car starts then stalls, sometimes

[SMRcalidiv]

after a recent drive to chicago, about 660 miles, i awoke to my car starting and then stalling. i started it again and it died again. well i got it started and it ran fine, no more stalling, then i left for a few weeks, got home and it did it again, only then i couldnt keep it running. when i went to get gas i noticed my cap wasnt tight, hmmm? after i tightened it it started and ran perfect. it has done it maybe 2x since that day, any thoughts....vacuum leak?

 

[Aaron 4.6]

Check the Idle Air Control valve. That is a common failure which will cause the car to die unless the throttle is depressed.

 

[StangLou]

Yep, sounds very much like an IAC going bad. Id replace it and you should be good to go

 

[smokin'Red35th]

Dont mean to hijack, but my '99 Gt did this here and there as well. I would get in to start it and it wouldn't necessarily die, but would bog way down to like 500rpm. I would put it into first and give it some gas and it would really hesitate for about 2 seconds, then it would go fine after that. It was like it wasnt getting gas or getting choked off somehow. This only happened maybe 3 times in a 2 month time span, but since then i put it into storage so havent had the chance to see if it is still doing it. Does this sound like an IAC valve issue?

 

[SMRcalidiv]

exactly how would one "check" the iac, would i need a diagnostic tool, and would my check engine light come on?

 

[SMRcalidiv]

WOOHOO!!!!!!! 200 posts and now i'm a stanger,

 

[SMRcalidiv]

how much is an iac valve? hard to install, f'n car did it again tonight

 

[BlackPony2000]

very easy to install...costs about $80 from ford...try cleaning it first (even though Ford says not to) use carb and injector cleaner... what you want to do is take the valve off and then clean the entire assemble... especially the little piston rod...that is what is most affected when they need cleaning...after cleaning it let it set until completely dry...we cleaned my father-in-laws Roush 2 years ago and haven't had a problem yet... Check the picture..this is the IAC valve and where it is located..yours will be slightly different because you have a different intake... but the valve will look the same..

 

[SMRcalidiv]

just take off the valve and clean the exposed parts? or do i need to disassemble the valve itself and clean it that way, i havent even looked at it yet so i dont know if thats even an option, whats the little black knobby lookin part on the top, an adjustment? basically is there anything that i will need to remember how it was set before i try this? thanks Black

 

[SMRcalidiv]

Black? hello? need yo help

 

[SMRcalidiv]

anybody else clean this thing? what do you do , just spray the exposed parts? huh? help please, i'll TTT this thread until they ban me, jk, but i will at least annoy someone, lol