Rough idling

[JoshC]

Hey fellas, what's happening? I've got a quick question. I have a 97 automatic with the OHV and my check engine light is on, it's been on for a while and we scanned it and it said it was the EGR valve postion sensor, so it wasn't hurting anything like gas milage so i haven't been worring about it. About a year or better ago i gutted both of my cats, good or bad, but i did it and i've never had a problem but now when i start my truck in the mornings or when it is cold (sitting over night) it idles really rough for about 15 seconds and if i try to put it in gear and take off with out giving her any gas, she's coming really close to stalling out. I don't know if the oxygen sensors are shot or that sensor is catching up or what. It's got about 103k miles on it now and i've been spending a lot of money on it recently so i might as well fix it all at once, starting on replacing the rack and pinion, lower ball joints and sway bar link kits this week, i've got my work cut out!

Thanks for the help, happy trailes!

 

[mrboyle]

Ford's are infamous for the EGR position sensor failing and it may not seem like that big a deal, but you need to consider the engine relys on ALL the information from EVERY sensor connected to the ECM. The sensor tells the computer how far the EGR valve has opened in order to maintain proper engine performance as well as reduce vehicle emissions. You NEED to replace any sensor that fails when it fails on any fuel injected vehicle. Failure to do so can lead to a snowball effect of parts failures later on down the road. Now as for your running problem, this is probably due to two things. The fact that you gutted your cats and their role in killing the O2 sensor. I don't want to get into a word battle here and I respect everyone's decisions, but gutting the cataletic convertor is actually one of the worse things you can do to a modern vehicle, especially anything that is equiped with OBD II engine management. The vehicle needs the cats to run properly. Your best bet is to replace the EGR sensor, O2 sensors and cats. I apologize (sp?) if my response seems a litle rude, but this is a subject that I have a lot of experience with and feel very strongly about. I enjoy the light heartedness of this board and hope I did not step on anyone's toes.

 

[JoshC]

You didn't step on my toes at all. If i didn't want help then i wouldn't have asked for it, thank you for your help! I gutted my cats last year before i really did any work on vehicles and before i joined the site, so that is a mistake i'm going to have to live with i guess cause i figure they are EXENSIVE to replace, and i'm not worried about it right now. I do plan on relpacing the sensors, as far as i know there are only 2 O2 sensors on mine right? I think they are about $60, that sucks for a low income college student who just spent a pay check on more parts for his toy! But i didn't love working on it and playing in the mud then i would by a car right? Right! Thanks again for your help!

Happy trailes!

 

[TPLYNCH]

You may also want to clean your Idle Air Control (IAC) valve. This regulates your idle, and if faulty, can cause your symptoms as well. try cleaning before replacing. If you run a search for IAC or AIC, you should find lots of posts on the subject and instructions on how to clean.

 

[JoshC]

Hey fellas, i appriciate the help. I get my company truck today which means i can park my explorer and start the repairs, it will probably take me a week or better to get everything done with the time in have in the evenings, i will let you know what i find, thanks again!

Happy trailes!