2006 - Low RPM idle and cut off - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

tpf hunter · 06-14-2012, 13:15

6/7/12
I drive about 10 miles to a friends house and sit in the parking lot with the car idling while I wait for friend to arrive. After about 10 minutes of idling the car starts to idle very low up and down.

6/10/12
Headed home from a trip. After several miles the check engine light comes on and we continue to drive the 120 miles home. Once getting home and in the parking lot we park and car does the exact same thing it did a few days prior. Idles very low but going up and down

6/11/12
Drove 10 miles to work and pulled into the parking garage. I was off the gas for about 10 seconds and braked to pull into a parking spot and the car idled very low then cut off. It cranked right back up ok. Check engine light is still on

6/13/12
Took car to the shop and they scanned it ( i dont have the code handy) but they said it seems like the EGR valve has a leak and needs replacing. We also went ahead and replaced my plugs, flushed coolant and did the fuel filter since I am at 100k. After $580 dollars and driving the car home i let it idle in the driveway for a minute or so and THE IDLING SPUTTERD AGAIN. So apparently it was not the EGR valve.

- seems to only happen after being driven then idling
- has only cut off once

Any ideas?? I have done some research and will have them look into the Idle Control Valve and the Throttle Positioning Sensor but why would any of those be impacted AFTER the car is driven?

**djzx3** · 06-14-2012, 13:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by tpf hunter

6/7/12
I have done some research and will have them look into the Idle Control Valve and the Throttle Positioning Sensor but why would any of those be impacted AFTER the car is driven?

Yes those things would, sounds like you did some good research.

Check those two out, Sometimes the Idle control valve just needs to be cleaned. They sometimes just get junked up.

As for the TPS, as the car gets old the voltage reading to the TPS gets lower, and can cause the throttle body valve not to open enough, and in return, cause a low Idle, IIRC, the only fix is to replace it.

I might be a little off about the TPS, so anyone feel free to jump in and add.

And great data-logging with the dates and everything.

tpf hunter · 06-14-2012, 13:24

I just had a chance to speak with the mechanic. The code is P0171 and they said they hooked the car up to a smoking system and where they see smoke means there is a leak and apparently the EGR valve displayed some smoke so that needed replacing anyways. Would the Idle Control Valve or TPS show a leak with this smoke-system as well?

Im hoping its something cheap!

**djzx3** · 06-14-2012, 13:27

P0171 - System to Lean (Bank 1) The Adaptive Fuel Strategy continuously monitors fuel delivery hardware. The test fails when the adaptive fuel tables reach a rich calibrated limit. For lean and rich DTCs:
Fuel system
Excessive fuel pressure.
Leaking/contaminated fuel injectors.
Leaking fuel pressure regulator.
Low fuel pressure or running out of fuel.
Vapor recovery system.
Induction system:
Air leaks after the MAF.
Vacuum Leaks.
PCV system.
Improperly seated engine oil dipstick.
EGR system:
Leaking gasket.
Stuck EGR valve.
Leaking diaphragm or EVR.
Base Engine:
Oil overfill.
Cam timing.
Cylinder compression.
Exhaust leaks before or near the HO2Ss.
A SHRTFT-1,2 PID value between -25% to +35% and a LONGFT-1,2 PID value between -35% to +35% is acceptable. Reading beyond these values indicate a failure.

For future reference, the TDC fault codes for the Ford Focus is in the How-to directory, and my signature.

http://www.fordforums.com/f756/focus...8/#post1358221

**R.S.LOGAN** · 06-14-2012, 13:47

Not sure of what engine fitted , but if the Idle Control Valve or TPS doesn't solve problem , we had a few in workshop where an update on the PCM / ECU cured the fault .

**djzx3** · 06-14-2012, 14:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by R.S.LOGAN

Not sure of what engine fitted

That's a good question, because of year, I guested Duratec 2.0L, but I could be wrong.

What's in it buddy, 2.0L or 2.3L?

tpf hunter · 06-15-2012, 06:38

Its a ZX4, but I am not sure of the engine.

Dropped the car back off this morning, check engine light is back on and the newest symptom is terrible gas mileage. I have used almost half a tank on 110 miles!!!

tpf hunter · 06-15-2012, 07:59

What is that directed towards?

tpf hunter · 06-15-2012, 08:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilasK

really? ^^

Last time I checked I was here for advice, not sarcasm.

tpf hunter · 06-15-2012, 08:51

Figured I would post with the findings...

Apparently an intake hose was disconnected or collasped and it has been replaced. SO I paid for an EGR valve + Labor ( $200+) just to have the issue be a hose. Bummer.