Engine idling high?

Tiny
KELL6868
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 DODGE STRATUS
  • 66,800 MILES
I was having trouble getting the car to turn over. Took about 2-3 trys. Once I got going the car seemed to start choking as I was excelerating. It did this to me twice now. It seems to be idling high while sitting as well. What could it be?
Tuesday, January 18th, 2011 AT 7:00 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,133 POSTS
Check for vacuum leaks. Check idle air control valve. If the check engine light is on, scan for trouble codes. This guide will help us fix it

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

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Monday, February 14th, 2011 AT 6:21 PM
Tiny
ACDC
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 DODGE STRATUS
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 40,000 MILES
After replacing the airfilter, the check engine light came on and the engine started ldling @3500 rpm and when we try to drive the engine surges.
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 12:17 PM (Merged)
Tiny
OBXAUTOMEDIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,711 POSTS
Sounds like the Throttle Position Sensor. Have codes pulled. Your local Auto Zone will do it for free.
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+1
Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 12:17 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DPRICE1223
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 DODGE STRATUS
I have a 1999 Dodge Stratus. It has a little more than 70,000 miles on it. It is an automatic transmission and I am not sure if it is 2 or 4 wheel drive. It has had a lot of repair history (thank God I purchased the extended warranty). It is idling really high (running really hard) when I first turn on the car. It will run hard and then calm down to normal, but now recently it continues to do this and then resumes to normal and then kick in running hard again. All this happens when I am in Park after just starting the car up for the first time in the morning or even just after stopping for gas. Once it did this while driving down the highway going 60mph. Has anyone ever heard of this? What could it be? And is it costly to fix? Maybe a tune up? :Shock: Help!
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 12:17 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Welcome to 2carpros

Your vehicle has an OBD2 system-Is the CEL/SES/MIL On?

I would say start with the throttle position sensor check its closed/open voltage, locate the idle air control valve or the speed controller take it out and clean it.

Also throttle linkage could be sticking/coked-up TB plate-
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 12:17 PM (Merged)
Tiny
INTUNEAUTOS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 DODGE STRATUS
  • 188,988 MILES
Dtc code p1294 - high idle - just bought the - found all bolts to egr tube loose - tighten the bolts - check engine light went off - start the car this morning - check engine light hack on - with same code - so what my next step
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 12:17 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
This means the target idle not reached. Make sure the egr gasket is good and not applied at idle. If vacuu operated make sure no vacuumcoming through line. Check air duct to throttle body for holes or not connected correctly. Check for a vacuum leak and finally clean throttle plate with choke cleaner on both sides as well as iac hole.
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 12:17 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DARINARNDT
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 DODGE STRATUS
Engine Performance problem
1998 Dodge Stratus 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

when engine is cold idle flucuates between 1200 and 1800 idles at 1200 when engine warms up. Milage is down, no check engine light but hooked up code reader and got a P1294 code which is target idle cannot be reached. Not sure what to check next
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 12:17 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Too fast an idle speed. If an engine without computerized idle speed control is idling too fast and refuses to come down to a normal idle speed despite your best efforts to back off the carburetor idle speed screw or air bypass adjustment screw (fuel injection), air is getting past the throttle somewhere. Common leak paths include the carburetor and throttle body gaskets, carburetor insulator spacers, intake manifold gaskets, and of course, any of the engine's vacuum fittings, hoses and accessories. It is even possible that leaky O-rings around the fuel injectors are allowing air to leak past the seals. Another overlooked item can be a worn throttle shaft and a defective idle speed speed control motor/valve stuck in the extended (high idle speed) position/throttle position sensor. Also the throttle plate could be binding in its bore and kinked accelerator cable, coolant temperature sensor might not be operating properly misleading the computer that the engine is still cold and computer throwing fuel at it raising the idle speed.
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Friday, August 21st, 2020 AT 12:17 PM (Merged)

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