Starting and running problems

[Shadow 1]

Howdy all, some nice people in the mustang forums said y'all can help me. My wifes 2000 explorer is being a pain in the rear. When the engine's cold it won't start without holding down on the throttle(which you shouldn't need to do with a EFI) and when you let off on the throttle it dies. It doesn't do it all the time, just about once a week, the other days of the week it takes 3-4 tries to get it started and then it stays running though the idle sounds like it really low(fluxuates 400-700 RPM's) and it sounds like it wants to die, then comes back up again. Once it's warmed up after running it will start back up again but the idle still drops to just about dieing and then back up to about 600 RPM. We thought it was the battery, changed that out, ran fine for a week(started when it was supposed to) and then the trouble starts all over again.
We took it to a shop to have it looked at, they can't figure out whats wrong with it, they say it didn't spit out any codes and they even kept it overnight to see if it will do it and of course it doesn't and all they did was say get a new battery which we did and it's still doing it. We have a newer battery and a new altenator, does anyone have any experience with this or had this happen to them? Anyone have any idea's what could be the problem cause the mechanics sure don't know.

 

[daffy]

Search for "IAC valve"

15 minutes, $75, should fix the problem.

 

[Howard]

Sounds like it might be leaking inlet gaskets. Check out OOM12 kit.
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61152&page=2&pp=20&highlight=oom12+ford

 

[Shadow 1]

Thanks for the info guys. Great write up on that kit. I'm looking up the valve now, and the bad news is if I need that M0012 kit I have to have a mechanic put the damn thing in. i can go to ford or another place and ask for the M0012 kit and they know what I'm talking about right?

 

[Howard]

They should do. If not show them the post.

 

[Shadow 1]

Just looked up the IAC valve, looks like there is a quick fix idea about taking it out and cleaning it, that I can do. The question is can you use electrical contact cleaner, it was saying something about electrical parts cleaner.

 

[Howard]

Yes you can. So long as it cleans out the carbon deposits and does not damage the valve. Basically they gum up and stick.

 

[Shadow 1]

Well, it's after 12:30 in the morning here and I just went out and pulled what I believe to be the IAC valve. I sprayed it out the best I could and put it back in before starting and it seemed to want to fire up but I still had to hold the throttle down for about a minute and then it idled at about 500 RPM. The valve was located under the plastic 4.0 cover, not where this article says it was but it looked almost the same except the openings was diamond shaped and it wasn't on the intake pipe. http://www.explorer4x4.com/iac.htm
Did I do the right one?

 

[Howard]

On the SOHC engine that is the IAC valve under the plastic cover. So yes you did it right.

 

[Shadow 1]

So it must be the inlet gaskets then, huh.

 

[Howard]

Well I think so. You could try spraying butane gas around and see if the idle changes. If so then they leak. But I have installed 12 kits so far on 1997-2001 models and in every case the lower rings were hardened and not sealing properly. All the vehicles idle improved after the install.

 

[Shadow 1]

Man, wish you were here to do mine then. I'm mechanically inclined, it's just that I'm to chicken to start messing around with something like that. How much you were figuring the kit would cost and can it be picked up from elsewhere besides the dealer?

 

[Howard]

I can't answer to the cost as I'm over the pond. But I think the kit is dealer only. Its not too hard all you need is patience, the right tools and follow the instructions in this post. http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=487634&postcount=33 . If you can use a spanner then you can fit this kit.

 

[Shadow 1]

it's about $54 around here for the kit. I'm still debating on doing it myself or have ford do it. Is it safe spraying butane gas around a running engine?

 

[Howard]

Well at that price if you are going to do it yourself then it is just worth doing anyway. A small spray of gas by the bottom of the inlet manifold will tell if it is leaking. In my experience this kit should be fitted to all sohc engines that do not have it.

 

[Shadow 1]

hey cool ,thanks for the heads up howard.