After reading many excellent posts in this forum, I realized I needed to replace the idle air control on my '99 5.4 Superduty. I had trouble keeping the engine running when it was really cold outside without feathering the gas pedal until the engine warmed up. I ordered my new IAC from Direct Ford Parts(a sponsor of this site) paying just over 1/2 the price the Ford stealership charges.

The IAC is located on the BACKSIDE of the top center of the engine. It is a PAIN to reach. I'm 6'4" tall with LONG arms and I still had to stand on top of an inverted 5 gal. bucket just to BARELY reach it. I'm now seriously thinking about buying one of those "topside creepers" that you can lay down on above the engine.

OK,time to R&R the IAC. Remove the negative battery cable-check. Remove the elec. wire clip to old IAC-check. Remove the hose from the IAC hose nipple-it won't budge! I used a flat screwdriver to get under the leading edge of the rubber hose to get it cracked loose from the hose nipple, then it slid right off. Remove the 2 mounting bolts with an 8mm socket, upper one 1st-check. Remove the lower mounting bolt-I can't even SEE the lower bolt! I can however "feel" the bolt head tight up against the foam covered tubing arching around to the PCV valve. OK, wiggle the 8mm socket on the end of a 3" extension onto the bolt head by "feel". Almost there-%$#@ the socket came off the extension dropping into neverneverland on the top of the engine. Grab another socket and try again. This time I'm successful loosening the lower bolt with the socket. I finished turning the bolt out by hand being VERY careful not to drop bolt into neverneverland. Remove lower mounting bolt-check. Pull old IAC from engine-check.

OK, time to install the new IAC. Luckily, I ordered a new gasket with the new IAC. The old gasket fell into neverneverland when removing the old IAC. I figured I would install the lower bolt 1st. How am I going to do this without dropping the bolt? I had an idea! Put the bolt thru the IAC bolt hole AND the gasket before positionong the IAC into place. The gasket has tiny perforations around the holes that "grip the bolt just enough to keep everything together. Install the lower bolt until just barely tight-check. Install upper bolt-check. Tighten both bolts to approximate torque that was required to loosen them-check. There is no way to get a torque wrench in there. Connect hose, elec. connector, and neg. battery cable-check. Start up the truck to see if it runs OK-YIPPIE!

It took me 3 1/2 hours to do the job, but I could probably do it faster next time. If you ever have to replace your IAC, BE SURE to also purchase a new gasket and bring along a ton of patience.

 

Great post. A magnet that extends to neverneverland is a big help. Glad you got it done and the truck is running again.

 

Have you got a part # for the IAC and the gasket? I've got a friend w/ an 01 who was just explaining this same issue to me this morning.

 

Ever see those things you stand on, they slide over the front tire and give you a stable platform to work on your engine?

 

riggz, IAC part # CX1877
gasket part # E83Z9F670A

 

thanks! reppd for the informative thread.