Engine starts and idles high

Hello, I'm Danny,

It sounds like you many be having two different problems related to the throttle body. Number #1 is a gummed up/varnished throttle body blade. I'm attaching two tutorials showing you what is involved. This first one is for your erratic idle. The second is for a throttle body cleaning.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-an-idle-speed-control-motor-iac

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/throttle-actuator-service

I'm also attaching two pictures (below) of the location of the idle air control valve and the throttle body. I hope this helps and thanks for using 2CarPros.
Danny-

I have an '06 Taurus 3.0L. When I come to a stop the engine idle sticks at 1100-1400 rpm then after 3-10 seconds will abruptly drop to normal idle 600-700 rpm. On rare occasions when it drops the engine will stall. The sticking high idle seems to be most consistent/repeatable during cooler/cold weather but it will also do it during warm weather just not as frequently. It happens when the engine is at cold and hot operating temperature.

I have had it to the Ford dealer twice for this and they said there are no fault codes that come up and it doesn't happen long enough for them to diagnose.
PLEASE HELP!

Hello,

This is typical of a dirty throttle actuator here is a guide that will walk you thought the service to fix your car. Disconnect the battery first.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/throttle-actuator-service

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-idles-too-high

Please run down these guides and report back.

Thank you for this post I had this problem it fixed it perfectly :0) I love this site.

why is my car idling high

Has the check engine light come on? Lets go over these guides to help fix it

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-idles-too-high

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

Please run down these guides and report back.

I have had this problem corrected in the past and I can't remember the name of the part I need,When I start the vehicle when its cold it will race to about 2500 rpm,I believe its idle speed control sensor or something like it but the parts store does not list it like that they have a throttle position sensor or idle air control valve,I just can't afford to be experimenting because I have throat cancer and on a very limited budget so whatever help you could give would be appreciated

This happens becasue the throttle actuator needs to be served here are to guides that will help get the problem fixed.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/throttle-actuator-service

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-idles-too-high

Please run down these guides and report back.

Thanks for the guides I had this problem and fixed it for almost nothing

I have a 2001 ford taurus that idles high when i first start it but after driving it and coming to a stop at an stop light or sign it stalls on me. I dont know anything about cars but where it shows my rpm it goes at least 2lines under the #1 then my car shuts off. It also i guess bucks when i have driven it and sounds like it reeving up and down moving the car foward and backward (I GUESS THATS WHAT YOU CALL BUCKING,LOL) Idk im just lost. I was told by a mechanic friend of my brother that i might need a fuel pump. I just wanna get a second opinion before i start giving out money i dont really have. So could someone please help me and i hope that was enough info. Thank you.

You may have a bad IAC ( idle air control) but try cleaning the throttle body first. Remove the intake snorkel, have someone hold the throttle wide open for you and scrub the back side of the throttle plate and surrounding bore with an old tooth brush and some carb cleaner. Be sure to spray some into the small holes next to the throttle plate. That should help stabilize the idle. If it still has a problem, replace the IAC.

These guides can help us fix it.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-idles-too-high

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/idle-air-control-valve-service

Please run down these guides and report back.

At start up engine rev's to about 2grand then it will step down after a min or so to about 1grand, unless i hit the throttle that will bring it down to 600. Once at 600 throttle response is normal. TPS ?

If no codes I would start by cleaning and or replacing the IAC valve. I'm attaching three tutorials showing you what is involved. This first one is for your erratic idle. The second is for a throttle body cleaning.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-an-idle-speed-control-motor-iac

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/throttle-actuator-service

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-idles-too-high

Please run down these guides and report back.

I don't let my car run that long. If it goes to reving i cut my car off. Should i keep it running? The gas pedal don't seem to work when the car is revving

Hi Henry.

BMRFIXIT called it, the idle air control valves go out allowing the engine to rev high. Here is a guide that will help you see what you need to do to fix the problem.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-an-idle-speed-control-motor-iac

Here it is on your car

Check out the diagrams (Below)

Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

Cheers, Ken

Just started car it had a slight putter, gave it some gas and it seemed okay thought maybe bad gas. drove car to the store, barely half mile.. I barely made it through the drive through, it suddenly went back into a sputter. the engine seemed like it was going to quit. I made it back home and this is where it got really weird, as I was trying to put the car into park, in neutral the car went up to 2.5 rpm's, the car was revving up. I don't know why but I try to put the car back into gear to get it to stop.. I put it back into drive and thought it was going to throw me into the side walk.. it did drop the engine back down to 1 rpm. back to neutral it tried to rev back up, so I shut the car off in neutral. Has anyone heard of this problem?

Good afternoon,

The idle air control is common for this issue. It is mounted on top the engine. It has 2 bolts and an electrical connector.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-an-idle-speed-control-motor-iac

Try starting the engine and then remove the connector and see if the idle drop to a low idle.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-idles-too-high

The high RPM is why it slams into gear.

Roy

I have a 1996 Ford Taurus station wagon. My car idles high and the tac goes between 1.5 and 2. What would cause this problem and how can it be fixed?

Usually high idle is due to un-metered air entering the engine (vacuum leak). You can take it to a shop where they can do a smoke test on the car. you can also spray some carburetor cleaner or propane on the throttle body gasket, intake manifold gasket, around the EGR, and don’t forget your vacuum lines. When you spray on the leak, the cleaner will get sucked in the engine and make it change speed. That’ll tell you where the leak is.

It is also possible that your egr is not closing all the way resulting in too much air being sucked in. You may also want to check your PCV valve as a valve stuck open would allow too much air in the engine. These guides can help us fix it.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-an-engine-vacuum-gauge

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-idles-too-high

Please run down these guides and report back.

My idle should be around 1 ond the tachomadtor, but it's been sticking at about 2.5 and won't idle down. Usually this happens after driving for a while at 65 on the highway. Sometimes when I stop and restart, it will come back down to normal but not always. The check engine light has been coming on intimately and stays on about 5 seconds and then turns off again. Is this the idle control box? If so how do I change it?

Your issue is likely the Idle Air Control Valve (IACV). It rests on top of the throttle body and is easy to replace - - just has two 8mm bolts, a gasket, and a small wire clip. If you remove the IACV, look inside... if it is black with soot, likely it needs replacement.

Since your check engine light did illuminate, it wouild be wise to get the exact codes. There may be other things hidden. Remember the car computer is not a tell-all, and just because the code says there is a fault, it doesn't mean that replacing the part which the computer says is malfunctioning is the cure.

But in most cases with the IACV, just replacing it is the cure.

Other reason for a high idle is a really bad vacuum leak. Check the PCV grommet connection and brake booster hose. Remove hose from brake booster and plug it with your thumb to test it.

i have a 1999 ford taurus, 3.0L with 136000 miles. after diving the vehicle for about 10 minutes, once in park the idle rises to about 2600 rpm. sometimes it feels like it does it while it is in drive other times not. this morning it did not rise until about 6-7 seconds after it was put in park. no codes.

leaky intake? faulty ics? the air has to be there to allow the rpm to happen. but no codes. HELP!
rww

The idle air control valve could be bad. You can check it by removing it and looking at the bottom. You will see 2 chambers, and a conical "plunger". Actually, it's not a valve, but a motor that screws the cone in and out to control the air flow during idle. It may be stuck, which may explain the intermittent high idle.

Another possible culprit is the Mas Airflow Sensor. It converts airflow to an electrical signal and feeds it to the computer. If it is faulty, it could trick the computer into thinking that the airflow is too high, which will cause the computer to run rich. Tap on the MAF sensor with the handle of a screwdriver while the engine is running, and see if something happens.

However, both of these usually set a code.