1996 Mercury Sable Erratic idle speed

Recheck the idle air control valve and test the TPS Here's how to clean the IAC valve: Disconnect the air intake ductwork from the throttle body. Start the engine, then increase and hold the idle speed to 1,000 to 1,500 rpm. Spray the throttle cleaner or engine cleaner into the throat of the throttle body, aiming for the idle air bypass port (usually located on the side or top of the throttle body opening). Give this area a good dose of cleaner (about 10 second's worth). Turn the engine off to allow the cleaner to soak into the IAC passageway. Wait about three minutes. Restart the engine, rev and hold at 1,000 to 1,500 rpm, and repeat the cleaning process again. Turn the engine off again, and reattach the air intake ductwork to the throttle body. Start the engine and rev and hold to 1,500 to 2,000 rpm until no white smoke is coming out of the exhaust pipe. If this fails to make any difference, you can remove the IAC valve from the throttle body and spray cleaner directly on the tip of the valve and/or into the ports in the throttle body. Let the cleaner soak awhile, repeat as needed, then reinstall the IAC valve, start the engine and run it at 1,500 to 2,000 rpm as before until no white smoke is seen in the exahust. If the idle speed still surges after this, the IAC valve is defective and needs to be replaced.

You said to clean the IAC valve, and I will do it, although the valve is new about 3000 miles ago.

You also said to test the TPS - how do I do that?

You didn't answer my question about an engine code scanner.

Thanks,
Walt

Do you have a check engine light? You didn't answer my question about an engine code scanner. The only thing a scanner does-it gives the OBD2 codes-Now to view live data you need a scantool. You can go to Autozone and get read free- The TPS ( Throttle Position Sensor ) measure its voltages-see below