Car: 01 v6 mustang


Im getting off the highway after a 50 mile trip and my car wont idle below 3k . I am almost out of gas, so i pull into a gas station and pop the hood while the car is still runnning to check it out.

Headers are cherry red.

I jiggle the throttle cable and the tb is closed, wont idle down, so i shut the car off, and after further inspectino find that the connection from mass air connection to the intake tract going towards the TB is messed up ( more details later) letting air in.

Fixed that connection, and start car again. Still idling at 3k , headers glow again after 30 sec.

Im 5 min from meeting that starts in 3 min, so i fill it up with 93 octane + fuel injector cleaner hopeing to at least minimise detonation and to throw a fix at another possible cause to the obviously lean condition, and continue to the meeting. By the time I get there the car is idling normaly, Before i shut it off, I popped the hood, and the headers were normal.


Questions:

1. Do you think the air comming in after the Mass Air was the problem?

2. If yes to #1 then why did it continue for a while after that problem was fixed?

3. Is our temp gauge an actual gauge, or just a idiot light, like the oil preassure "gauge" ?

4. Should I have a tow truck on standby for the trip home