1992 Ford Tempo Rough idle

DAVE64

MEMBER
1992 FORD TEMPO
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
131,000 MILES

My question is different. I have a good mechanic who has narrowed my problem down to what he thinks is a transmission or torque converter problem. When the car is in park or neutral it idles dead smooth! When it's in gear and you are holding the brake it idles rough, the car vibrates! Every thing is in top shape. This has been a problem since my parents bought the car with 16000 miles. It has been to several shops and they all say this is normal for this car. I've been in other Tempo's that idle smooth when in gear. Do you have any ideas as wha causes this, or if it can b fixed? Or is it just a characteristic of this car that I have to live with? Thanks, Dave

5 Replies

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

Could be a leak on the vacuum brake hose and the brake booster itself

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Saturday, April 17th, 2010 AT 4:59 AM

DAVE64

MEMBER
3 POSTS

That has been checked, it idles smooth when it doesn't have a load on it. It only idles rough when the transmission is in gear.

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Saturday, April 17th, 2010 AT 10:48 AM

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

Check and test the throttle position sensor and the mass airflow sensor

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Saturday, April 17th, 2010 AT 3:15 PM

DAVE64

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3 POSTS

That has all been done.

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Saturday, April 17th, 2010 AT 3:28 PM

FIXITMR

MECHANIC
9,990 POSTS

Real compression tested? New ignition wires/coil wire new plugs? New cap and rotor? You say a mechanic did all this work? Are you sure it was all done thoroughly? Do the plug colors look all the same? Maybe 1 injector is weak? How does it drive down the road? Have you actually felt engine when in park to see if any roughness is there with your hand? Are all your motor/trans mounts good? Is your idle speed in spec?