2000 Ford Escort ZX2: RPM Surge

2000 FORD ESCORT

148,000 MILES

CLAMBERT1

MEMBER
10 POSTS

I have a 2000 Ford Escort ZX2 that idles weird. When you are in drive and are stopped, the RPMs will go up and then will go down (surge). The RPMs go up to probably 1,500 tops when it does this. Normally it idles a little below 1,000. I haven't felt the car do it when you have it in park. I also notice that the car will surge a little when driving any speed. The RPMs do not go up enough to register on the RPMs gauge though. I know I am not "imagining" it. The car has been doing this for at least 3-4 years, but within the last 6 months-1 year it has gotten worse. The surging has gotten worse. Thinking it might be the throttle position sensor...? Any suggestions as to what it might be?

Aug 15, 2011 at 9:23 PM

WRENCHTECH

✓ASE Certified Mechanic
20,761 POSTS

You may have a bad IAC ( idle air control) but try eliminating any vacuum leaks and 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.

Aug 15, 2011 at 9:57 PM

CLAMBERT1

MEMBER
10 POSTS

I am not mechanically inclined so I would be paying somebody to do the work on my car... So if there any way that I could take it to a parts store and they could hook it up to one of those computers and get a code? or would something like this not show up?

Aug 15, 2011 at 11:25 PM

WRENCHTECH

✓ASE Certified Mechanic
20,761 POSTS

Not unless the check engine light is on and even then it would still need to be troubleshooted so it looks like your going to need a repair shop and I wouldn't go giving them advice on how to fix it. That's what they get paid for.

Aug 15, 2011 at 11:28 PM

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