Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Idle Speed Control
In order to maintain air conditioning (A/C) cooling performance, the automatic temperature control (ATC) module requests an increase in engine idle speed if the evaporator temperature starts to rise while the refrigerant solenoid valve is already set to the maximum flow rate. The increase in engine idle speed is requested in three stages, using a medium speed controller area network (CAN) bus message to the engine control module (ECM).
Refer to ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROLS (V8 5.0L PETROL) .
Refer to ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROLS (V8 S/C 5.0L PETROL) .
The need for a change in idle speed is determined as follows:
- If the evaporator temperature increases by 3°C (5.4°F), or to 6°C (10.8°F) above the target operating temperature, over a 10 seconds period, the first stage of idle speed increase is requested.
- When the first stage of idle speed increase is set, if the evaporator temperature increases by 3°C (5.4°F), or increases to 12°C (21.6°F) above the target operating temperature, over a 9 seconds period, the second stage of idle speed increase is requested.
- When the second stage of idle speed increase is set, if the evaporator temperature increases by 3°C (5.4°F), or increases to 15°C (27°F) above the target operating temperature, over a 10 seconds period, the third stage of idle speed increase is requested.
- When an idle speed increase is set, if the evaporator temperature decreases by 3°C (5.4°F) over a 10 seconds period, the next stage down of idle speed increase is requested.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.
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