Odd idling issue with my car.

1994 FORD THUNDERBIRD
100,000 MILES • 3.8L • V6 • RWD • AUTOMATIC
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XYELE
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I've had an odd issue with my car lately with it's idle, when I first start it idles fine, when I go to back out in the mornings as soon as I turn the wheel the idle drops down to almost stalling, but doesn't stall, soon as I give it gas though it's fine. It does, however run fine while driving with no problems.

I've also had a few instances where the idle would get a little rough at a stop sign or red light, but lately it seems to happen more-so when I turn the wheel. So far it just seems intermittent, but when it does, if I give it a small rev it seems to fix itself, or if I put it back in N it goes away as well.

I had a CEL light for awhile, and just recently had some vacuum leaks fixed, and the CEL no longer comes on, so I don't think that is an issue, unless they possibly missed a leak. Is it possible that the IAC could be going bad at this point, or maybe something to do with the steering pump?

Any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated.
Jan 2, 2015 at 5:54 PM
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CJ MEDEVAC
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NOT KNOWING HOW YOU KEEP YOUR CAR UP

I WOULD SUGGEST "CATCHING UP" ON ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. A "FULL TUNE-UP", IF IT HASN'T BEEN DONE AS PRESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL OR A REPAIR MANUAL (SUCH AS CHILTONS)

NEXT IS A GOOD POSSIBILITY FOR EVEN A WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE, AS IT IS EXPECTED TO LAST A LONG TIME

THE "IDLE AIR CONTROL" (IAC), AS YOU HAVE MENTIONED. THIS PUPPY REGULATES AIR THAT BYPASSES THE THROTTLE PLATE. IN OTHER WORDS, THIS DEVICE IS LETTING IN "MORE" OR "LESS" LETS THE COMPUTER CONTROL YOUR IDLE SPEED, BY MOVING A PLUNGER INSIDE OF IT. (YOURS MAY BE GUMMED UP AND NOT RESPONDING AS FAST AS IT SHOULD) YOUR MENTION OF A ROUGH IDLE SEEMS TO POINT THIS WAY

TO KEEP MY HUNTING AND PECKING TO A MINIMUM, PLEASE SEE "MY ANSWER" IN THIS LINK. KEEP IN MIND THIS IS A 3.0L V-6 IN THE LINK

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/engine-trying-to-stall-at-stop

JUST CLEANING IT MAY BE THE ANSWER! AT MINIMUM, IT MAY VERIFY WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE BARKING UP THE RIGHT TREE, BEFORE YOU FORK OUT $$$ FOR A NEW ONE

RETURN HERE WITH GOOD NEWS AND A GRIN!

THE MEDIC
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Jan 2, 2015 at 6:12 PM