Engine idling rough

Tiny
STEVE FOX
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 FORD EXPLORER
  • 131,000 MILES
Shakes, Till I give it some gas and has always shook over 65 MPH. Could this be a timing belt issue? Any other guesses? Problem started after a long road trip. Also after the trip I noticed a strange noise you can hear at low speeds especially when turning left.

How much do timing belt replacements cost for 05 explorer. Ballpark? Is it necessary to replace water pump to? Car has 131000 miles and I need it to be family car for another 4 years. Is it dangerous to drive for a while cause I don't have a lot of $ for repairs till about another 3-4 weeks?
Thursday, August 9th, 2012 AT 12:46 AM

49 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Start with a compression test to verify motor is ok.

Roy
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, August 9th, 2012 AT 12:48 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Engine is equipped with chains so no timing belts to replace. Is the MIL indicating?

You could have a misfiring and I would suggest starting with the spark plugs and related components.

As to the noise while turning, it could be the drive axles or brakes. You need to locate the source.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, August 9th, 2012 AT 8:27 AM
Tiny
TMCINTOSH11
  • MEMBER
  • 176 POSTS
  • 2002 FORD EXPLORER
  • 4.0L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 223,224 MILES
I just bought this vehicle and the lot I bought it from said the only thing wrong with it was the rough idling, he said it's probably because it needs a tune up, which boy it did.
So I changed the oil, plugs and air filter and the rough idle is only slightly better. The weird thing is after you drive it for a while the rough idle goes away instantly, sometimes it comes back. I had the codes pulled and all it says is misfire bank #1, which I guess it means cylinder 1, it also brings up faulty 02 sensor, I did not change the plug wires but oh my gosh were the old plugs bad! It is amazing it ran at all with those in it. But anyway the wires did not look bad. I just hope to god this is not a fuel injector problem. Any ideas would be great, thanks.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 10th, 2018 AT 3:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
You cannot look a spark plug wires and tell if there bad. Also do the wires have a date on them? What are the exact code numbers not code descriptions? I have never seen a bank 1 code mean cylinder 1 Miss fire. That would be a code p0301 and would say cylinder 1 miss fire. I think bank 1 lean so what are the exact code numbers not code descriptions? It will be a letter followed by a four digit number. That lean code code be your idling rough when it is cold.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
-1
Wednesday, October 10th, 2018 AT 3:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TMCINTOSH11
  • MEMBER
  • 176 POSTS
There were three codes that came up before I changed the plugs.
P0301 P0171 P0201
I cannot see a date on the wires, but I was so sure the plugs were the problem. But there are the codes, hope this narrows it way down. Thanks.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 10th, 2018 AT 3:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
So when you cleared the codes which codes come back? I would be looking into the p0171 lean bank 1 most likely you have a vacuum leak.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 10th, 2018 AT 3:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TMCINTOSH11
  • MEMBER
  • 176 POSTS
So am I looking at a vacuum hose or could it be something much more major? Earlier when I drove it it smoothed out all of a sudden and I swear I could not feel it running, I hope whatever it is its quick and easy. I thought about getting some crc maf sensor cleaner and trying it but it's a long shot and it's $10.00 a can. What do you think I should try doing? Thanks for your reply.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 10th, 2018 AT 3:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JSP2933
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 FORD EXPLORER
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 93,000 MILES
On our 2003 Ford Explorer XLT we have been having a recent problem with a rough idle. But I also noticed that when we let off that accelerator that the RPM's drop down to an idle speed no matter what speed we are going. When we go at a slower speed and are coming to a stop I see the RPM's going down to about 400-500 and then back up. It start idling really rough and starts to stall out unless I give it some gas. When it does die, I turn it back on and sometimes it will die out again and sometimes it will start back up but start idling rough again.

I have been checking for vacuum leaks, but at this time have not found any.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 10th, 2018 AT 3:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
For starters have the PCM (computer) scanned for codes, Autozone will do it for free. If the PCM sees a problem it will store a code that will help in diagnosing the problem, get back with the exact codes. Soundsliek th emisfire may be causing the low idle. Need to fix one problem the other may be consequential
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 10th, 2018 AT 3:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Number one fix for that code is bad pcv hose I would start looking there.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 10th, 2018 AT 3:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Also pcv itself and the rubber grommet the pcv valve goes in.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 10th, 2018 AT 3:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TMCINTOSH11
  • MEMBER
  • 176 POSTS
Got ya, I might go ahead and replace both the hose and pcv valve since they are easy and inexpensive. But what about the p0201 cylinder 1 injector circuit malfunction? Is it something to worry about? Thanks.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
-1
Wednesday, October 10th, 2018 AT 3:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Also replace the rubber grommet the pcv goes into. So does the p0201 keep coming back after clearing it?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 10th, 2018 AT 3:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TMCINTOSH11
  • MEMBER
  • 176 POSTS
Yes after clearing the codes it still has all three. It worries me because when I first start it of a morning the engine will shake violently once it is around 1000 rpm's, it also does it in over drive, I am scared it will damage the mounts if they are not already.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 10th, 2018 AT 3:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Let's see where the pcv hose valve etc takes us and go from there. One code at a time.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 10th, 2018 AT 3:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DEZZER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 FORD EXPLORER
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 132,000 MILES
I have a ford explorer 2001 it started idling rough out of the blue it comes and goes only. I changed the plugs, plug wires. EGR, oil oil filter when put on the comp. It gave error codes for random misfires and each time on different cylinders, mech said there was nothing else he could think of that could be wrong Help what the heck could it be? The car runs good other than that and it only happens say 70 % of the time when you stop and its idle for more than a miute or two but sometimes runs so rough it almost dies you can touch the gas peddle and it lifts the idle and it stops for a minute or two then sometimes returns but sometimes it doesnt do it at all. I am at my wits end Help please? Dave.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 10th, 2018 AT 3:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
I have two possibilities
1. Check intake manifold and gasket for vacuum leaks
2. Have the valve springs checked possible hang exhaust spring open and if so have all the valve springs replaced (we had done few on the 4.0L with SOHC )
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 10th, 2018 AT 3:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TMCINTOSH11
  • MEMBER
  • 176 POSTS
Okay, so I did some more work on it, I replaced the PCV valve, grommet and the hose looked fine so I left it on, I cleaned the MAF sensor, somehow it had a tiny feather on the wire and got it off. I cleared the codes again, this time I took out the pcm fuse under the hood for a few minutes, I drove it again for about an hour, no change in performance, check engine light comes back on so I pull the codes again and only one came up, P0201 - cylinder 1 injector circuit malfunction. At least I got rid of two codes thought. So from here does it sound like a injector or injector harness? I also checked for vacuum leaks, the plug wires were checked and they are good. If this turns out to be an injector how hard would it be to replace? Thanks.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 10th, 2018 AT 3:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Do you have a multi meter to ohms check the injector?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 10th, 2018 AT 3:48 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TMCINTOSH11
  • MEMBER
  • 176 POSTS
No I do not have anything like that, I actually would not know how to check it.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 10th, 2018 AT 3:48 PM (Merged)

Please login or register to post a reply.

Sponsored links