Car stalls at idle

Tiny
OUTOF813
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 FORD ESCAPE
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 38,000 MILES
Its an 05 with a 2.3 motor. It is not a hybrid. It started off not wanting to idle directly after getting off the expressway. Then it got worse and wont idle in gear except for after first start up when it is still warming up. It will idle if I give it a little bit of gas or put it it neutral. In gear drive or reverse it stalls. Runs fine otherwise. It sounds like an idle air bypass valve which I had go bad on another car so I changed it. No real change although I didnt clear the cpu. There is no check engine light and I dont have acess to a code scanner. Any ideas before I tear into it later today? Thanks
Thursday, December 20th, 2007 AT 8:42 AM

12 Replies

Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Check the ECT and the EGR for sticking partially open. If the coolant sensor is NG may give problems too. Then on the air intake plenum, fing the MAF, it's just ahead of the air filter box, unplug it after you get the symtom, see if it runs better. Let me know!
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Thursday, December 20th, 2007 AT 9:45 AM
Tiny
MOFIDDY
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 FORD ESCAPE
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 117,000 MILES
Hi,

My 2002 Ford Escape has a problem starting sometimes first thing in the morning. The engine turns over fine and starts, but then stalls out. If I start it again and step on the gas (while in park), then it stays running. If I take my foot off the gas it will stall again.

If I let it sit for a few minutes. Then try again by gunning the engine when I start it. Then it keeps running. It runs fine after that. I don't notice any problems driving.

Any idea what the problem could be?
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Clean out the idle air control valve and also clean the MAF sensor with an electronic cleaner CRC and see what happens

This guide can help us fix it

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/stall-at-idle

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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
FOWSKID
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2001 FORD ESCAPE
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 85,000 MILES
I have an 01 Escape 4 cyl manual. It runs fine most of the time, but on hot days after one short trip it just stalls out every time I take my foot off the gas. It starts right back up, and runs fine as long as I have my foot on the gas. If I let it sit for about ten minutes it'll correct itself. I have read a lot of posts about similar problems fixed by cleaning the IAC, but I can not find the IAC on my motor. Is that what you would suggest, and if so, where is it?
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
That would be a good place to start. IAC is located on throttle body it has an electrical plug on it. Clean well with throttle body cleaner. Also take off air intake hose and get in there with a tooth brush.
Then have car checked for trouble codes. An auto Zone can do this free.
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
FOWSKID
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thanks. I know it is on the throttle body, but I was looking for it last night and I couldn't find what I was looking for. Is the IAC the same on a 4 cyl as it is on a V6. I've seen a picture of the one on a V6, right there in the open. The intake on my 4cyl is vertical, compared to the horizontal one on the V6 I saw. Would the IAC be before or after the butterfly valve in the throttle?
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:43 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Just after on opposite side of throttle cable.
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:44 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TJOZSA
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 FORD ESCAPE
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 98,000 MILES
2001 Ford Escape, problem: when I start the car it will not maintain idle and shuts down, what are the possible problems?
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:44 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,548 POSTS
Idle air control valve would be first thing to check, sometimes removing and cleaning will fix.

Could also be fuel pressure, FPR regulator etc.
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:44 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,055 POSTS
Have you checked for vacuum leaks? Also, have you checked the idle air control motor?

Let me know.
Joe
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:44 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CRHORSLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 2005 FORD ESCAPE
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 95,000 MILES
After is runs for awile, it will stall when you come to a stop. It starts back up just fine, but when you put it in drive, or reverse, it stalls. You have to start in neutral, give it gas, then put it in to drive to get it going without stalling. We changed the fuel filter today, and it's still doing it. It also idles a little rough. It's due for a tune up! I just have a feeling that that's not it. Please help! I'm a DIY'er, and I would like to try to fix this myself without having to take it in. Please Help!
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:44 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,394 POSTS
I would check your "idle speed control" on the intake manifold. It may just have to be cleaned. An ordinary can of carb cleaner should do the trick if the pintle valve inside is grunged up.
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Saturday, May 9th, 2020 AT 1:44 PM (Merged)

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