Cold Idle
 

Does anyone know how to adjust the cold idle rpm on an Escape? Do I have to reprogram the PCM or is there a manual adjustment? Thanks.

The idle is controled by the PCM. It should idle high on cold start up and (depending how cold it is), then idle down to 500-600 rpm. If you are having stalling problems, it is usually caused by a sticky IAC..(idle air control). They usually need to be changed, cleaning it can be a temporary fix. It is the cylinder shaped thing on the air intake near the throttle body with an electrical plug in it.. easy to change and I think cost about $50. There must be other threads here on the forum showing how to change it if needed.

Thanks. I don't have a stalling problem, my problem is a cold idle of 2200 rpm after Ford reflashed the PCM. (It used to be around 1400 rpm when cold.) It goes to 750 rpm within a minute. I'd like to adjust it back to 1400 rpm. Ford won't go back to the previous program and claims 2200 rpm is fine. I disagree. It could be a coincidence that the cold idle increased after the reflash and replacing the IAC might help but is there another way to reset the cold idle? Maybe with a tuner or chip from Diablo?

Ford has raised the idle to address the stalling on deceleration problem that has occured in pre late 03 models. I am guessing they did yours as per the recall. If you just wait until it idles down when cold before putting it in gear, you should have no problem. It is good for it to run in neutral for a minute when cold to get everything lubricated, (especially with the overhead cam) before you drive it..

Do you work for Ford? What does the cold idle have to do with "stalling during decelerating at speeds below 64km/hr"? The quote is from the Recall letter. I understand increasing the warm idle slightly from about 750 to 800-900 to eliminate stalling during deceleration but my question has to do with the cold idle upon start up, which went form 1400 to 2200. I can't see any connection between cold idle of 2200 and stalling during deceleration at speeds below 64km/hr. The stalling occurred when the engines were warm and decelerating and had nothing to do with starting the engine. I have heard the increase in the cold idle had to do with pollution controls or the catalytic converter. Thanks.