Bad idle!!!!! - Ford Explorer Ranger Enthusiasts "Serious Explorations"®

youngexplorer48 · 11-04-2009, 07:05 PM

I havve been looking for information on the idle problems that several of our trucks have and i cant seem to narrow it down to what is the problem and what i can do to fix it, i have cleaned the mass air and the iac valve i have the check engine light on due to the egr pressure sensor being bad but that is fixed now, theres no check engine light on, at stop lights the truck surges and feels like its going to die (it has died once or twice) and it just idles so bad, and my gas mileage has dropped drastically to about 14 or so, WHAT CAN I DO???

*Limited02* · 11-04-2009, 08:53 PM

This could be vaccum lines being cracked, maybe your COPS's going bad, 02 senors, bad spark plugs, etc. Start with the cheapest and go from there. (fuel filter, then spark plugs, etc)

Does it run fine when driving? Any hesitation during normal acceleration, WOT? Or just when you are at idle?

youngexplorer48 · 11-05-2009, 08:56 AM

if im just driving it it does hesitate from time to time and while at wot i kinda does what it wants because theres days where its a monster and days when its just a slug, and i probably will be changing the fuel filter today along with the plugs, and i was thinking that maybe my intake manifold seals could have gone bad because that seems to be common

Jayness@psn · 11-07-2009, 10:21 AM

i had mine happen like that. I replaced a bad coil over #5 and then #8 after plug shoot out.

cheeech · 11-07-2009, 10:39 AM

I have had a rough idle and super rough starts on a cold morning.
Changed the upper intake plenum gaskets and fixed the problem.($4.39 w/tax)
Other areas to check....Throttlebody gasket, EGR gasket, IAT valve.

youngexplorer48 · 11-07-2009, 11:34 PM

sorry i havent said anything the passed two days ive been down with the flu for a bit, i tried to change the fuel filter but i guess the disconnect tool that i bought didnt work out too well for me i dont know if it was because it was platic but i wrestled it for about 30 minutes if not longer but its a bit funny that my mileage has gone up to 17, maybe its me driving feeling kinda crappy, but when i first got the truck i messed with that little plastic cover and i kept messing with the screw for a bit and then i did it again days later for just as long and then realized there is 2 screws for that cover, could this have damaged my iac gasket?

*Limited02* · 11-08-2009, 12:18 AM

When using the fuel disconnect tool, I find it easiest to push the hose toward the tool while pushing the tool into it. Like say if the hose was off and then you put it on, give it an extra push on while pushing the tool into it.(make sense?) You then should feel a little snap and then the hose should pull right off. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's not.

Also, didn't notice if you have the V6 or V8?

youngexplorer48 · 11-09-2009, 07:38 PM

ive got a v6 and i guess i would have to try it that way, i just think i need to lift it a little higher, and did you have those 5 spoke boss wheels on your truck before

11-04-2009, 07:05 PM	#1
youngexplorer48 Wannabe Elite Explorer Formerly Bakersfield, CA Currently Saginaw, MI 02 Eddie Bauer Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 6 Vehicle Specs	Bad idle!!!!! I havve been looking for information on the idle problems that several of our trucks have and i cant seem to narrow it down to what is the problem and what i can do to fix it, i have cleaned the mass air and the iac valve i have the check engine light on due to the egr pressure sensor being bad but that is fixed now, theres no check engine light on, at stop lights the truck surges and feels like its going to die (it has died once or twice) and it just idles so bad, and my gas mileage has dropped drastically to about 14 or so, WHAT CAN I DO???

11-04-2009, 08:53 PM	#2
Limited02 Elite Explorer Gardner, KS '02 Limited V8 Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,144 Vehicle Specs	This could be vaccum lines being cracked, maybe your COPS's going bad, 02 senors, bad spark plugs, etc. Start with the cheapest and go from there. (fuel filter, then spark plugs, etc) Does it run fine when driving? Any hesitation during normal acceleration, WOT? Or just when you are at idle? __________________ 2002 Explorer Limited 4X4 V8 w/Flowmaster 70 and 2.5 single exhaust, EF and SCT3 tune from Hensonperformance. 1/4 mile in 15.22 at 88.47mph. "Speed cost money, how fast do you want to go?"

11-08-2009, 12:18 AM	#7
Limited02 Elite Explorer Gardner, KS '02 Limited V8 Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,144 Vehicle Specs	When using the fuel disconnect tool, I find it easiest to push the hose toward the tool while pushing the tool into it. Like say if the hose was off and then you put it on, give it an extra push on while pushing the tool into it.(make sense?) You then should feel a little snap and then the hose should pull right off. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's not. Also, didn't notice if you have the V6 or V8? __________________ 2002 Explorer Limited 4X4 V8 w/Flowmaster 70 and 2.5 single exhaust, EF and SCT3 tune from Hensonperformance. 1/4 mile in 15.22 at 88.47mph. "Speed cost money, how fast do you want to go?"

11-05-2009, 08:56 AM	#3
youngexplorer48 Wannabe Elite Explorer Formerly Bakersfield, CA Currently Saginaw, MI 02 Eddie Bauer Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 6 Vehicle Specs	if im just driving it it does hesitate from time to time and while at wot i kinda does what it wants because theres days where its a monster and days when its just a slug, and i probably will be changing the fuel filter today along with the plugs, and i was thinking that maybe my intake manifold seals could have gone bad because that seems to be common

11-07-2009, 10:21 AM	#4
Jayness@psn Wannabe Elite Explorer Muskego, Wisconsin 02 XLT 4.6 Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 40 Vehicle Specs	i had mine happen like that. I replaced a bad coil over #5 and then #8 after plug shoot out.

11-07-2009, 10:39 AM	#5
cheeech Wannabe Elite Explorer Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 13 Vehicle Specs	I have had a rough idle and super rough starts on a cold morning. Changed the upper intake plenum gaskets and fixed the problem.($4.39 w/tax) Other areas to check....Throttlebody gasket, EGR gasket, IAT valve.

11-07-2009, 11:34 PM	#6
youngexplorer48 Wannabe Elite Explorer Formerly Bakersfield, CA Currently Saginaw, MI 02 Eddie Bauer Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 6 Vehicle Specs	sorry i havent said anything the passed two days ive been down with the flu for a bit, i tried to change the fuel filter but i guess the disconnect tool that i bought didnt work out too well for me i dont know if it was because it was platic but i wrestled it for about 30 minutes if not longer but its a bit funny that my mileage has gone up to 17, maybe its me driving feeling kinda crappy, but when i first got the truck i messed with that little plastic cover and i kept messing with the screw for a bit and then i did it again days later for just as long and then realized there is 2 screws for that cover, could this have damaged my iac gasket?

11-09-2009, 07:38 PM	#8
youngexplorer48 Wannabe Elite Explorer Formerly Bakersfield, CA Currently Saginaw, MI 02 Eddie Bauer Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 6 Vehicle Specs	ive got a v6 and i guess i would have to try it that way, i just think i need to lift it a little higher, and did you have those 5 spoke boss wheels on your truck before