[RobtRoma]

Ever since I had my steering pump replace last month, I've had an Intermittent Idle Issue (the 'I' cubed issue?). It is very unpredictable so far. I've had days were it happens all day long, day's where it will only happen once or twice, and I had a stretch of about a week where it didn't happen at all.

Basically what will happen is I stop at a traffic light, I sit for a few seconds and the idle will dip and surge between 400 rpm and 900 rpm. Usually after a dip, the motor will surge and try to settle. You can kinda see it in the video below (it was at night so the video is really dark). Sometimes it will do it for a few seconds and stop like in the video. Other times it will just keep going. Yesterday it was really bad. I even thought it might stall once or twice. This morning the idle seemed solid.

A couple of weeks ago, I was cleaning snow off the Escape as it idled and I heard something that sounded like very faint backfires. I jumped in the car and the idle was jumping slightly. I tried to open the hood and see if I could pinpoint the sound but it only lasted a few seconds.

I did some research and my initial thought was the IAC as that seems to be the problem with 90% of the idle issues. I took it to a mechanic in town and described what was happening. Of course when I took it in the idle was solid. :cuss: He felt because it kept surging the IAC was trying to do it's job and correct the idle. He felt it was probably something else but if it wasn't happening, he couldn't trouble shoot. The check engine light hasn't come on so the issue isn't throwing any codes.

I was wondering if anyone else might have some ideas...

 

[hattrick203]

I have the same problem, and I'm curious to know a solution for it

it idles really low and then starts to jump from 300/400 rpm to about 1000 rpm and seems like it's going to stall but hasn't yet

I have an '03

thanks in advance!

 

[hattrick203]

it's becoming kind of frequent and was wondering what i could do to fix it..

 

[Squishy]

I don't have my diagrams with me, but there should be a sensor that detects the load on the power steering pump and increases idle to compensate. If that sensor was unplugged or damaged, any steering input might cause an idle dip or even a stall.

If the power steering is not part of the issue, it could be caused by the IAC, MAF sensor, an intermittent misfire, a vacuum leak, and maybe more but that's all I can think of.

 

[hattrick203]

I don't have my diagrams with me

JP?.. :shades:

 

[jonas1022]

Could be a dirty MAF, or a stuck IAC.

 

[hattrick203]

Could be a dirty MAF, or a stuck IAC.

is the fix something i can do? any diagrams?

 

[Squishy]

Here's a thread on cleaning the MAF:
viewtopic.php?f=28&t=1167

And in searching for that, I found these TSBs:

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=95

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=112

 

[hattrick203]

I'll give it a shot this weekend, thanks

 

[camusdarrach]

I too, have this idling problem with my Maverick. :doh:
It follows no pattern as such, and comes and goes :shrug:
Anyhow, I think its a vacuum problem, so have booked it into the garage for them to see if they can fix it

 

[hattrick203]

I checked the MAF and it didn;t look dirty but I cleaned it anyways. We'll see if the problem goes away...

 

[CrashNburn]

im eagerly waiting the replies guys lol, mine has been acting up ever since i replaced my alternator. and no engine light either. what a PITA. cause my shop doesnt have the right info box key for our computer.

 

[RobtRoma]

At this point I'm hoping it's bad gas (he said with his fingers crossed while knocking on wood) . Ummm... the car, not me . This past fill-up I switched to a Shell station from the Getty I usually get. The tank was nearly empty when I filled up. I think I put in 15.5 gallons. Anyway, I haven't had the stumble since this last fill-up 3 or 4 days ago.

Thinking back, I mentioned I had another week where I didn't notice the stumble. I believe I used the Shell station and some gas treatment before that stretch. I am hoping this is it. It would kinda suck if I had to stop using the Getty as it is very conveniently located and it has the cheapest credit price in the area (typically 5-10 cents cheaper per gallon). I fill-up there on my way home from work. The Shell isn't far but it is 5-10 minutes out of the way. But then again a 5 minute drive is better that replacing half the parts in my motor...

 

[CrashNburn]

good idea, im going to try a different gas station at my next fill up. my last few have been at the same place.

 

[hattrick203]

happened again today, was frustrated so i turned off my engine and when i turned it back on it was gone
it usually happens to my in traffic instead of my driveway today
anyone figure this out?

 

[RobtRoma]

Since I switched gas stations, about 10 days ago, I've had only one episode. I've filled up 2 times. The stumble came the day after my last post. I was driving into NYC and hit some traffic at the G.W. bridge toll booths. It happened while sitting in that traffic. After I filled up that night, I added some Prestone Complete Fuel System Cleaner and haven't had a stumble since. I'm not sure if this is the answer, if it's just a temporary fix or if I've just been lucky the last few days but I've got my fingers crossed...

 

[RobtRoma]

I just thought I would follow up on this. I haven't had any stumbling since my last post. It looks like it was bad gas. I've added Prestone Complete Fuel System Cleaner 2 more times just as a precaution. Looks like I'm done with Getty...

 

[Ess Caper]

happened again today, was frustrated so i turned off my engine and when i turned it back on it was gone
it usually happens to my in traffic instead of my driveway today
anyone figure this out?

I know it's been a year, but have you figured it out already? I had the same thing with my 2004 XLT 3.0L. The first culprit was a cracked vacuum hose. The dealer replaced it along with the PCV valve while they were at it. They changed the fuel filter for good measure, too. Funny thing was, the car was still stalling intermittently on my way home - and at least for another couple of days.

Then it just went away. Fearing a comeback, I replaced the IAC valve myself, just to be sure. It wasn't excessively sooty inside, but it idled much smoother after that. No stalling (so far).

What didn't go away, was an intermittent blinking - more like flickering - of the instrument cluster lights (and headlights as well). When it does occur, revving the engine doesn't make it go away. I have Scan Gauge - and it tells me am running 13 to 14v so I'm not sure if it's the alternator (recently replaced, too).

Hope you've had better luck with your stalling issue.

However,

 

[DBMJ211]

I have been fighting this idle thing for a while to and have replaced and cleaned a lot of parts and finally found the culprit. i had 3 vacuum leaks 1 behind the glove box on the vac line for heater and ac, 1 on the brake booster line and last was the three rubber to hard line connections that go to PVC valve. the hose that was there was thin and expanded and would not seal properly. I fixed all and she purrs like a kitten now. I replaced all vac lines for good measure and took it one step further and used silicone vac lines on all. probably will never have to worry again. i got my silicon hose from http://www.hiperformanestore.com

:yahoo:

 

[RobtRoma]

Good to know. Thanks for the info and glad you got it fixed :yes: