin up a 1994 ranger stx supercab 4x4, shes in great shape but hasnt been used enough to talk about in the last 3 years. the owner let me start her up and take her for a ride up the road, at idle she bounces from 500rpm to around 850 and back and forth, after she gets warmed up she might get better, sometimes not. like i said she hasnt been used much for 3 years so i put in a full tank of new gas. ill probably buy some kind of fuel additive to put in her next time im in town, could be tomorrow or the next day.
i am gonna be changing the engine oil, radiator fluid, transmission fluid, diff fluid, plugs, anything else?
another guy i was talking to told me that since she hasnt been used alot in years, if i start usin her she will probably die shortly after. you guys think so?
thanks!

 

[michowski]

Same tank of gas? Get some fresh fuel in there, and make sure the injectors arent plugged up. Basic maitence also like fluid changes and make sure plugs are gapped and in good shape. Once thats all done just drive her.

 

[Boggin]

lol did you read my post at all

 

[ChrisR1S]

had the same issue with my 3.0. The bouncing idle was horrible. mine ended up being a sensor, maybe it was called the idle air control valve(IAC)? its been so long ago haha. I sefoamed it, changed plugs, wires, cap, rotor, TPS, and none of that did it. Like i said I THINK the sensor that cured mine was called the IAC valve..

 

[Boggin]

yea my buddy told me about that iac too.. wheres it located, is it expensive? hard to change?

 

[ChrisR1S]

the circled sensor is the IAC. 2 bolts holding it if i remember right and you can also try cleaning it to see if it helps. Do a forum search and it will provide you with better and more detailed info.

 

[Boggin]

thanks bud. did you buy a new one or clean yours?

 

[ChrisR1S]

cleaned it and it didnt help. Had to get a new one think it was about $50

 

[Boggin]

cool, thanks again

 

[Ranger44]

A good tune up, once over, changing of fluids, etc. is always good when one comes into ownership of a new vehicle.

Mine usually includes:

-Engine oil and filter
-Trans fluid
-t-case fluid
-Diff fluid, for both
-Checking/Replacing coolant w/ a system flush (just a good ol' garden hose flush)
-air filter
-PCV valve
-cleaning IAC (with a solvent)
-cleaning MAF (with MAF cleaner)
-Run some fuel treatments through
-Inspecting/Replacing wires, cap, rotor, and plugs.
-look for exhaust leaks
-suspension problems (rusted out rear shackles, bad ball joints, etc)
-I usually take the wheels off and inspect the brakes.
-Repack wheel bearings
-Give the steering linkage a once over as well....a LITTLE grease if it has the fittings. A pump or 2 will do.

Be careful if replacing fluid in an auto trans though. Varnish can build up inside the valve body on an auto, and with the addition of nice clean new fluid.....this varnish can come off in chunks and plug up essential passage ways. Basically, it would cause more trouble than good. This is especially true if it has never been changed in the trucks life. Then again, the varnish could just dissolve and nothing happen. It's a crap shoot. BUT, if the truck had regular ATF changes....I don't see it as a problem.

Good luck boggin.