Notices
1983 - 2012 Ranger & B-Series All Ford Ranger and Mazda B-Series models

Another high idle question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 12, 2011 | 03:23 PM
  #1  
MikeB 88's Avatar
MikeB 88
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,344
Likes: 1
Another high idle question

Truck idles fast momentarily when the clutch is pushed in. This happened about a 1 1/2 years ago at which point I replaced the IAC. Over the last month or so, it started doing it again. Since I bought the "auto store brand" I assumed that maybe it had gone bad, so I installed a new Motorcraft one. Truck started doing it again, but I can't find the thread(s) that talk about other things to check. Can someone direct me to the threads or what else I need to check. I've looked for vacuum leaks and can't find any plus The DPFE sensor has been recently changed due to a P401 code. I also have no CEL.
Thanks
 
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2011 | 01:03 PM
  #2  
97ranger xlt's Avatar
97ranger xlt
More Turbo
15 Year Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 624
Likes: 2
From: FL
a bad pcv valve will cause a high idle, and not throw a code.
 
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2011 | 09:02 PM
  #3  
MikeB 88's Avatar
MikeB 88
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,344
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by 97ranger xlt
a bad pcv valve will cause a high idle, and not throw a code.
Thanks, I will check into it. As far as I know it's still the original one with almost 155,000 on it.
 
Reply
Old Jun 14, 2011 | 07:15 AM
  #4  
pawpaw's Avatar
pawpaw
Moderator
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,851
Likes: 111
From: SW Va
Club FTE Gold Member
At 155K, your well past due for a scheduled maintenance replacement on the PCV valve. Check your PCV system rubber fittings, rubber hoses condition & their fit also.
 
Reply
Old Jun 14, 2011 | 07:30 AM
  #5  
MikeB 88's Avatar
MikeB 88
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,344
Likes: 1
Paw Paw, I was actually thinking about that on the way home from work this morning. I am thinking along the lines of replacing all that while I was there.
 
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2011 | 05:04 AM
  #6  
greenpus's Avatar
greenpus
Posting Guru
20 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,016
Likes: 1
There is a tech bulletin ford put out. I can't rememeber the number of it.
It concerns the 98-2000 rangers. High idle issues when replacing the IAC don't fix it.
Basically the connector on the TPS is jacked up and Ford recommends buying their $80 kit to fix it. The kit has a new connector which you splice into the old cable harness for the TPS.

I had the same issue every 6 months and would replace the IAC for high idle and it always came back anywhere from 3 months to 6 months. I also noticed a pattern. The high idle always seems to come about during wet or humid weather conditions.

After reading the tech bulletin I decided to clean the connector on the TPS and the connector that plugs into the TPS with electronics cleaner. While the connector was wet with the cleaner, I put the connectors together and took them apart several times to help clean the contacts/pins. I let the connector dry for a few minutes and then stuffed the connector with dielectric grease to help prevent corrosion on the pins. Put everthing back together and fixed. No idle issues anymore. After doing this your idle trim might be out of wack but drive it for a couple of days and let it relearn the idle trim. Don't bother unhooking the battery to do this. Just drive it.
 
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2011 | 07:17 AM
  #7  
MikeB 88's Avatar
MikeB 88
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,344
Likes: 1
Did not know about that. Thanks for the info, I'll look in to it also.
 
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2011 | 04:53 PM
  #8  
greenpus's Avatar
greenpus
Posting Guru
20 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,016
Likes: 1
High Idle TSB 00-3-5
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-4

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-9

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jun 16, 2011 | 05:40 PM
  #9  
hillbillyford's Avatar
hillbillyford
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
I've got the same problem with mine (2000 4 cylinder manual tranny) I was gonna ask about on here. About a year and a half ago or so, I got the same high idle problem when I stopped and clutched, and could also feel the idle surge driving at lower speeds.

I replaced the IAC valve with an aftermarket part which lasted a couple months before starting again. Since it was still under warranty, I took it back and put the new one on which again worked for a couple months before the idle problem returned. I then spent the extra money for the Ford part figuring that might solve the problem, which it did for 9 months, and just last week has AGAIN returned!!!

Greenpus, I'll have to try cleaning the TPS like you described above and see if that helps. I'm at about 120,000 miles and I've not replaced the PCV valve since I bought the truck at about 80,000 miles so I guess that wouldn't hurt either.

If anyone else has any input, I'd certainly appreciate hearing it too!! This high idle problem is really getting to be an annoyance, almost enough to justify that next truck payment!
 
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2011 | 05:49 PM
  #10  
greenpus's Avatar
greenpus
Posting Guru
20 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,016
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by hillbillyford

Greenpus, I'll have to try cleaning the TPS like you described above and see if that helps. I'm at about 120,000 miles and I've not replaced the PCV valve since I bought the truck at about 80,000 miles so I guess that wouldn't hurt either.
Ford should have replaced the pcv for free at 60,000. That's stated in the warranty booklet for the 2000 2.5. From that point on, the owner is required to replace it every 60,000 after.
 
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2011 | 05:54 PM
  #11  
hillbillyford's Avatar
hillbillyford
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
It's possible the PCV was replaced under warranty, I really don't know. The used car dealer I bought it from said he bought it from a Ford dealer, they used it as a parts truck before selling it. You'd think they kept up with all the maintenance as required, but who know.

Just wondering, if the problem's been with the TPS all along and not really the IAC valve, why does replacing the IAC solve the problem at least for a few months?

I can't say for sure if my problem has only been during wet or humid weather, but I'll have to start paying more attention to that.
 
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2011 | 06:05 PM
  #12  
greenpus's Avatar
greenpus
Posting Guru
20 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,016
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by hillbillyford
It's possible the PCV was replaced under warranty, I really don't know. The used car dealer I bought it from said he bought it from a Ford dealer, they used it as a parts truck before selling it. You'd think they kept up with all the maintenance as required, but who know.

Just wondering, if the problem's been with the TPS all along and not really the IAC valve, why does replacing the IAC solve the problem at least for a few months?

I can't say for sure if my problem has only been during wet or humid weather, but I'll have to start paying more attention to that.
When I first brought my truck into ford for the high idle, they had no idea what it was and said, it's either the iac or tps. first guess they took was the iac and it worked for a year. after that, i started replacing the iac every 6 months or so for high idle issues and never took it back to ford. I can guess as well as they can LOL.
My guess is when you replace the iac you also bang on the tps cable and cause it to reseat itself and it works for a while. The same thing would probably happen if you disconnect the connector from the tps and reconnect.
Cleaning and using dielectric grease on the tps connector fix it for me and my truck has been good on the idle for over a year now and I'm using one of the iac's that I thought was bad.
 
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2011 | 07:58 PM
  #13  
hillbillyford's Avatar
hillbillyford
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Ok, so just to be clear, you didn't remove the TPS, you just unhooked it, cleaned the contacts, filled the holes in the connector with the dielectric grease, and reconnected it, right? If that's it, I'm gonna give that a shot tomorrow and will let you know how that goes.

Good to know you kept using the same IAC valve, because I considered trying to take that one back to Ford to see if I could replace it under warranty. I'll try this first before messing with it though.

Thanks for the input!
 
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2011 | 08:21 PM
  #14  
greenpus's Avatar
greenpus
Posting Guru
20 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,016
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by hillbillyford
Ok, so just to be clear, you didn't remove the TPS, you just unhooked it, cleaned the contacts, filled the holes in the connector with the dielectric grease, and reconnected it, right?
yes. Don't remove the tps just unhook the connector. every tool box should have dielectric grease. I don't buy it from the autoparts stores becuase you don't get alot and they charge to much. I buy it online in the big *** tubes because I like it and use it a lot on my motorcycles to keep the connectors clean and well protected.
 
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2011 | 07:12 PM
  #15  
MikeB 88's Avatar
MikeB 88
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,344
Likes: 1
Just a quick update -- replaced the PCV and hose, no help. My valve did have a Motorcraft number on it, so I'm assuming it was still original. Hose just looked dried out, didn't find any cracks or splits in it.

Cleaned the connector for the TPS as suggested, so far so good. Will now in the next couple of days for sure.
 

Last edited by MikeB 88; Jun 25, 2011 at 07:13 PM. Reason: spelling
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mwoolard1912
1997 - 2003 F150
10
Feb 20, 2017 12:21 AM
sand_fiend
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
3
Nov 30, 2013 05:44 AM
rockstarf150
1997 - 2003 F150
7
Jul 9, 2012 10:53 PM
Fujis123
1997 - 2006 Expedition & Navigator
15
Jan 3, 2012 08:52 AM
ErikLydick
1999 - 2016 Super Duty
9
May 5, 2010 04:21 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:14 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-1
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE