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Trust My Mechanic

Your Free Car Repair Advice and Auto Repair Help

Engine Idle Speed Is Erratic and Surges

Austin Davis, March 27, 2012October 5, 2014

:

My Ford compact has a idling problem it does not keep the correct idle speed when at a stand still. The car drives fine going down the road. It only does it at a a stand still do you have a solution for that?

Thanks,

Hey there,

I think so, a common problem with Ford products is a “dirty throttle body” and dirty “idle speed control motor” which should be cleaned periodically for good maintenance. When these parts get dirty it can cause erratic idle speed and dying at idle problems.

Your local mechanic or even some of the fast lube places can clean these items for you relatively cheaply and quickly. Cleaning these parts usually produces smoother idle speeds and quicker starts.

Some mechanics like to replace the idle speed motor but I prefer to try and disassemble them and clean them with a mild intake parts cleaner you can buy at your local auto parts store. The little motor has a tag that says “Do Not Clean”….but I do it anyway with success.

Keep me posted will ya?

Blessings,
Austin Davis

These are some pictures of a typical throttle body

Picture 209

Picture 211

Here is a video I made of me cleaning a throttle body

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Idle & Running Problems dirty throttle bodythrottle body cleaning

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