I am new to this forum and excuse me if this topic has been posted before but I tried searching for it here and could not find anything. Here is my problem:

I have a 1997 AWD Ford Explorer 5.0 Liter and am trying to find out the
correct procedure for setting the Throttle Plate opening by adjusting the
stop screw on the Throttle Body. Hope you understand what I'm looking for.
Anyone have any Idea or a website I can go to for this procedure??

Thanks in advance

 

it is set at the factory.

no adjustment should be made.

the computer and the iac (idle air control) control the idle.

 

I agree, it shouldn't be adjusted. If you are having idle problems, clean it out with throttle body cleaner. Do NOT scrub anything. If it improves, you are pressing the magic button. If it goes away great, if it still ingers but is better than it was, replace the IAC valve.

 

Ok Thanks for getting back to me. I understand what both of you are saying, Bear river & Quicklook2 but this is what happened. I finally replaced the paper filter with a K & N filter. When I did that the truck wouldn't start anymore. So stupid me and not thinking went and turned the screw enough to make it start. I wasn't thinking it would be the IAC. Which it was anyway. The Paper filter was restricting it enough that it seemed that no IAC symptoms were present. The High flow K & N revealed a bad IAC. Anyway, once I got it to run and the IAC replaced, I turned it back to were I thought it was but I know it may still be off. I understand it's crucial that the Throttle body plate be adjusted to the proper gap. Hence, I need a procedure to do this. So if anyone has any idea I'd appreciate it. I have one for my 1989 Full Size Bronco but it doesn't fly for the 1997 Explorer. I have all the factory manuals for the Explorer but I can't find for the life of me the procedure anywhere.

 

it usually has paint on it and may give you an indication of where it was set.

or go to junkyard and get another t.body.

 

I saw it has some blue paint on the screw so I turned it close but I am very **** when it comes to being where it should be. I'd rather find a procedure to do it.

 

i doubt you will ever find a procedure on it.

none of my ford service manuals have one.

go to junkyard, turn in until it bottoms out a screw on t.b. of course counting the turns.

go back to yours and match that number.

i have given you two good ways to go about this and i hope one of them works for you.

 

No offense but My 1989 Bronco manual has it in the power train and emmissions manual. I'm going to look harder in the Explorer manual. If anyone else has anything to share I'd appreciate it. I will try the junkyard method quicklook2 if I can but not too many places here will allow you to go in the yard, Liability issues.

 

No offense but My 1989 Bronco manual has it in the power train and emmissions manual. I'm going to look harder in the Explorer manual. If anyone else has anything to share I'd appreciate it. I will try the junkyard method quicklook2 if I can but not too many places here will allow you to go in the yard, Liability issues.

 

What you are looking for is called the base idle setting. I don’t remember the exact procedure but as I recall you have to pull the sprout connector so the computer is out of the loop. Then the screw is set so the idle is 500 RPM. When you reconnect the sprout connector, the computer will tell the IAC to raise the idle back to normal. That is the whole point of the setting. It gives the computer a known reference point. The whole thing is very similar to setting base timing. It seems most people don’t know about base idle and timing because they are usually set at the factory and never changed. However, you have to set them both if you ever rebuild an engine.

Or adjust one while trying to fix something else...

 

Thanks for getting back to me. You know what I'm talking about. I finally went to the horses mouth yesterday and called a dealership. The service manager was very helpful, after I explained what I did, he gave me the procedure in setting the stop screw on the throttle body which in turn is "Base Idle". Yes, these are not meant to be touched but sometimes as mentioned they must or in my case they need to be readjusted. On the 1997 Explorer AWD 5.0 Liter there is no sprout connector for a distributless system however it's very easy to set on one of these systems. For my truck, all you do is first remove the intake tube and clean the throttle body first with a throttle body cleaner, not Carb cleaner because you will damage the coating in the throttle body, I knew that already. If you can't find that in an auto store WD40 works just as good and will not harm anything. Reconnect the Intake tube and start the engine. Warm it up to operating temperature, 180-190 DegF. Once there, disconnect the IAC connector and the Idle should drop but the engine should still be idling. Next with an Actron plugged into the OBD connector monitor the Engine RPM. It should be between 600-650 RPM. Adjust if necessary by turning that "Base Idle" screw CW or CCW. Once achieved while the engine is still running, connect the IAC connector and the IDLE will surge and smoothen out to 750 +/- 27 RPM ,that's where you want to be. Now shut the engine off and disconnect the Negative Battery Terminal. Let it sit out for 10 minutes. This removes all the trim Values previously stored. After the 10 mins have passed, reconnect it and start the engine. Let it run for 15 mins and then take it for a ride. Also excercise it at WOT too. The computer will now relearn. Also monitoring TP sensor voltage is another way but I'm not getting in to that. This method works just as good and is simple. For some of you who don't have an Actron, a tachometer can be used but for a distributless system the cylinders are fired twice so your RPM reading will be 1/2. That's why it's best to go to the OBD port on the vehicle. Anyway, my 89 Bronco has a sprout connector so Space Truckin' is right with his method. Thanks to all who tried to help but I knew there was a method for it. So for all who didn't know now you have a valuable piece of info from a Newbie for this forum. I always said, "Where there's a will, there's a way."
Oh I forgot to mention, Quicklook2, it is in the powertrain and Emissions manual for setting it too but you have to look under "intake air systems" section. It's embedded in the Pinpoint Tests section. They tell you to use a whole different method using a feeler gage.
Thanks again all...hope this info helps someone else or gives you some idea of what to do if you come across something similar....

 

Oops! Guess who forgot they had deleted the distributor on the 5.0L by ’97? I hoped the term base idle might help you find the procedure in your manual but you had an even better idea. When all else fails, call the dealer!