High idle, car wants to drive itself

Tiny
CHARCHAR22
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 FORD EXPLORER
  • 4.0L
  • V6
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,000 MILES
I've been having issues with a high idle I've recently changed valve cover gaskets intake manifold gaskets mass air flow sensor iac valve cleaned throttle body replaced spark plugs n wires coil pack checked for vacuum leaks, the only thing I can think is that the throttle screw is not in right position any way you could help me out on where it's supposed to be set at factory the engine is 4.0l ohv 2000 Ford explorer xls vin x these are some results from my OBD2 scanner live data
Saturday, August 30th, 2025 AT 10:25 PM

19 Replies

Tiny
MECHTRIX
  • MECHANIC
  • 382 POSTS
The Idle air control valve could be fualty id say check that. Note" this procedure works about 60 percent of the time. It can be cleaned out with throttle body cleaner and a small tooth brush dont use a metal bristle brush it will damag it. If you get it really clean it will slide freely again its probably stuck in the open positiion once done cleaning it when your sure youve freed it up it can be tested woth a 12volt source or if youre confident just put it back in and try starting it. But when energized you should see it fully functional again and once reassembled it it should return to a perfect idle again. Also check the gasket and be carful not to damage the gasket if it doesnt seal properly the idle will jump back up. If you clean it and you dont get good results replace idle air ontrol valve with a new one . Theyre pretty reasonably priced and can be perchased at most auto parts stores. Ive added a diagram of what it looks like on the engine please click the image below to expand it for better viewing
good luck I hope this helps
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, August 30th, 2025 AT 11:25 PM
Tiny
CHARCHAR22
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
I've got a brand new iac valve on it
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, August 31st, 2025 AT 11:25 AM
Tiny
MECHTRIX
  • MECHANIC
  • 382 POSTS
Oh ok. Some other things that can make it idle high is a leaky brake booster becuase its the bigget vacuum line on the car they can also leak internally its the next worse thing to an iac problem. Have you checked that? Also egr and pcv valves too
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, August 31st, 2025 AT 2:46 PM
Tiny
MECHTRIX
  • MECHANIC
  • 382 POSTS
Here some charts to help. Also the pcv valve is important just spray it out with carb cleaner or just replace it might be gummed up its works along side the iac and the map and maf and tps sensors to control the mixture ratios to control the idle. Also check any vacuum lines down at the transmission if equipt and I know you replaced the intake but id double check there for leaks while running spay cleaner around all joins in these areas to see if idle changes also the base gasket for the throttle body and surrounding boots hoses evan though you've checked already only takes a min. Also try disconnecting the iac and or throttle cable if equipt to see if the idle drops. Best of luck.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, August 31st, 2025 AT 3:17 PM
Tiny
CHARCHAR22
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
Thanks for the information I did replace pcv but did not check brake booster but my brakes do feel like there losing pressure so I'll look into that thanks for the help but like I mentioned in previous post the throttle body screw has been tampered with do you think that's an issue an do you know where it's exactly supposed to be set at
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, August 31st, 2025 AT 3:26 PM
Tiny
MECHTRIX
  • MECHANIC
  • 382 POSTS
Ah there you go check the booster for sure it has a big vacuum hose the sizs of your finger runs over to the under side of the intake has some plasti joints the crack somtimes check it everywhere
and somtimes you can here it hiss through the floor when you press and relese the brake get help so you can be in the engine bay while they a operate it . Depends on how big the leak is and if its outside or inside the booster so if you dont hear it you might see it so check thoroughly. Let me know ow how thay goes best of luck
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, August 31st, 2025 AT 4:29 PM
Tiny
MECHTRIX
  • MECHANIC
  • 382 POSTS
The screw definately can be the issiue if you have one run the engine amd if you have one hook up a digital timing light with an rpm gage in it. And adjust it while running in real time looking at the gage and stop when you get the idle down to the desired rpm for best idle. Or just ajust it down to where it sounds ok for now and use a rpm gage later when you have one around that said the factory best idle speed for this car us 700 rpm . That is if you have a adjustment screw many cars do not they bagan to faze them out but it being a 2000 model it probably still did. Unless somebody put it on there. Hence maybe why it looks like its been tampered with right? Can you post a photo?
Becuase If its found that someone has tried to install it where it doesn't belong and it all boogered up change the throttle body its ruined. But please post a photo of the screw in question thanks and dont give up you half way home. Good luck
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, August 31st, 2025 AT 4:44 PM
Tiny
CHARCHAR22
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
Here's the screw an some live data streams
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, August 31st, 2025 AT 6:10 PM
Tiny
MECHTRIX
  • MECHANIC
  • 382 POSTS
Yeah just get a wrench that fits that screw start the car let it warm for 5 to 10 mins then turn the screw left counter clockwise slowly and listen to the idle youl notice it drop if you dont keep turnin it slowly keep turning it slowly till the idle drops to 700 rpm watching the gage and stop at 700 turn the engine off wait a few mins start it again it should run a bit fast the colder the engine is on start up but as It warms up it should settle right back to the original speed where you leaft at 700rpm just try it only should take maybe about 3 mins or less its best to have a digital timing light for this but you can still slow it down to a satisfactory idle if you don't have one and go back to it later and just dial it in when you have access to one. Good luck let me
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, August 31st, 2025 AT 8:31 PM
Tiny
CHARCHAR22
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
Okay thanks for the information I'll do it an keep you updated
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, August 31st, 2025 AT 9:17 PM
Tiny
CHARCHAR22
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
So what was your opinion on the numbers from the live data streams
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, August 31st, 2025 AT 9:32 PM
Tiny
MECHTRIX
  • MECHANIC
  • 382 POSTS
I couldn't make out what they were for but its not that complicated I'll look at them again but you've already done the more important things if you're able to get the idle back down you're pretty much gonna be done it might be just adjusting that screw by now we'll see but yeah let's try that first do you have access to a timing light with rpm guage? If not no worries you can still turn it down won't hurt anything but I do have one more question have you been driving the car? How does it drive evan with the high idle other than that does it drive normally? If it does just adjust the idle like I described to 700 rpm and it should be fine. Should stay that way since it seems like you've done everything so yeah Check that next and. Youre doing a great job BTW. Good luck let me know
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, August 31st, 2025 AT 9:52 PM
Tiny
CHARCHAR22
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
Yes it's a everyday driver it runs but it idles high trys to over power my brakes and just shakes a lot an dies sometimes the EGR is really rusty and I think it's stuck open or closed but I'm not really sure I keep getting a code p1506 but the iac is brand new so not really sure what's going on
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, September 1st, 2025 AT 12:43 AM
Tiny
MECHTRIX
  • MECHANIC
  • 382 POSTS
Did you try to adjust the idle yet? Let us know when thats done ok also check the egr and the br ake booster
So it was just the booster then we added idle adjustment and now the egr thats 3 things let's just stick to those so check them in this order

1. Do the idle adjustment first
As I described.I believe thats gonna solve the problem if it does you're done

2 if it doesn't then check the booster if that didn't it then

3. The egr
So we now have 3 things
Let me know when your ready hopfully the first thing I named is all it was thanks again
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, September 1st, 2025 AT 1:06 AM
Tiny
CHARCHAR22
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
Thank you I will let you know soon as it's done.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, September 1st, 2025 AT 11:09 AM
Tiny
CHARCHAR22
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
Here a video
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, September 2nd, 2025 AT 6:55 PM
Tiny
MECHTRIX
  • MECHANIC
  • 382 POSTS
It sounds like it still has exhuast leaks also possibly a vacuum leak in the video but did you
Check the 3 things? Also it should be timed with a digital timing light with an rpm function
According to the video. If you do the things we discuss earlier it will improve let us know good luck
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025 AT 9:02 AM
Tiny
CHARCHAR22
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
Okay thank you yes I did but I cannot find the leak so I'm gonna have to get a tester then I'll let ya know from there thanks for all the help
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025 AT 9:05 AM
Tiny
MECHTRIX
  • MECHANIC
  • 382 POSTS
No worries glad to help
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025 AT 7:33 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.