ok here is the situation with the idle and i have looked around and not found any ideas. truck starts fine and runs fine. but say i am coming up to an intersection and i shift into neutral and coast the idle stays around 1200 rpms till i come to a complete stop. i had a s10 and that did not happen at all. even if i come up to a red light and push the clutch in the rpms are at 1200 for a few seconds then they drop to around 800 where it should be. i read something about reflashing at the dealer but it was not a idle issue. its a 2008 2.3 with the 5 speed manual tranny.

 

My 3 litre is the same way, the computer holds a high idle for a number of seconds and then drops to around 800/950 rpm.
Apparently its supposed to help with the reduction of emissions.
Has yours always behaved this way or did it just start doing this ?

 

it has been that way since a bought the truck a year ago. i sprayed the intake, iac, cleaned maf, new o2 sensor.

 

For now, unless someone else chimes in, I'm going to say that's the way it's supposed to be.
After the truck is fully warmed up, unplug the IAC valve, if the idle drops and the truck almost stalls, that tells you that the IAC valve is working.
You may get a code for "low idle", but you can disconnect the battery for around 15 or 20 minutes to get rid of that.
It will still be there in the computer, but the dash light will be off.

 

thanks, i was checking into iac valves and i was going to try that

 

Jeff R 1 is correct.

The high idle while slowing down to stop is normal. Also, you'll see that the RPM's kind of hang while you are in the middle of a shift. This is all done for emissions reasons. The idle may be a bit higher during the winter vs. warmer seasons.

I know that Jeeps do this as well. Here's the description of how this works for a Jeep (and I suspect Ford has something similar as well):

"The speed sensor generates 8 pulses per sensor revolution. These signals, in conjunction with a closed throttle signal from the throttle position sensor, indicate a closed throttle deceleration to the PCM. When the vehicle is stopped at idle, a closed throttle signal is received by the PCM (but a speed sensor signal is not received). Under deceleration conditions, the PCM adjusts the Idle Air Control (IAC) motor to maintain a desired MAP value. Under idle conditions, the PCM adjusts the IAC motor to maintain a desired engine speed."

Now, if you coming in hot and stop with the clutch pushed in and the idle stays at 1200-1500 while you are stopped Then it may be a sticky IAC or TPS.

 

thanks so much, the more i look into this it may just be a factory thing. i did unplug the iac and it stalled so it is working. when i come to a light and push the clutch in it drops to around 1100 then drops to 800 rpms. i am so use to the engine holding you back a little when you go down a hill because the engine is not pushing you where as the ranger would because its putting fuel to keep the rpms above idle if i am thinking this out right. the reason i say this is if i am going down a hill and push the clutch in whether its 15 mph or 35 the rpms drop to about 1100. as soon as i stop it drops again.thanks

 

Make sure you use maf sensor cleaner. I used brake cleaner and starting fluid and neither one worked. Another idea is to remove iac and clean thst. I had mine off twice and got more gunk with a q tip the second time.

 

just to add to my post , when i am at a stop light on a hill the rpms are around 800. the light turns green, no traffic i just start coasting down hill in nuetral the rpms start to go up to around 1000-1100 till i stop again. i figure the iac has to be connected to the speedometer in some way. i can see it have to do with emissions coming to a stop but it shouldn't do it from a stand still and start coasting. any ideas? thanks

 

I still don't think it's a problem.

I have a long, steep hill just about 2 miles from me that I will test this on, on Sunday (my first day off work). It's steep enough to get going with no throttle input. And I should be cruising pretty fast by the time I hit the bottom of it. I suspect the idle RPM will be higher.

Also, although I don't have access to any of the service manuals I did find this info regarding the IAC and PCM:

 

Ok, I tested this yesterday on two hills.

The first smaller hill I was doing about 40mph. I crested it, pushed in the clutch and the idle stayed around 1000-1100 rpm until I came to a complete stop. Then it dropped down to the 700-800 range.

On the second much steeper hill I actually stopped completely. I let the idle drop to 700-800 and then pushed in the clutch and let the truck coast on it's own. I did not use the gas pedal the entire time. Right as the truck started moving the idle went up to 1000-1100 RPM and stayed there. By the bottom of the hill I was coasting at 55 mph (still not using the gas pedal) and the RPM's were still 1000-1100 RPM. And when the truck finally rolled to a complete stop the RPM's dropped back down to 700-800 RPM.

So, the IAC (and probably other sensors) also use the VSS sensor to adjust idle.

 

My 06 does similar. Coasting maybe at 1000-1100 rpm and will drop to 750-800 when I stop. Been like that since the day I bought it 6 years ago with 49k miles.It hangs for a second for you to shift too. It is normal. Frst vehicle I have ever had to do that but makes it easier for people that are not use to a manual to drive also.

 

its weird, but if sitting downhill and just start to coast in neutral the rpms pick up. on well

 

Check the throttle body butterfly plate. If there is a gap around the outside edge that will cause the problem.

 

Newer vehicles with manual transmissions will hold RPMs high when shifting, that helps lower emissions, not to help newbe manual trans drivers.
RPMs will also stay high if coasting, clutch pedal in or in Neutral, until speedometer drops below about 5MPH, also for lower emissions.

To help your MPG with manual trans, you shouldn't coast with clutch in or in Neutral down a hill.
With fuel injection it is possible to shut off the fuel injectors when coasting, and computer will do this if TPS(throttle position sensor) shows closed, "foot off the gas pedal", and engine RPMs around 1,500 or higher
Computer will restart injectors, at idle levels, when RPMs drop down under 1,500.

So leave it in gear when you are going down hill, to get those injectors to shut off

In the old days with carbs you wanted to lower RPMs because at higher RPMs even with throttle closed you were sucking more gas out of the idler jets, because of increased vacuum in intake manifold.
Thats old school thinking and was correct

Fuel injection is better, 0 fuel used when throttle is closed and RPMs are above 1,500

 

thanks, i understand the emissions part, just thought it was strange that the ford was the only one to do it on my last 3 vehicles with a manual

 

Would depend on the emissions of that engine and that years requirements.

 

Hi, I am new on this forum and I joined just to find out what the story is with the high RPM between shifts. I have the truck for about a month now. When I got it, it seemed a bit sluggish and I started digging in. The air filter was pretty bad and just replacing that made a huge difference. But, I continued digging and, cleaned the MAP sensor, and throttle body. This vehicle didn't appear to have the high RPM issue until I started digging. Now with the TPS and the IAC replaced it is worse than ever! The high RPM between shifts is getting annoying. The truck seems "normal" as described in the posts below as far as the 11-1200 then down to 750 or so. I don't have a problem with that but hanging around 3-3500 between shifts just doesn't seem right. At a light If I rev it, it drops right down. When coasting down a hill I can rev it and will hang at 3k for a while. (with clutch in) Seems like it stays there way too long. I understand the emissions thing but like I said, annoying and I know it wasn't that way when I bought it. Hey maybe the clogged air cleaner was choking the idol down before!!! Sorry for the rant! I really like the truck and it is my third ranger. The 96, 3.0 stick, didn't do this and the 03, 2.3 automatic ran exceptional! The replacement IAC is by Standard. I believe that is a decent brand?
The other issue, for lack of better terms is a slight surge in power. So, when you are into it, it seems like it is holding back a bit and then it feels like it takes off. Its not a tremendous boost but it is an obvious difference. Both instances are smooth, not as if there is a miss. Maybe a dirty injector? Just mentioned this in case there is a relationship to the above. Probably a separate deal. Looking forward to some input as I am ready to take it ??? somewhere but don't need to get ripped off!

 

May be your "Idle Air Control". You can pull it and try carb cleaner on it. If that doesn't work you may have to replace it.

 

The IAC is brand new as of yesterday. Also put about 50 miles on it since to see if the computer needed to learn about the new part. Still the same. I will check how long it hangs at 3-4K next time I am on the road.

 

Check with Ford Dealer, have your VIN in hand, they can look it up and see if there is a software update for your computer.
There were some model years that needed software updates for high or hanging idles.
You do have to pay for having updates loaded in most cases, because it will be out of warranty and not considered a "safety issue"

 

Are the Ford dealers the only ones that can update the computer? I have also been looking at the IAC restrictors some folks have used but I wonder if that creates other issues? Any ideas? I can shift and hold the clutch in and in most cases it will hang around 2K till I hit the 5mph mark. As far as I am concerned that is way too long and has to be wasting fuel.