high idle

15

Asked by jimmyak Feb 14, 2011 at 08:53 PM about the 2004 Ford Escape

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

In park it runs at a very high rpm, I have two codes being detected one is the idle air control valve (IAC) rpm higher than expected and the other is the (IAC) valve circuit malfunction. I replaced the (IAC) valve, and ran a vacuum test, which read perfect. Any ideas?  

12 Answers

take the IAC out and clean with carb cleaner,they will get carbon build up in them,DONT push or pull the plunger looking thing when it is out spray it good then spray a little W D 40 in it reinstall ,you will have to unhook battery to clear computer,do this first install IAC plug the plugin back into it reconnect battery crank,let it idle a few minutes for computer to relearn IAC.

7 people found this helpful.

possable bad TPS,or you have a vac leak,no matter what test said,you could have one so small it would not pick it up.

4 people found this helpful.
60

Had the same problem, unplugged the battery, cleaned out the IAC valve with carb cleaner and moved the plunger back and forth (before I read this) and hooked back up, runs great! TOO EASY! Took me ten minutes and i didnt check anything else, swear

6 people found this helpful.
110

Egine idles high when in park rough idles @50 or 60 burns gas more & egine warning e.g.r restricted

11 people found this helpful.
90

My 2001 Escape had a 4 to 5,000 rpm idle when warm and put in park. I found this article very helpful. Replaced the IAC, no change. Disconnected and reconnected the battery and no longer has the high idle in park, when warm. Thanks!

9 people found this helpful.
60

an easy way to test the IAC , unbolt it,put it aside, do not unplug it, with a piece of metal or wood , simply block the holes and leave a tiny passage for the air, have someone to start the engine for you and if you can control the idle RPM like you want by letting the air in, it mean you dont have any vaccum leak and the IAC is the culprit, when installing a new IAC, you must unplug the battery to reset ECM ! good luck !

6 people found this helpful.
50

Engine Rams when after 1800 will not idle back down unless put in nuetrual then back in drive. With air con on will continue running higher rpms. Put in nuetrual won't help.

5 people found this helpful.

I had replaced the IAC on my 2002 Escape however the RPM continued to run too high and erratic. I drove it like that for 2 or 3 weeks until I read this column - so likewise I disconnected the battery, reconnected the battery, started the engine and the RPM settled at about 1,000 to 1,100 range. Works great - so instead of getting 18 MPG, it should return to about 23 to 24 MPG. Thank you all.

10

Had my daughter's 2004 Escape with V-6 doing the high idle and the diagnostic said it was a vacuum problem. Replaced the IAC and cleaned the throttle body. Also spray tested all the vac hoses and fittings but found no evidence of a leak. The one thing that was odd was the t-fitted hose in the top of the rubber boot between the throttle body and air flow meter. It had an unbelievable amount of suction when I'd unplug it AND the idle speed would drop to normal. Tracing it to the back of the engine, it attached to another fitting that had a hose that passed back under the throttle body and went to the PCV valve. Removed the air flow meter, rubber boot, and throttle body and was able to disconnect the tube from the PCV valve. Removed it with a pair of long needle nose pliers with a 90 degree tip--it comes out with a half turn. Replaced it the same way. Got everything reconnected and idle speed is normal again. A youtube video showed taking the upper air plenum off to get to the PCV valve, which is about a 3 hour job. And if you are going through all that effort, you might as well replace the spark plugs if they are due because you have to do the same thing to replace the rear plugs and coil packs. I did the entire thing in about an hour and that includes putting the tools away.

1 people found this helpful.

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