Engine Tickover Speed

[Another?Maybe!]

Has anyone else experience problems with tickover speed? My 2001 2.3 Galaxy normally ticks over in traffic at normal speed of about 800rpm but occasionally in stop/start traffic.... rush hour or in motorway jams it seems to go out of control and can speed up to 2000rpm with no way to stop it although dropping the clutch pedal sometimes has the effect of slowing the engine down a bit.

I am reluctant to approach my Ford dealer as fault isn't there all the time and often dealer cures one fault and creates another.

Anyone any ideas?/

[johnb80]

Sticking idle control valve springs to mind, give it a clean with carn cleaner as a first step. If you get the opportunity the next time it does it open the bonnet and try giving it a sharp tap with a scredriver handle/fying pan/housebrick etc. If the revs drop you've found the problem. It is also possible for air leaks to occur which may have similar symptoms, double check all pipework on the manifold side of the throttle body.

 

Regards - JB

[Another?Maybe!]

Thanks JB, but where is the idle control valve!!?? Everything is very inaccessible under Galaxy bonnet.

What about the engine management module? Although I think the extra engine heat of lengthy idling probably provokes the problem.

[djacks42]

Did you ever fix this problem? The reason I ask is because mine has the same.. When I put the gear in neutral (say at lights etc), the idle speed shoots up to 2500+rpm and will very slowly fall to maybe 2000rpm or so. Do I need to clean the ICV (once I find it - can't see it in TIS) or does it sound like a vacuum hose loose somewhere?

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Almost certainly the ICV. Sorry, I don't know where it is, I have a diesel (Ivor D Engine Ivor's website ) and a rock-steady idle speed.

[ridway]

Just check the throttle cable as well. I had a problem with the cable routing preventing the throttle from shutting fully when released to idle. It would stick anywhere between 1100 and 1500rpm. The solution was to loop the cable around the protrusion on the cam cover where the breather pipe comes out. A loosly fitted tie wrap around the loop formed by the cable as it emerges from the bulkhead and returns to the throttle mechanism, and breather pipe hose holds it just right. The problem has never re occured.

 

When this problem became evident shortly after I got the vehicle, I was initially convinced it was a sensor or EM problem. It reminded me to look for the simple things first. Ill grab an image tommorrow and edit/post it on this thread.

 

Rich

[djacks42]

The fairies paid me a visit on Saturday night and fixed it for me! It seemed to be driving with no problems at all yesterday.. I think the MPG last week would have been in the Range Rover V8 region!