high RPMs when cold, engine pinging when warm - 1993 Ford Probe?

Hart

New member
Any ideas of what could be causing my car problems?

My 2.0L, 4 cylinder, manual transmission Ford Probe SE has started running a little rough. When I first start the car in the mornings and the outside air is cool, the RPMs run high for 3-5 minutes until the car is warmed up. (Those minutes seem to be increasing.) I do not have this problem in the afternoon when the outside air is warm and/or I have already driven the car within the last several hours.

Also, the engine is starting to ping. (Quiet ticking/knocking sounds that seem to increase and decrease with speed.) And the car doesn't seem to have the same smoothness or power as normal.

(Here’s some background that might be unrelated: I've had the clutch replaced within the last 2 years and it does not feel like the clutch is slipping. The car does accelerate when the gas is applied; it just sounds a little a throatier and feels a little rougher.

I've also considered the noise might be belt or something, I had the air compressor replaced 2 years ago and I had the timing belt replaced 75,000 miles ago - so that might be due again soon.

Also, I had to have the catalytic converter replaced about a year ago, which was almost 6 months after it was discovered that a local mechanic who “replaced” my air filter must have forgotten to put a new one in after he removed the old one.)

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
 
The pinging could be the drive shaft being that it is hollow. If this is the case, remove the shaft and drill a hole in one end. Fill will expanding foam and replace. this will cure the ping.
 
check your oil. if the engine gets too dry then metal rubs against metal and any coatings get worn off,
so as the engine is turning the pistons, cylinders etc are wearing down and the spaces are wider so parts are knocking off each other.
the colder the weather the longer it takes the car to get to running temp so it has higher revs til it does.
if its really warm in the mornings your revs should lower quicker than on colder mornings and when youve driven it, it takes a while for the engine to get as cold as the first start so the high revs wont last as long
 
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