won't stay on during idle!

[jasonb]

hey folks, just got a question here...
my x has been idling strange (high, low, not normal) lately and today it decided that it wouldn't stay on during idle. so basically, i can't crank it up without giving it gas. this would make driving through the many stop signs and traffic lights difficult around here. i am assuming this could be something like a throttle position sensor gone bad? any ideas? it cranks, just doesn't stay on. i really don't want to have this thing towed to the ford place.

 

[jjue]

Change the IAC--Idle Air Controller. This idel air bypass valve is what controls the amount of air to the intake when the throttle body is closed.

Mine has been doing that for the last 9 months before I finally decided to change it on Monday since I had to 2 foot my Mountaineer through town as if it was a carbed engine. I was cleaning mine with throttle body cleaner about once a month to get buy, but I decided that it had been cleaned enough. Looks like the sudden warm-then-cool spell finally locked it closed.

The one for my '97 Mountaineer V8 was $60 plus tax at my local Ford dealership. It's easy to install. Mine required a 5/16" socket for the 2 bolts, and just unplugging and replugging a 2 wire electrical harness. It took me 10 minutes including pulling the socket set, blowing dust from the area with compressed air, removing the IAC, cleaning the throttle body with TB cleaner, installing the new IAC, putting up my tools, and closing the hood. Well, maybe not even that long, but it's easy to do on the 302s.

 

[jasonb]

yep, thats what it was! i am under by a few miles, so i just got the ford tow thing and they fixed it this morning. i started to do the 2 foot drive then decided to turn around after the first stop sign! its all fixed now. just gotta go get it.