Dying '95 - Won't Idle . . . Dies

[blazerslave]

Help!

My '95 Explorer is giving me fits. As the weather got warmer I began to run the AC more . . . A problem began to appear. That is (seemingly) when I drive with the AC on . . . arrive at my destination, shut the Explorer off . . . when I return and restart it, it won't hold the idle. It plain dies. This is a pain in the behind because I have to keep putting the tranny into neutral and one foot on the accelerator to hold the idle.

The problem usually goes away after I drive at full-speed on the freeway. The idle goes back to normal and everything is fine. What is most frustrating is that I drove to work this morning without incident and I was having all kinds of problems after I went to lunch 4 miles away.

The idle needle was sitting at about 400 before it would conk-out. Is there an idle-relay or something that is faulty? Is it my injectors? Is there a definite correlation between my AC and this problem.

This has been . . . perplexing!!!

THANKS!

 

[bonnich]

i have the same thing when i unplug my iac valve, the idle goes down to 300-400 and i put it in gear and ti cuts out .

 

[blazerslave]

What is an IAC Valve? What is it supposed to do?

 

[bonnich]

Originally posted by blazerslave
What is an IAC Valve? What is it supposed to do?

it's the IDLE AIR CONTROL valve it basicly controles the idle. its hard to explain where it is but if you do a search on it their is a lot of info to be found.


oh yea. when it was idleing before at any time was their a hum comming from under the hood kinda sounds like a shop vac?

 

[blazerslave]

Idle Air Control eh?

I'll look into to . . . .

As for humming . . . . No humming that I noticed.

Mike-

 

[MONMIX]

My 2000 is doing the exact same thing. I was gonna post a question about it but I'll just jump on your coat tails. Fortunately for me , my Ex is currently under warrenty and is sitting at the dealership at this moment.
I am just currious what they are gonna tell me when they call me back tomorrow. I hope they don't make me take my K&N out.

 

[blazerslave]

I am curious as you are!

Please pass-on Ford's explanation!

THANKS

 

[dogfriend]

IAC is probably sticking

I had this same exact problem (at approximately the same time of the year) two years ago. Symptom: won't idle correctly after the engine is warm, dies unless you give it extra throttle when starting off, runs normally otherwise, no check engine light.

In my case it was a sticking IAC valve. The IAC is an actuator (as opposed to a sensor) which receives a signal from the ECU (computer) and opens (or closes) to regulate the bypass air which in turn regulates the idle speed. If the IAC sticks, it won't let in the proper amount of air and will give you strange idle characteristics.

The IAC is mounted on the intake manifold downstream of the throttle body and has an electrical connector with two wires attached. It is pretty simple to replace ( one connector and two bolts hold it on). The replacement cost $60.25 plus tax back in Sept 2000. The gasket cost an extra $6.96, but I would recommend replacing it just to be sure.

On the sticking IAC, after removing it I could see an area on the shaft inside which had been rubbing the housing. You could check for this to verify that this is the problem

Good luck

 

[blazerslave]

Thanks!

I will have a look at my IAC . . . .

Hopefully that'll fix it.

Mike-

 

[MONMIX]

Still at Ford , I get it back tommorow. I'll let ya know but I have a hunch all I am gonna do is repeat Dogfriend.

 

[MONMIX]

IAC valve it is !!!!!
Very good work guys.
And thank GOD for warrenty work.

 

[mikeh]

Did a search and found this post. This seems to be what's happening to my X. When I start my X now that it has got chilly out it runs with too low of an idle. It dies constantly for the first few miles until it gets warm.

I'll try replacing the IAC this weekend.

Thanks for the tip,
mikeh