Expert: Mike Evans - 4/16/2010

Question
Hi Mike,
      Lately, when I start the car first thing in the morning engine races at a fast idle. Tried to trounce the pedal to idle down but, to no avail. When I drop into gear it clunks in. Once the engine has been running for a time the car goes into normal mode for the rest of the day. (Until morning rolls around again.) Do you have any clues as to what might be the culprit?   
                                              Thanks, Victor

Answer
    The clunking is caused by the fast idle.  Either there is a vacuum leak somewhere or you have a bad idle speed motor.  This is an inexpensive component and I think I would try changing it first (make sure the cavity it fits into is clean--use some throttle body cleaner and do the throttle as well).  If this doesn't help you should get someone with a scanner (not a code reader) to go over the F.I. system and make sure everything's working right (odds are something isn't).