# Ran out of fuel and now the car idles at 3000 rpm

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/ran-out-of-fuel-and-now-the-car-idles-at-3000-rpm/2656>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [August 5, 2007, 3:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ran-out-of-fuel-and-now-the-car-idles-at-3000-rpm/2656 "2007-08-05T15:16:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Robert\_Dodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e480ec/32.png) [@Robert\_Dodge](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert_Dodge)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2007, 3:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ran-out-of-fuel-and-now-the-car-idles-at-3000-rpm/2656/1 "2007-08-05T15:16:16Z")

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My pontiac grand am ran out of fuel and after we filled it we noticed the idle rpm was high. Any suggestions?

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/d/1d47c66a543aa6c5a7873bb2320858f978ff52ed.png) [@system](https://community.cartalk.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2007, 5:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ran-out-of-fuel-and-now-the-car-idles-at-3000-rpm/2656/2 "2007-08-06T17:08:00Z")

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I would have the Idle Air Control IAC actuator looked at. It may just be stuck in the wide open position. The Engine Control Unit may have run the IAC all the way out trying to keep the engine running when the fuel supply ran out.

Researcher

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**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2007, 8:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ran-out-of-fuel-and-now-the-car-idles-at-3000-rpm/2656/3 "2007-08-06T20:08:36Z")

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The two things may be coincidental. This could be caused by the throttle hanging open. Check the throttle cable at the throttle body on the engine.

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**Author:** ![andy7079](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/258eb7/32.png) [@andy7079](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andy7079)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2007, 8:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ran-out-of-fuel-and-now-the-car-idles-at-3000-rpm/2656/4 "2007-08-06T20:11:58Z")

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Might the idle speed need to be reset?

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**Author:** ![andy7079](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/258eb7/32.png) [@andy7079](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andy7079)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2007, 8:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ran-out-of-fuel-and-now-the-car-idles-at-3000-rpm/2656/5 "2007-08-06T20:13:39Z")

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Meaning, reprogram the CPU idle speed.