Problems with 1993 Ford Probe GT idle

[sbullet]

I have had a persistent problem with my 1993 Ford Probe GT. I have already replaced the TPS, the thermostat, the water pump, the rocker cover gaskets the fan belt , the power steering belt, cold air intake and battery. I have checked the linkage and this does not make any difference once the rpms go up. I will be sitting at a light or at a stop with the clutch pushed in and the engine will go from 1000 rpms to 3000 rpms. The gas pedal will not kick it dowm. The only thing that will stop it is to shut the engine off. Once you restart the rpms are normal for a little while and then it will happen again.After replacing the TPS and the water pump, the rpms stayed down for quite a while but started up again today. Last time , I adjusted the TPS a couple of times and then it ran fine for a couple of days but then started acting up again. The TPS is brand new and the old one tested fine. This is the only problem I am having at the moment. The car has never been winter driven but sat parked for a couple of years. The previous owner had it sit for 2 years and I had to let it sit for a year because I got it during the winter and had work to do on it. The car is in excellent shape. I want to be able to drive this beast. It has a racing engine in it. It is the 2.5L / 6 cylinder and really takes off but with this problem, I cannot get the enjoyment when it acts up like this. Can anyone help me find a solution to this problem? Currently the Check Engine light is on but it has been on since I got the car. I am not sure if it just has to be reset (because I fixed the problem?) or if it is indicating a problem. Only one person has the adapter in this whole area , that will fit the diagnostic box and you would not believe what it would cost just to have them check out what it says, if it says anything. By the way, this spike in rpms usually happens at idle but has happened when driving as well. The car will buck and kick hard when it happens during the driving. Once it hits a speed that is sort of equivalent to the rpms, the car will stop kicking and bucking.Thanks.

[sbullet]

I am not sure yet but so far I think I have found what the problem might have been. I flushed the radiator and the motor. I then changed the thermostat. I filled the reservoir and then took the cap of the passenger side of the cooling system. I filled it slowly until there was no more room. I had the heater fan on full and on defrost so that there would be no air in the system. I noticed a lot of air coming out of the passenger side filler so I let it run for quite a while until nothing but a few very small bubbles were present. I have taken it for a couple of rides since then and so far (knock on wood), it has not reved up or acted up at all. I will keep you posted to see if this works or if I have to go back to the drawing board. I think the problem was a combination of an air lock and a bad thermostat although it was new.

[SCJ42970]

As a Ford tech I would be looking at the mass airflow sensor. I have had the same problems on a customer car and that was the fix. As it is a pricey part I would personally find a good used one, Dave.

[sbullet]

Originally Posted by SCJ42970

As a Ford tech I would be looking at the mass airflow sensor. I have had the same problems on a customer car and that was the fix. As it is a pricey part I would personally find a good used one, Dave.

I should have read this a lot sooner. I checked the MAS and I noticed a lot of liquid in the MAS that smelled like gas but looked like oil. I checked the filter and it was there as well. I had replaced the MAS a while ago with a cold air intake system. The only thing I didn't replace was the MAS. After cleaning the MAS with just a rag, I put the MAS back on and just the pipe that goes to the throttle plate. I started the engine and I noticed that while the fans were on, the car idled normally. When the fans shut off, the MAS nose would go in a little to get the fans back on. It would do this once or twice and then the nose of the MAS would jump in and out a couple of times and then go all the way in and stay there, raising the revs to over 3000 which is the problem I have been having. Does this mean the MAS is bad and if so, do you know where I can get one fairly cheaply. I have looked on eBay and there is only one and it is being sold as is and with no gaurantees. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[ryan810]

i had the same problem with my probe it was an 89 2.2 litre turbo 5 speed and i changed the mass air flow sensor and it fixed the problem.