2004 Explorer 4.0 cold start, then dies

[scotty7676]

I have a 2004 Explorer XLS with the 4.0 V6. I am having an issue where when you start the engine first thing in the morning, it fires up, then dies unless you hit the gas. I've had this happen with a previous Explorer and it was the IAC (idle air control valve)...but after looking under the hood and searching this site, it sounds like I don't have one! So, I'm not sure where to go from here. Any ideas? After it's warmed up, it starts fine, but the revs dip really low, then slowly climb to normal.

Any advice, or where to start would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[lynchy wa]

that happened to me once. getting ready for a long haul trip and she just wouldn't auto choke and idle unless i feathered the accellerator.no problems once warm. when i got back from trip (300m) all was good the next day. dont know exactly what happened but you could try discon the negative on battery for 10 min to reset the computer, check your air filter to see if clean and check to see the colour of your oil. maybe go for a run on the highway and flatten it a few times to see if what worked for me works for you. i overtook a couple of semi's on my trip w o t.. good luck

 

[swetrid]

Try cleaning the throttlebody.

 

[scotty7676]

Ok, bought a new air filter and disconnected the battery for awhile. Started cold this morning, just great, but this afternoon went back to the way it was. I'll try cleaning the throttlebody now and see what happens.

One thing to note also, I replaced the EGR valve about 2 months before this started happening. I rechecked it to make sure nothing came loose.

 

[jimEMT]

Throttle Body

I agree...clean the throttle body. I had that problem very imtermittently, and when I cleaned the throttle body I had no issues. Now I keep the throttle body clean at regular intervals and never have an issue....

-Jim

 

[Dre317]

good info!

 

[mikecynn]

There must be more to this problem. I have a fleet of Explorers as Taxis' and I have one I just bought a 2004 with a 4.0 and it idles too low all the time and has a dead spot in the accelerator. It has cableless accelerator. The scan tool said to check and replace the timing pickup on the harmonic balancer. But before replacing, I unplugged it and the truck would not start, so I have to assume it was working, having no moving parts, it either is working or it isn't. So it can't be that. Still the truck runs fine going down the road, it just idles really low and will sometimes stall at a quick stop. And the dead spot in the accelerator is something un related to the low idle I'm sure. Any help would be appreciated. Mike