Notices
Explorer, Sport Trac, Mountaineer & Aviator 1991-1994, 1995-2001, 2002-2005, 2006-2010 Ford Explorer

Idle issue

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 5, 2003 | 10:17 AM
  #1  
95EXPLEDBAU's Avatar
95EXPLEDBAU
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Question Idle issue

The idle in my '95 Explorer has been acting up lately and I'm trying to figure out what's wrong. It lopes after being started on WARM engine. It will jump from 400 to 1500 rpm few times (stall sometimes) and then settles at normal idle speed. Same thing happens when driving at low speed, after letting go of gas, the RPM drops and bounces back up. I already checked IAC valve (seems fine), cleaned the throttle and I'm replacing the PCV valve. I'm really stumped.
Please HELP!

P.S. Does anyone know where exactly the PCV valve is on '95 4.0 engine? Haynes manual says it's close to brake cylinder, but I couldn't find it.
 
Reply
Old Feb 5, 2003 | 10:24 AM
  #2  
hoppy's Avatar
hoppy
Senior User
25 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: CANADA
Idle issue

The PCV valve will be located on the left rocker cover near the firewall/brake booster.

Have you changed your filters? Maybe they are all plugged? Run the codes on then engine and see what you come up with.
 
Reply
Old Feb 5, 2003 | 10:26 AM
  #3  
CobraXP's Avatar
CobraXP
Logistics Pro
20 Year Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,123
Likes: 2
From: Fort Smith
Club FTE Gold Member
Idle issue

Also clean the Mass air sensor. It could cause the rough idle also...


 
Reply
Old Feb 5, 2003 | 10:50 AM
  #4  
95EXPLEDBAU's Avatar
95EXPLEDBAU
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Idle issue

Yes, I've changed the air filter right after it started. I've seen somewhere that they don't recommend cleaning the mass air flow sensor because it breaks easily.
 
Reply
Old Feb 5, 2003 | 10:58 AM
  #5  
hoppy's Avatar
hoppy
Senior User
25 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: CANADA
Idle issue

Anything breaks easily if you apply brute force and ignorance to it. It is nothing to clean. Just remove it and be careful with it while cleaning it.
 
Reply
Old Feb 6, 2003 | 07:37 AM
  #6  
95EXPLEDBAU's Avatar
95EXPLEDBAU
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Unhappy Idle issue

I cleaned MAF last night, didn't work.
 
Reply
Old Feb 6, 2003 | 08:14 AM
  #7  
CobraXP's Avatar
CobraXP
Logistics Pro
20 Year Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,123
Likes: 2
From: Fort Smith
Club FTE Gold Member
Idle issue

Are you comfortable working with ohms and testing the Throttle Position Sensor? I am at work now, but can look up the ohms specs for it when I get home. You can test it and see if that could be the problem...
 
Reply
Old Feb 6, 2003 | 10:22 AM
  #8  
mrshorty's Avatar
mrshorty
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,742
Likes: 2
From: UT
Idle issue

I had a car that did the same thing. It would stumble at stop lights. Sometimes, when I started the engine and let it warm up, I could pinpoint when it went into closed loop, because the engine would start to lope. I would usually get a CEL (trouble code was an O2 sensor indicating rich). Tried replacing the O2 sensor, and that didn't fix it. Turned out that something had failed in the computer so it wasn't reading the O2 sensor correctly. In essence the computer thought that the engine was running rich when it wasn't. The computer then caused to engine to run too lean.
Does your CEL come on? Are you in a position to hook it up to a scanner and verify some of the sensor inputs?
 
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 Feb 6, 2003 | 11:32 AM
  #9  
95EXPLEDBAU's Avatar
95EXPLEDBAU
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Idle issue

I will probably have it checked out this weekend. Thanks for all the feedback. I'm going to keep you posted.
 
Reply
Old Feb 9, 2003 | 12:31 PM
  #10  
pirsqrd's Avatar
pirsqrd
New User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Idle issue

Pull your idle air control unit and thoroughly clean it. You mentioned it looks clean - doesn't take much to gum it up and make it stick. Get some carb/choke cleaner, some small tools, and get after it. Also, disconnect the neg batt terminal for 10-15 mins, then reconnect; engine's computer will hunt for the correct "idle" conditions next time you start it up.
 
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:38 AM.

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