Why does my Eagle Talon run rough when hot or stall at idle?

Short answer: Two problems show up again and again on old Talons. If it runs fine cold but misfires badly when hot, the ignition coil pack and ignition module can become heat sensitive with age, though one owner still had trouble after replacing them, so get a proper diagnosis. If the idle drops very low and it stalls when you slow down or push in the clutch, clean the idle air control (IAC) valve and throttle body first.

Symptom: Hot: after driving in high heat or a heat soak, it runs rough as if one cylinder is dead and loses power. Idle: RPM sags below 400 when slowing or clutching and sometimes stalls.

What to check first

1. Note when it happens: hot only, or at idle when slowing.
2. For hot misfires, check spark on each cylinder while it's acting up (a spare spark plug on the wire, held against ground, with gloves).
3. Read codes (these are OBD-I cars; one owner found the connector near the driver's dead pedal).
4. For low idle, clean the IAC valve and throttle body, and replace a dirty air filter.
5. Look at the spark plugs. A wet or fouled plug on one cylinder narrows things down.

Likely causes

1. Heat-sensitive ignition coil pack or ignition module. Members said they're often replaced together because one can damage the other.
2. Dirty or failing idle air control valve. Causes low idle and stalling.
3. Dirty throttle body. Restricts idle airflow.
4. Other heat-related electrical or fuel faults. If new ignition parts don't fix it, a shop with a scope can find it.

What it usually costs

No owner in these threads posted a repair cost.

Is it safe to keep driving?

A bad misfire with power loss or stalling at low speed is risky in traffic. Avoid hot-weather highway trips until fixed. Verify with a mechanic.

DIY or shop?

DIY for IAC and throttle body cleaning, plugs, wires, coil pack and module. Intermittent heat-related faults are often faster to find at a shop with diagnostic equipment.

Recalls, bulletins and complaints in plain words

• Recalls: NHTSA lists no recall for stalling or ignition problems on the Eagle Talon for these model years (checked 2026-10-24). Other recalls may exist for your car, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If your car is part of a recall, the dealer fixes it for free.
• NHTSA complaints: 54 keyword-matched complaints for Eagle Talon 1990–1998 (of 588 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-10-24; keywords: stall, dies, shut off, won't start, no start, cuts out, idle, misfire, rough, hesitate, coil, surge). This counts complaints that mention these words. It is not a defect finding.

What owners report

• In Eagle Talon No Longer Likes the Heat on Car Talk, a 185,000-mile '90 Talon TSi AWD ran fine cold but ran like it had three cylinders in 95°F heat or after sitting hot. Members suggested replacing the coil pack and ignition module together. The owner replaced both plus wires and plugs, but the rough running came back in 100° traffic, and members advised taking it to an experienced shop instead of swapping more parts.
• In Eagle Talon having RPM problems on Car Talk, a '95 Talon ESi 5-speed dropped below 400 rpm at idle or when the clutch was pushed in, and sometimes stalled. Members suggested cleaning the idle air control valve and the throttle body as cheap first steps.

Quick tip

Cheap cleaning fixes a lot of idle problems. For heat-related misfires, test while it's failing; guessing gets expensive.

Vehicle focus: 1990–1998 Eagle Talon (including turbo TSi and AWD), related to the Mitsubishi Eclipse and Plymouth Laser.

Safety / mechanic note

Stalling and misfires can leave you without power in traffic. Verify with a mechanic.