2001 SPI High idle

[magnetchief]

Hi guys,
I have been trying to fix my MiLs car for her and kept stumbling across this forum when searching for advice.
Decided best to join and ask directly.

Anyways, Mil has a 2001 SPI Focus.
Came to me with a CEL and high idle.

Scanned it with my trusty machine, bad O2 sensor. (2nd) replaced sensor no more lights :)
But, it idles way to high. My scanner shows 1600-1800 rpm ! that can't be right.
I'm pretty mechanically skilled so should be able to resolve the issue.
Have a Haynes manual, tools and a OBD scanner.
Checked for vacuum leaks,
loose wires,
removed the Idle Air control unit, cleaned it and replaced.
removed the throttle position sensor checked it's operation. Seems fine. Replaced that.
One point to note. My scanner shows 32% throttle via the TPS when the throttle is closed. Does this seem right?

Any help greatly appriciated. Anything to get the MiL off of my back.
I think the car is not safe to drive. High idle means it pulls from a stop abruptly when you take your foot off of the brake pedal.

Really a VW man :( Know them pretty well. This is my first venture into the Ford world.

Again any thoughts greatly appricaiated.

[a_2000_se]

32% throttle position at idle sounds high -
I get 23% at idle when thoroughly warmed up, on an ATX in gear and no electrical load - A/C off also.

I just ran into a problem similar to this two weeks ago that may help. Winter blend gas has arrived and 85 octane no longer makes the car happy even at high altitude. The first tank and often others too, as always, causes the car to stumble - misfire and die. Got a 304 pending code too, #4 misfire.

For the winter we use 87 octane at altitude and all is good. But - the idle was slowly ramping up to 2400rpm more than occasionally since the pending code. I checked for vacuum leaks and loose wires too, to be sure. On the next 87 half a tank fill-up I removed the battery terminals for cleaning and to reset the computer. Idle has come back to where it should be consistently.

The computer sets the idle - there is apparently no mechanical adjustment setting for it.

[magnetchief]

Thanks for the reply, maybe I have those % numbers back to front 23 rather than 32.
Will check again when I get home tonight.
I like the idea about resetting the PCM...
Makes sense, maybe it was compensating for the bad O2 sensor.
Now this is fixed I need to reset the idle condition.
Will give it a go this evening.
Thanks again.

[magnetchief]

Well despite initial thoughts that did not solve the issue.
Disconnected the battery for 15 mins.
Reconnected and started her up.
Upon starting it reached 1800 rpm.
Then dropped to 1200.
Thought it might need settling In.
Went for a drive.
Pretty scary. Doing 50 rpm with my foot off of the gas pedal.
I could slow down using the brakes.
If I put it into N it revs up to pax 2000 rpm.

So, still looking for ideas.
A 6 pack to the winner.

[a_2000_se]

When cleaning your TP sensor you probably would have noticed if the cable was hanging up or if the return spring was broken? Does it feel like the TP is returning to its idle position when you 'blip' it by hand?

[magnetchief]

Checked the Tb pretty well. It seems to close fully under spring tension. Cable seems functional, not catching up on anything. I'm intrigued as to how I can be doing 50 rpm with my foot off of the accelerator. Surely there must be a large air leak to enable that to happen.
Going to take a lamp and mirror to it tomorrow.

[magnetchief]

Well I found an a possible problem :) the damn EGR pipe that connects to the exhaust manifold is cracked all the around the weld where in meets the manifold.
Hoping this is the issue. Just have to pick up a replacement and try again.