Low idle problem help please! 2000 ford explorer xlt

[lunadiver]

Hi I just got a 2000 explorer xlt last week from my dad and it has a low idle problem in the cold that causes it stall when started up. It idles at around 150-250rpm when first started an when it warms up for a little bit it goes up to about 250-500rpm. And once you get it to stay running without giving it gas when I back out of the drive way and put it in drive from reverse it stalls. Does any body know what the problem could be and where should I start??

Thanks!

 

[XLT]

Welcome to the forum. It sounds like the idle air control (IAC) sensor might be bad on your truck. You could try cleaning it, but that is usually ijust a temporay fix. Do a quick search and you will find lots of info on the topic.

 

[lunadiver]

Thanks! I will try to clean it this weekend

 

[fast_dave]

Thanks! I will try to clean it this weekend

To add to what XLT said - There's a little black plastic cylinder that is press fitted on to the side of the IAC valve, it contains a air filter, and this is often overlooked when cleaning the IAC valve. Before you remove your IAC valve from the engine to clean the inside, remove the black plastic cylinder by pulling it straight off. It's press fitted and the first time you pull it off it can be a little tough, so it's easier to do while it's mounted to the engine.

When you do the black plastic cylinder off, blow some high pressure compressed air through the hole in the center of it - like at least 50-60 psi. It's been my experience that the air filter gets clogged with dust, and that also affects the IAC valves performance. The first time I did this I was stunned at how much dust came out of the little filter.

 

[lunadiver]

Alright thanks for the help! Also I read somewhere it could be that the throttle body needs cleaned?

 

[XLT]

I would bet it is your iac valve. That would be the first thing i would look at. Cleaning the throttle body also never hurt anything especially if it hasn't been cleaned lately. Also a good time to do the throttle body (tb) mod. There is a thread on it which a quick search would yield. Best of luck to you.