starting and idling problem...please help

[rpatl17]

hi. a year and a half ago i bought a used 2001 ford explorer sport. i hadn't had any trouble until last winter when the weather dipped a little and suddenly my truck didn't want to start. i would have to hold the gas pedal, keep the rpm's up and drive with one foot on the brake and one on the gas until the truck warmed up and then it ran fine. come spring...the problem went away. over the summer i was informed through a diagnostic that it was a bad o2 sensor. i had the sensor replace and switched them back and forth trying to figure out which one it was but the diagnostic still runs the same even with a the new one in place.

now it is getting chilly again and so my problem had returned except this time my truck won't run at all if i'm not holding the gas. won't start well, defineately won't idle, it just stalls out. i have been told to look at everything from vaccuum hoses to replacing the o2 sensors again to possibly a bad tps. can anybody help me?

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! It might be the IAC.

 

[VTsport]

I am having the same problem on my 2001 Explorer Sport - I will let you know if I can find anything out .... in the meantime, I will check back to see if anyone on this board has ideas.

 

[VTsport]

Is it safe to use Air Intake Cleaner to clean out the IAC?

I have read some sources that caution against certain cleaners regarding the IAC.

rpatl17 -
After some more internet research, removing and cleaning the IAC is a very simple and quick job. If it doesn't fix the problem, you have only wasted 10 minutes and a few bucks for the cleaner.

 

[VTsport]

Here is a thread about the IAC for reference...

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84220&highlight=idle+air+control

 

[budwich]

the cleaning may help.... but there is a good chance that you have leaky intake gaskets. Try the cleaning first... if it doesn't improve, consider the intake gaskets.... or maybe just a loose intake bolt(s) which some have reported.

 

[rodman56]

I had the exact same problem, I had the IAC replaced ($180) and starts right up now.

 

[bronzebeetle]

I have the same problem with my 2000 SOHC V6. It's with the Ford dealership for over a week and they cannot resolve the cold start no idle problem. So far they replaced upper intake gasket, IAC valve, MAF sensor. They are looking to Ford for help to resolve the issue. Will post info if they ever get it fixed.

hi. a year and a half ago i bought a used 2001 ford explorer sport. i hadn't had any trouble until last winter when the weather dipped a little and suddenly my truck didn't want to start. i would have to hold the gas pedal, keep the rpm's up and drive with one foot on the brake and one on the gas until the truck warmed up and then it ran fine. come spring...the problem went away. over the summer i was informed through a diagnostic that it was a bad o2 sensor. i had the sensor replace and switched them back and forth trying to figure out which one it was but the diagnostic still runs the same even with a the new one in place.

now it is getting chilly again and so my problem had returned except this time my truck won't run at all if i'm not holding the gas. won't start well, defineately won't idle, it just stalls out. i have been told to look at everything from vaccuum hoses to replacing the o2 sensors again to possibly a bad tps. can anybody help me?