No Idle for a while (intermittent)

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El Bandito - 17 Dec 2007 00:07 GMT

1999 Grand Marquis LS (~60,000 miles). It does that from time to time, I
have to keep my foot on the gas pedal for a while, otherwise, it *will*
stall. (it doesn't idle)

Happened again yesterday, had to play with both pedals for a couple of
stops & redlights before it could idle on its own. (after about a couple
of minutes, it's fine)

Tried to figure out a pattern (warm then cold, dry than damp, but no match)

The only pattern I can see is I get a little surge of engine power when
it gets OK.

A friend of mine suggested removing the IAC valve, cleaning both
connectors, and cleaning the IAC itself using carb cleaner. Kinda makes
sense to me.

A vaccuum leak would do it more often than once-in-a-couple-weeks,
unless I'm mistaking...

Any ideas/suggestions/insults ?

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lugnut - 17 Dec 2007 03:03 GMT

>1999 Grand Marquis LS (~60,000 miles). It does that from time to time, I
>have to keep my foot on the gas pedal for a while, otherwise, it *will*
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
>:)

What you have are the classic symptoms of a dirty IAC. This
is probably the most common cause of stalling at idle. You
should be able to turn the a/c on/off and put it into gear
with no perceptible change in idle speed or quality if it is
working correctly. Sometimes, they can be cleaned. Others,
they require replacement. A dirty one will not set a fault
code or illuminate the CEL - only an electrically failed
one. The quick down and dirty way is a new one that will
cost you $45 to $100 depending one where you get it.

Lugnut

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Tim J. - 17 Dec 2007 04:11 GMT

>1999 Grand Marquis LS (~60,000 miles). It does that from time to time, I
>have to keep my foot on the gas pedal for a while, otherwise, it *will*
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
>Any ideas/suggestions/insults ?

I'd vote IAC valve, too. Bought one at a dealer in 2003 for $130 for
my 97 CV. Trying to clean my old one just made it worse.

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F.H. - 17 Dec 2007 04:51 GMT

> 1999 Grand Marquis LS (~60,000 miles). It does that from time to time, I
> have to keep my foot on the gas pedal for a while, otherwise, it *will*
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> :)

I've had great luck cleaning my IAC. Didn't have to get as harsh as
carb cleaner. In fact, I'd be a little nervous about going that strong.

Never bothered with the connectors. I had some instrument cleaner left
over from cleaning the MAF and when that was gone I used WD-40. Just
sprayed down onto the shaft, let it sit, move the spring around a
little, blow it out and it has always worked for me on my 97 4.6. (167K)

If you have a small brush you can stick down in there so much the better.

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