Poor Idle?
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Poor Idle?
My V6 Sohc explorer has about 137k mi on the odo and for about the last three months had been idleying strangely.
The idle is steady but sometimes fluctuates between 500- 700rpm. The problem is the idle is very weak and at times the engine will just suddenly go dead with no worning or sputtering. It does start right back up again though.
At times the tach will abrubtly fall to near zero and then suddenly fire back up to idle speed while stopped.
I have replaced the IAC valve with a new one and it made no difference what so over. I am trying to think what else would cause such a problem to occur?? All components are well cleaned and the ignition parts are new.
Any help would be well helpful
The idle is steady but sometimes fluctuates between 500- 700rpm. The problem is the idle is very weak and at times the engine will just suddenly go dead with no worning or sputtering. It does start right back up again though.
At times the tach will abrubtly fall to near zero and then suddenly fire back up to idle speed while stopped.
I have replaced the IAC valve with a new one and it made no difference what so over. I am trying to think what else would cause such a problem to occur?? All components are well cleaned and the ignition parts are new.
Any help would be well helpful
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Mass
I have had the same problem you describe in the past. It begins jump from 500 to 1000 RPM! It would also randomly stall when i put it into gear, esp reverse but restarts easily. I couldnt find any pattern and has been ok lately. keep mu updated on any info.
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Thanks for all the replies. I have cleaned the throttle plate, the IAC valve is new and I disconect the battery whenever I do work on the engine.
Funny thing it has been really cold up here in New England around 6-20f throughout the course of the day and the engine idles a lot better when the temp is like this.
I am wondering though, I used an aftermarket IAC valve that I purchased at napa. The Ford Dealer used the same part when it was replaced a year or so back with the same result. It seems odd but can the aftermarket IAC valve be junk? Perhaps I should buy the OEM one again.
Funny thing it has been really cold up here in New England around 6-20f throughout the course of the day and the engine idles a lot better when the temp is like this.
I am wondering though, I used an aftermarket IAC valve that I purchased at napa. The Ford Dealer used the same part when it was replaced a year or so back with the same result. It seems odd but can the aftermarket IAC valve be junk? Perhaps I should buy the OEM one again.
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From: Fort Smith
Might change the fuel filter. If your filter is getting clogged and cutting the fuel pressure down, you could have the same effect. The cold doesn't help any either.
You could have gotten a bad IAC, but I doubt it. I'm running one from NAPA right now myself and haven't seen any difference in that compared to an OEM one.
If the X runs good when you are driving and the problem lies in when it is sitting still idling, I would look to the fuel filter, air filter, etc, to make sure their is not any restrictions...
You could have gotten a bad IAC, but I doubt it. I'm running one from NAPA right now myself and haven't seen any difference in that compared to an OEM one.
If the X runs good when you are driving and the problem lies in when it is sitting still idling, I would look to the fuel filter, air filter, etc, to make sure their is not any restrictions...
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I had that exact original problem with my 97 SOHC motor. I tried the IAC valve as well as many other things. I was stumped.
I took it to the Ford dealer, because it started to have bigger problems. One was not responding when I mashed on the gas.
Ford found that the intake gaskets were leaking. This has happened to many of these motors and Ford almost made it a recall. They told me that if I would had brought it in before I had 60,000 miles on it they would had replaced it for free.
Unfortunately I had well over 60,000 miles on it.
I believe the repair was between $600 and $800, I can't remember exactly.
But the bottom line is, after I had it done, it idled like the day it was new, and never tried to stall when shifting into gear. I found it well worth the money, and it is still running great.
I took it to the Ford dealer, because it started to have bigger problems. One was not responding when I mashed on the gas.
Ford found that the intake gaskets were leaking. This has happened to many of these motors and Ford almost made it a recall. They told me that if I would had brought it in before I had 60,000 miles on it they would had replaced it for free.
Unfortunately I had well over 60,000 miles on it.
I believe the repair was between $600 and $800, I can't remember exactly.
But the bottom line is, after I had it done, it idled like the day it was new, and never tried to stall when shifting into gear. I found it well worth the money, and it is still running great.
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I wonder if this is the same gasket recall I took mine in for a few years back? Though mine would not idle at all or it would pulse idle like crazy 500-1200rpm consistently.
I wonder once they replace the gaskets can they go bad again?
I wonder once they replace the gaskets can they go bad again?
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It could have been. I didn't know it was actually a recall, but maybe it was. It was the intake manifold gasket they replaced on mine. But it definately fixed my problem.
My motor however only idles at 1200rpm when it is cold outside and just started. It normally only idled at a max of 600rpm, when I had the problem. It would just drop real low, like to 200rpm, and then come back up again, and sometimes it would stall out. It would also stall out sometimes when I shifted into reverse or drive.
Have you adjusted your idle speed? 1200rpm sounds high unless it is warming up.
It is possible for gaskets to go bad again... maybe they had improved the gaskets when I got my new ones, because I haven't had a problem since.
My motor however only idles at 1200rpm when it is cold outside and just started. It normally only idled at a max of 600rpm, when I had the problem. It would just drop real low, like to 200rpm, and then come back up again, and sometimes it would stall out. It would also stall out sometimes when I shifted into reverse or drive.
Have you adjusted your idle speed? 1200rpm sounds high unless it is warming up.
It is possible for gaskets to go bad again... maybe they had improved the gaskets when I got my new ones, because I haven't had a problem since.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Magnolia, TX
I'm going to bump this for a question.
I have an 01 ST that also has a slightly low and rough idle. Idle gets rougher when engine loaded by the PS pump while not moving. IAC and MAF are clean. New plugs and wires will go on this weekend.
If the plugs and wires do not correct the idle issue, will leaky intake gaskets cause a LOW idle condition, or is it more likely to cause a high idle condition?
Thanks,
CMOS
I have an 01 ST that also has a slightly low and rough idle. Idle gets rougher when engine loaded by the PS pump while not moving. IAC and MAF are clean. New plugs and wires will go on this weekend.
If the plugs and wires do not correct the idle issue, will leaky intake gaskets cause a LOW idle condition, or is it more likely to cause a high idle condition?
Thanks,
CMOS
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Sounds like the same symptoms as mine. As soon as a load was put on the motor at idle or near idle speed, it would start idling rough. In my case, it would always idle down low, not high. I would imagine the air leaking in would only cause a low idle....
Keep in mind, my explorer would idle so low, that about half the time I would have to hit the gas a little, or it would just stall out quick. Not sure if yours is that bad.
In an 01' I am surprised they would still have th same intake gasket issues they did on the 97's.....but sure sounds like the right symptoms. Especially if your IAC and flow sensor are clear. Good Luck!
Keep in mind, my explorer would idle so low, that about half the time I would have to hit the gas a little, or it would just stall out quick. Not sure if yours is that bad.
In an 01' I am surprised they would still have th same intake gasket issues they did on the 97's.....but sure sounds like the right symptoms. Especially if your IAC and flow sensor are clear. Good Luck!
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