Raising Idle in Stock ATX

[joshalabama]

My girlfriend bought an ATX a little while back. It idles something awful. I know this is a common thing with the atx but is there a way to raise the idle without sct/chip? I just want to raise it 100-200 rpms at idle. Thanks for any advice/assistance.

[AZN_ZX2]

4u2quick ports TB's from what i remember people said it helps

[ZX2guy19]

SCT. I had mine set at 1100 then I took it off yesterday and its at 700 :(

[joshalabama]

Yeah but SCT is so pricey for a car that has no modding future. It would be nice if Ford could just tell the ecu to raise the idle.

[Larka]

Cut the muffler off. Then take the front half of the intake box off, and let the MAF fall out. Drive around for a month like that, and by then it'll be so f-ed up that even after you fix it it will idle higher. :rofl: Seriously, that's what I did to my white 03 back in like 04. Even with it fixed, it still idles higher than my stock one and I fixed everything on it now. Only difference is a cut airbox and lack of muffler. :rofl:

[joshalabama]

I appreciate the advice but the rough idle bothers me and her mom more then it bothers her. Plus that just sounds like a bad idea ;). Thanks though haha.

[Larka]

my stock one idles like a druggy with the shakes. bugs the hell out of me. I hate driving it. At red lights I'm convinced that the steering wheel is going to shake itself off the dash or something.

[ZeeEcksTwo]

Have you checked the conditions of the motor and trans mounts?

Shouldn't this be in the 'Problems' section?

[wifeszx2]

Can't you raise the idle at the TB by turning the set screw CW or CCW? I did that to my MTX when I installed the Gude TB. The Gude was set for like 1100rpm mechanically and my SCT was programmed for 888rpm electronically. I just used a micrometer to gauge where my stock TB set screw was, then adjusted the set screw on the Gude to match that. I didn't set it exact, I left the idle a little high on the Gude to closely match the SCT.

[mechtech]

If you set the idle by the throttle plate stop screw, it will eventually reset to the same speed. The idle air motor will compensate and bring it down to the computer's setting.
If you set the screw WAY high, the idle air valve can't compensate. Lots of problems with this, though.
Motor mounts, PCV and all vacuum and intake connections is perfect shape, fresh plugs and wires, and a clean MAF will help. Don't use heavy oil. 0-20, 5-20, 0r 5-30 are all good.
Take it out of gear when idling for more than 10 seconds so you won't be annoyed.

[ZeeEcksTwo]

If you set the idle by the throttle plate stop screw, it will eventually reset to the same speed. The idle air motor will compensate and bring it down to the computer's setting.
If you set the screw WAY high, the idle air valve can't compensate. Lots of problems with this, though.
Motor mounts, PCV and all vacuum and intake connections is perfect shape, fresh plugs and wires, and a clean MAF will help. Don't use heavy oil. 0-20, 5-20, 0r 5-30 are all good.
Take it out of gear when idling for more than 10 seconds so you won't be annoyed.

Agreed 100%. The idle is pretty much set by the computer. If it idles higher than what the computer says, you probably have a problem.