IMRC actuator valve not working. Code P2004

WORDSOFSWORD

MEMBER
2005 FORD FOCUS
125,000 MILES

About 10 days ago I bought a Ford Focus 2005 2.0; When I was testing the car I noticed the RPMS were crazy and the previous owner told me it was a bad Idle valve and then waiting on a red light the car went off. So BEFORE I purchased the car I took it to a mechanic so he could validate it was only a bad idle control valve and he agreed with the previous owner and told me some times the car could go off due to the bad valve.

I bought the car and got a new Idle control valve and now the High Rpms are gone and the car "works great". After I replaced the idle valve I took the car for a drive and on every red light the car started to go off. Then I visited GREASE Monkey and they told me it had the p2004 error code meaning the IMRC actuator valve was not working. I ordered one IMRC valve and they installed it, but the problem was still there. The car was still getting the p2004 code. So the mechanic at GREASE MONKEY told me it could probably be one of the 4 butterflies being stuck. He removed the big part where the 4 butterflies are located and he verified every single one and they were great.

He continued his troubleshooting and noticed the IMRC valve was not being activated. He removed one end of the vacuum hose connected to the IMRC valve and exhaled air and we saw the IMRC valve moved. Finally he said the problem was the Purge valve because is not letting the air go through the IMRC valve. He told me he was still getting the p2004 code because the IMRC valve is not working because of the PURGE VALVE.

Just for your information I was present on almost all repairs done to the car.

What do you guys think. Could it be a sensor or something else? I don't have too much money to be investing on parts.

Thank you so very much for your help in advance. Your support will be greatly appreciated.

1 Reply

MASTERTECH13

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Hi there,
This code is set when the PCM tells the valve to open and gets no response. So all the sensors that the PCM uses to figure out when to tell the valve to open are most likely fine. It's receiving a signal to open, but will not open, which the PCM can sense and therefore sets the code.

Its sounds like yours is vacuum activated as opposed to electric since you are mentioning a purge valve of some sort. The PCM sends a signal to this purge valve (technically it's a vacuum solenoid) telling it to apply vacuum to the IRMC valve in order to open or close it but nothing is happening. SO I would say your mechanic is most likely correct in his assessment. The Vacuum solenoid is getting signal but not opening, therefore it is the problem.