Help!!! Engine cutting out while driving!!!

Dave_Obsession · 10-01-2009, 01:16 PM

Disconnected the battery and took it out to clean a couple of things in engine bay, flush out some electrolyte corrosion.......put everything back in, turn engine on, put in reverse, idle revs drop dangerously low......driving along, stop at lights - idle is low, car shaking..........turning corner, engine stops completely!!!

Happened another 2 times where it cut out, I was only driving around the block!!!

What's going on??? I didn't get any electrical stuff wet - was only flushing out corrosion under the batter holder!!!

Any help would be appreciated!!!

Cheers Dave

adrian k · 10-01-2009, 01:37 PM

My XR6 did that once, turned out to be a stuffed idle bypass control valve. if you lucky yours might just be sticky. take it off and give it a clean and oil.
but given that nothin else has changed, just the battery has been disconnected, it may just be that the ECU needs to learn the throttle positions again. not sure about the AU I6, but the EF needed to go thru a procedure to reset the throttle positions after the battery was disconnected.

Dave_Obsession · 10-01-2009, 01:38 PM

the car was driving perfectly beforehand.......so you think I should just reset the ECU???

The Monty · 10-01-2009, 02:16 PM

You havce disconnected the Battery which in turn HAS reset the ECU. Give it 100km and it will have relearnt everything and it will be fine. Mine when reset idles really low as well, and has stalled, so dont let it stress you. Get it out on the highway, give it a bit of a flog, go home and see how its running then.

Dave_Obsession · 10-01-2009, 02:49 PM

Thanks Monty, I hope you're right.....I don't see how it can be anything else....still.....im new to a lot of this stuff......only started taking an interest in it all recently....still a bit green around the ears!

Took it for a 10 min drive......stalled another 4 times :-(, but the idles weren't dropping as often as they were the first time.........when it happens its almost always under braking from 50km/h+.....revs drop down to just over 200.....sometimes it stalls.....sometimes it doesn't...

So you reckon about 100kms?? Is that under various conditions of driving (fast, slow, stopped, corners, cruising) or would a freeway trip be enough for it.....

The Monty · 10-01-2009, 03:23 PM

Just drive it like you normally would.

bodes-sh · 10-01-2009, 04:19 PM

*sigh* here we go again...

disconnect the battery again, leave it for about 10 mins, then,
start car and let idle 2 min in park a/c off,
foot on brake, and idle in drive 2 min a/c off,
idle in drive 2 min a/c in,
idle in park 2 min a/c on,
the drive under various throttle conditions for about 10 mins and it will be fine

EvilChief · 11-01-2009, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bodes-sh

*sigh* here we go again...

disconnect the battery again, leave it for about 10 mins, then,
start car and let idle 2 min in park a/c off,
foot on brake, and idle in drive 2 min a/c off,
idle in drive 2 min a/c in,
idle in park 2 min a/c on,
the drive under various throttle conditions for about 10 mins and it will be fine

gotta love it, may as well sticky it, as it comes up ever 2 to 3 weeks :togo:

bodes-sh · 11-01-2009, 10:02 AM

yeah, i reckon so...

just had a look and it's in here anyway... http://fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11244844

Dave_Obsession · 11-01-2009, 11:41 AM

cheers to everybody who helped me out!

The Monty · 11-01-2009, 12:16 PM

So it all worked out?

Dave_Obsession · 13-01-2009, 12:15 AM

well its been 150kms since the reset, and whilst it's not 100% perfect yet, it complains less and less each day (presumably as the ECU learns more and more). All's well that ends well, I suppose, cheers monty!

Bazza1957 · 08-11-2020, 01:43 PM

So what happens when it's a manual..so what's the reset procedure then ???