02 Low Idle When Ouside Temperature Cold

[6hayden9]

I have an 02 Continental with 177,000 miles with an odd issue. When the outside temperature is about 20 degrees or below the car idles so low the oil light flickers after the engine has warmed up. When I first start the car it is fine, I drive about 12 miles on the highway, and when I get off to the next stoplight, the issue comes up and the car will continue to do this. If the car sits for a little while, and started, the issue goes away for a little bit, then starts up again. It will not do this for the first few minutes of driving, it seems to occur when the engine has warmed up. When the outside temperature gets above say 30 degrees or more, the car idles fine all the time. I have already replaced the IAC thinking it was that, but it has not cured the issue. Any thoughts? Thanks!!

 

[jrdnhsnbrg]

What are the RPMs at when you say low idle? less than 500?

 

[6hayden9]

about 500, low enough for the oil light to start flickering, though it doesn't seem to want to stall, nor has it

 

[jrdnhsnbrg]

I bet the oil light flickering is not caused by the low idle. Does it throw any codes?

 

[6hayden9]

none yet

 

[MooJohn]

I wonder if you intake air temp sensor is going bad. It plugs into the intake tube just before the throttle body. You can clean it, or even replace it if it's cheap enough. I'm sure somewhere like AutoZone sells it.

 

[6hayden9]

Okay, sorry it took so long. I changed the Air Intake Temperature Sensor, still the same issue. I had it inspected the other day, and they could not get it to replicate the issue. It seems to be once the car is driven for a while that the issue comes up, not just at idle sitting for a while. Any thoughts?

 

[bradyelich]

The only problem with the low idle is the lack of oil pressure, as indicated by your light. All motors idle down when warmed up, other than programming taking over an imbalance that does not throw a code, should not be an issue.

 

[chris2523]

1. change the oil and filter.
2. replace the oil pressure sender. they are cheap, and its a wear part.
3. see if anything has changed.