2003 Ford Tempo Dies after warming up

2003 FORD TEMPO

90,000 MILES • 4 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC

JESSEVANDIVER

MEMBER
1 POST

When the car is cool it starts and idles fine but after a couple minutes it starts running very rough and dies. I can restart but have to apply a bit of throttle to keep it running. It has no problem out on open road but when slowing down to stop it will die unless I apply a bit of throttle to it. I replaced rotot, cap, plugs, egr valve and plug wires but same problem persists. If I leave air conditioner on max it idles and runs a little better. If I start up and dont let it warm up it will run for a bit then cut out and die at slow speeds.
Thanks if you can help
I love this car. It was my Mothers and now my wife uses it.
Jesse

Oct 31, 2010 at 9:19 AM

LEGITIMATE007

✓ASE Certified Mechanic
5,121 POSTS

sounds like you may have a simple problem, I would start by cleaning the throttle body , then the idle air control valve(IAC), this is what controls the idle when your foot is off the gas, the reason why it probably idles ok when you first start it is because all cars run on a standard set of parameters, before the car reaches operating temperature and the computer and sensors take over, if the cleaning doesnt work, you may have to replace the iac.

Oct 31, 2010 at 10:01 AM

LEGITIMATE007

✓ASE Certified Mechanic
5,121 POSTS

https://www.2carpros.com/how_to/change_air_filter.htm

Oct 31, 2010 at 10:02 AM

FIXITMR

✓ASE Certified Mechanic
9,990 POSTS

tempos are notorious for bad IAC valves. although 2003 is not a year in which the tempo was manufactured!

Oct 31, 2010 at 10:31 PM

LEGITIMATE007

✓ASE Certified Mechanic
5,121 POSTS

yes they are, and not only that, for some reason the carbon buildup is more than an average car. I personally would do a "de carb" with sea foam. you'll see the black soot come out of that bad boy, just years of buildup. and your engine will love you for it, it will be able to breath again

Nov 1, 2010 at 8:59 AM

LEGITIMATE007

✓ASE Certified Mechanic
5,121 POSTS

https://www.2carpros.com/how_to/how_to_tune_up.htm

Nov 1, 2010 at 9:00 AM

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