how do i fix the idle dropping too low?

5

Asked by Steven4Real Feb 17, 2018 at 06:05 PM about the 1999 Ford Focus

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

so i own a 1999 Zetec 1.6v Ford Focus hatchback 5door

but it had a low idle issue wich i have mostly resolved by remove the idle
control valve & the Gas valve housing or whatever you call it and cleaned
that.

the only issue now is that when the engine is warm and you have recently
accelerated the car drops too low in idle making the lights flicker when it
drops too low. but if you keep it in idle for longer it will cool off again and start
running better but my main issue is the lights flicker or anything else
electronic related like if i need my lichts my heater & my wipers when i come
to a stop the idle gets so bad that the wipers lets say barely move and it
feels like the car is about to shut off.. ive cleaned the idle control valve and
the throttle body aswel with carb cleaner/throttlebody cleaner. also added
new small air hoses that were about to go bad. so those things cant be the
issue i added a slightly stronger battery but that also did not solve the issue.
it seems that the engine drops too low and can not give enough power to
electronic devices. HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME!

5 Answers

875

even after cleaning the idle air control valve....it is still quite possible that it is bad. causing an erratic idle and low rpm idle....hence low voltage at an idle

5

so the idle control valve could still be the problem? it still idles fine in any other way but its litterally just when the engine is warm

875

yes it is still a possibility.....is or was check engine light on? either way go to local parts store (autozone) and see if any codes come up or any codes are stored...

5

no codes come up since ive checked it already. engine light does not go on. it seems to be perfectly fine it just idle's too low when the engine is warmed up causing minor shaking and light flicker

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