98 GT Won't Idle

[Danbgt]

Howdy.
New to the forum.
I have a 98 4.6GT Convertible. 110,000 miles. Bone stock. I have babied the car since new. No real problems. Did have the intake manifold replaced at 90,000. Anyway, all of a sudden the car will not idle at all. Runs great as long as you keep your foot on the throttle. I used to do a lot of work on my old 66 GT back in the day but have no idea about these electronic jobs!!
Any ideas? Or should I just take it to the mechanic?

Thanks!!

 

[COramprat]

Common problem. Search Idle Air Control...you'll find it. It's an easy fix.

 

[Boss Hoss]

Yep. It's your idle air control (IAC) valve. It's mounted on the front of your throttle body.

What you are SUPPOSED to do is replace it...but you don't have to.

Just take it off, spray it thoroughly with carburetor cleaner. Shake off the excess and let it dry, then put it back on your car. It will work like new.

I have done this twice over the years, and it always works with no problems.

 

[The Mach Life]

Yep. It's your idle air control (IAC) valve. It's mounted on the front of your throttle body.

What you are SUPPOSED to do is replace it...but you don't have to.

Just take it off, spray it thoroughly with carburetor cleaner. Shake off the excess and let it dry, then put it back on your car. It will work like new.

I have done this twice over the years, and it always works with no problems.

+1

Clean it out real good first. Worked for me once, but I ended up having to replace it the second time.

 

[Danbgt]

Worked like a charm. Took it off, soaked it in carb cleaner a couple of times. Filled it full of cleaner and put it back on. Cleaned my K&N while I was at it. The old horse runs great again.
Thanks for the guidance! Saved me a couple hundred bucks. The Ford dealer quoted $172.00 for a new IAC.
I have been contemplating getting rid of the old horse and replacing it with a newer model. Possibly 2011 GT with the 5.0 motor. But I am more than a little attached to the old horse. She has spent her entire life being babied. Always garaged. The bumpers are beginning to fade but the interior and the rest of the car are in (almost) like new condition. Maybe it's time to spend some bucks having her updated..............

 

[COramprat]

It's a temporary fix but if it goes out again just look up one at AutoZone or something. Ford dealers use the same part they do.

 

[Jhussey1280]

Happened to my 98 GT vert at about the same amount of miles. I replaced mine, costed $97 at O'Riellys OEM Ford part, even said so on the box.