Hello, I'm glad to be a new member to your forum! I just bought an 89 LX 5.0 5 speed. It has 174,XXX miles and runs great! No smoke/no leaks! I just have 2 questions...

1) Once in a while when I first start it, the RPM's kinda bounce between 700-1100 RPM's and I noticed the Volt gauge kinda goes up and down at the same time (I assume the Volts go up n down just cuz the motor is up n down a bit). As soon as I 'goose' the throttle real quick, it totally stops. Any idea if this is normal, and if not, what it is?

2) When I put the car in reverse, it grinds a tiny bit if I don't put it in a forward gear first real quick. Normal, or..?

 

Hi and welcome to the boards

As for the idle issue, check the IACV and i would also recomend a base idle reset (can be easily found by searching these forums). Did you check for vacuum leaks?

For the trans issue, if its grinding, it could be an internal trans issue where it needs a rebuild or possibly a clutch fork issue. Did you try to adjust the clutch by pulling up on the clutch lever?

 

The gears grinding shifting in to reverse is typical on a T-5. There's not a lot you can do about it. Just shift in to first to resynch the synchros, then shift in to reverse. Should be smooth as butter then.

The idle thing isn't a big deal. You shouldn't need to reset your idle. Just sounds like you have some cold start issues and it sounds like once you goose the throttle it is going in to closed loop and settles down like it should. Might just need to clean the idle air control valve with some brake parts cleaner and let it dry before reinstalling it. Pop your O2 sensors out as well and see if they're gunked up.

 

Thanks much for the feedback! I'll look into the above!

 

I have never heard of any T5 grinding being normal....maybe thats just me though?

And 'goosing' the throttle isnt going to put the loop status to cloosed loop until the 02 sensors are at the correct operating temps

OP - When was the last time you changed your fuel filter?

 

T-5s not going in to reverse smoothly is common. They're pretty notorious for that. And the common solution short of a tranny rebuild is to shift in to first, then reverse, and you're golden.

As far as the O2s, I know that. My car takes anywhere from 5-15 seconds to go in to closed loop once I start it...just depends on how cold it is, etc. I was just throwing that out there as a possibility, not a definitive solution.

I'm a little rusty on my Fox stuff. I've been elbow deep in mod motors over the past year and change, so all of my focus has been on that. If you don't use it, you lose it! Right?

 

Haha 'if you don't use it, you lose it' :-) Yeah if I go first before reverse it's totally fine! What is the 'closed loop' thing that you are all referring to?

 

Open Loop = The ECU uses several sensors (MAP, IAT, TPS, ECT...) to determine what the A/F ratio should be until the 02 sensor is at the correct operating temp.
Also the system will also fall back into Open Loop at WOT.

Closed Loop = The ECU uses the o2 sensor(s) to monitor the commands issued to the fuel injectors.

Hope this helps.

 

It's when your engine and o2 sensors reach a certain temperature and allows your ECM to control the motor to maintain the optimum air to fuel ratio that the ECM demands.

 

Oh ok, yup that totally makes sense!