General Maintenance & Repairs - 2002 T/A Won't Hold Idle.

Hello gang,....

So, 2 weeks ago the T/A was fine while I was doing random occasional starts during storage. Today, of course, seemed like the day to break it out. Battery was totally dead. Not uncommon at all as it's dated 2007. Anyway, charged it up, finally got it started and it's running just terrible. Actually had to "feather" the gas to get it to stay running at all, then once it seemed to be holding idle I attempted to take it around the block. It died any time I let my foot off the gas. Had to drive it back home with the ol' "foot on gas & brake" method.

The car is bone stock, 50K on it. Auto, collectors edition if it matters.

Any suggestions?

Is that the same tank of gas that was originally in the car when it was parked in '07? Because more than likely that's your problem. Gasoline only stays good for I think about 6 months, diesel just a little bit longer. After that it starts to ferment and goes bad. Try to empty the gas tank and put some top tier 91 in there, or maybe higher if they have high rated octane where you are!

My mistake,...the battery is from 07.....car was only parked for the winter as per usual. Driven 7 or 8 months out of the year.

check your IAC valve on the throttle body, take it out and clean it if necessary.

I'll give it a shot! Thanks!

still, never use the gas that sat for that long over winter. water builds up and it runs like shit.

go to the auto store and get a bottle of "heet" and put it in the tank and top the tank off and start up. good luck.

Another good idea. I've just never had this issue in almost 10 years! Ticked me off too,...was ready to drop the top and take advantage of a weekend without rain for a change.

Get that bad boy fixed and go pollute the Earth with some fatty burnouts!!!! :D

also clean you MAF while you are cleaning the IAC,use MAF cleaner.

Another good idea. I've just never had this issue in almost 10 years! Ticked me off too,...was ready to drop the top and take advantage of a weekend without rain for a change.

For what it is worth, the increased amount of ethanol in recent years have made fuels more susceptible to problems from storage because the ethanol attracts water. I store a number engines over the winter and I can't get away wtih what I used to. Stabil or similar products are your friend.