VG30 idle "hunting"

[Monte]

My 1987 Pathfinder VG30 has an idle problem, maybe two. It revs at about 2,000 RPM for about 60 seconds after starting. Then it settles down to around 1,500 RPM but then drops suddenly to 1,000 and eases back up to 1,800. This “hunting” cycle takes three seconds to complete and happens continuously until I take off. Once it warms up, idle is about 1,200 and it hunts intermittently from 1,000 back up to 1,300.

It’s been doing this for quite a while and I seem to remember jiggling the MAF wires and cleaning/adjusting the contacts to get some relief of the hunting. Idle is always above 1,000 even when warm. Any ideas or suggestions?

Thanks for your input. The vehicle now has 296,000 miles and I’d like to get to 300,000 or more.

MonteNashville, Tennessee USA

[cls12vg30]

I'd start with the idle air controller. You can get one off any VG30E.

[Altiman94]

coolant temp sensor may also be your culprit.