Car engine is rough idling. What does this indicate?

run the fault codes
engine light and rough idle indicates a problem with injectors and /or EVAP system not venting properly

It can be issue with IAC( idle air control valve) causing the problem.

There are many other possibilities causing these idle issues. Engine idles rough.

There are few help links with solutions to troubleshoot such idle issues.

I suggest you refer the link below and follow its troubleshooting details:------

Click the link below:-----

Ford Expedition IAC valve replacing

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/12/ford-expedition-iac-valve-replacing.html

Bad miss at idle?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/bad-miss-at-idle.html

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Stumbling and stalling at idle after engine rebuild?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/03/stumbling-and-stalling-at-idle-after.html

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1999 Ford F-150 Idles rough and quits when gas pedal is pressed less?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/01/1999-ford-f-150-idles-rough-and-quits.html

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Engine stumbles coming off idle when warm?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/01/engine-stumbles-coming-off-idle-when.html

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Erratic idle on car?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/erratic-idle-on-car.html

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Cold start problem and vehicle shudder around 2500 to 3500 rpms

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/10/cold-start-problem-and-vehicle-shudder.html

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Low idle when cold out side?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/12/low-idle-when-cold-out-side.html

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GMC Sonoma Stalls and idles low

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/10/gmc-sonoma-stalls-and-idles-low.html

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GMC Idle Air Control (IAC) Valve Replacing?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/gmc-idle-air-control-iac-valve.html

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1996 Camry intermittent engine failure while idle?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/10/1996-camry-intermittent-engine-failure.html

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Engine quits at idle?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/10/engine-quits-at-idle.html

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Car overheats and Air blows hot at idle?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-overheats-and-air-blows-hot-at-idle.html

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High Idle Problem

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/10/high-idle-problem.html

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While stop engine idles like cylinder missing?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-stop-engine-idles-like-cylinder.html

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Idle flair is noticed on car? Rough idle? car will not idle? Erratic idle speed?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/idle-flair-is-noticed-on-car-rough-idle.html

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High rpm in neutral? Inconsistant high RPM in neutral?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/high-rpm-in-neutral-inconsistant-high.html

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Vehicle stumbling at idle and shows code 54?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/03/vehicle-stumbling-at-idle-and-shows.html

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Rough idle, staling and Erratic shifting?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/03/rough-idlestaling-and-erratic-shifting.html

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While stop engine idles like cylinder missing?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-stop-engine-idles-like-cylinder.html

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These details will help.

Thanks.

Has it ever been tune up,

Code 37 is torque converter clutch solenoid failure. Transmission wont shift in and out of overdrive.

It can be issue with IAC( idle air control valve) causing the problem.

There are many other possibilities causing these idle issues.Engine idles rough.

There are few help links with solutions to troubleshoot such idle issues.

I suggest you refer the link below and follow its troubleshooting details:------

Click the link below:-----
Bad miss at idle? http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/bad-miss-at-idle.html

-----------
Stumbling and stalling at idle after engine rebuild?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/03/stumbling-and-stalling-at-idle-after.html

------------
1999 Ford F-150 Idles rough and quits when gas pedal is pressed less?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/01/1999-ford-f-150-idles-rough-and-quits.html

---------
Engine stumbles coming off idle when warm?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/01/engine-stumbles-coming-off-idle-when.html

------------------
Erratic idle on car?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/erratic-idle-on-car.html

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Cold start problem and vehicle shudder around 2500 to 3500 rpms
http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/10/cold-start-problem-and-vehicle-shudder.html

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Low idle when cold out side?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/12/low-idle-when-cold-out-side.html

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GMC Sonoma Stalls and idles low

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/10/gmc-sonoma-stalls-and-idles-low.html

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GMC Idle Air Control (IAC) Valve Replacing?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/gmc-idle-air-control-iac-valve.html

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1996 Camry intermittent engine failure while idle?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/10/1996-camry-intermittent-engine-failure.html

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Engine quits at idle?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/10/engine-quits-at-idle.html

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Car overheats and Air blows hot at idle?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-overheats-and-air-blows-hot-at-idle.html

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High Idle Problem

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/10/high-idle-problem.html

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While stop engine idles like cylinder missing?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-stop-engine-idles-like-cylinder.html

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Idle flair is noticed on car? Rough idle? car will not idle? Erratic idle speed?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/idle-flair-is-noticed-on-car-rough-idle.html

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High rpm in neutral? Inconsistant high RPM in neutral?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/high-rpm-in-neutral-inconsistant-high.html

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Vehicle stumbling at idle and shows code 54?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/03/vehicle-stumbling-at-idle-and-shows.html

----------
Rough idle, staling and Erratic shifting?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/03/rough-idlestaling-and-erratic-shifting.html

-----------
While stop engine idles like cylinder missing?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-stop-engine-idles-like-cylinder.html

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These details will help.

Thanks.

It can be issue with low fuel pressure,the fuel pump is getting old both needs to be checked.Also get the IAC valve checked.
Go through the related help links with similar problem,it may help:---
Click the links below:---
Engine Idles Rough and Dies? http://whatisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/05/1994-lexus-es300-engine-idles-rough-and.html

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van idles rough? http://howtobyme.blogspot.in/2012/01/2004-ford-freestar-van-idles-rough.html

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runs lean and idles rough? http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/ford-runs-lean-and-idles-rough.html

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Car still runs Rough after tune up?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-still-runs-rough-after-tune-up.html

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2006 kia rio runs rough http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/10/2006-kia-rio-runs-rough.html

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Idle flair is noticed on car? Rough idle? car will not idle? Erratic idle speed? http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/idle-flair-is-noticed-on-car-rough-idle.html

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Rough idle, staling and Erratic shifting? http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/03/rough-idlestaling-and-erratic-shifting.html

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These details will help.
Thanks.

For rough idle issues and problem troubleshooting,go through the help links provided below :----- van idles rough?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.in/2012/01/2004-ford-freestar-van-idles-rough.html

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will not idle when cold?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/ford-explorer-40-will-not-idle-when.html

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runs lean and idles rough?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/ford-runs-lean-and-idles-rough.html

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Engine stumbles coming off idle when warm?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/01/engine-stumbles-coming-off-idle-when.html

------------
Erratic idle on car?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/erratic-idle-on-car.html

----------
Low idle when cold out side?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/12/low-idle-when-cold-out-side.html

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Idle Air Control (IAC) Valve Replacing?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/gmc-idle-air-control-iac-valve.html

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Replace Idle air control valve?

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Test Idle Air Control (IAC) Valve?

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Idle Air Control (IAC) Valve operation?

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Engine quits at idle?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/10/engine-quits-at-idle.html

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Car overheats and Air blows hot at idle?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-overheats-and-air-blows-hot-at-idle.html

------
While stop engine idles like cylinder missing?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-stop-engine-idles-like-cylinder.html

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This will help.

Thanks.

For rough idle issues and problem troubleshooting,go through the help links provided below :----- van idles rough?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.in/2012/01/2004-ford-freestar-van-idles-rough.html

---------
will not idle when cold?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/ford-explorer-40-will-not-idle-when.html

----------
runs lean and idles rough?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/ford-runs-lean-and-idles-rough.html

-----------
Engine stumbles coming off idle when warm?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/01/engine-stumbles-coming-off-idle-when.html

------------
Erratic idle on car?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/erratic-idle-on-car.html

----------
Low idle when cold out side?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/12/low-idle-when-cold-out-side.html

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Idle Air Control (IAC) Valve Replacing?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/gmc-idle-air-control-iac-valve.html

----------
Engine quits at idle?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/10/engine-quits-at-idle.html

------------
Car overheats and Air blows hot at idle?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-overheats-and-air-blows-hot-at-idle.html

------
While stop engine idles like cylinder missing?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-stop-engine-idles-like-cylinder.html

---------

This will help.

Thanks.

For rough idle issues and problem troubleshooting,go through the help links provided below :-----van idles rough? http://howtobyme.blogspot.in/2012/01/2004-ford-freestar-van-idles-rough.html---------will not idle when cold? http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/ford-explorer-40-will-not-idle-when.html
----------runs lean and idles rough? http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/ford-runs-lean-and-idles-rough.html
-----------Engine stumbles coming off idle when warm? http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/01/engine-stumbles-coming-off-idle-when.html
------------Erratic idle on car? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/erratic-idle-on-car.html
----------Low idle when cold out side? http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/12/low-idle-when-cold-out-side.html
---------Idle Air Control (IAC) Valve Replacing? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/gmc-idle-air-control-iac-valve.html----------Engine quits at idle?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/10/engine-quits-at-idle.html

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Car overheats and Air blows hot at idle? http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-overheats-and-air-blows-hot-at-idle.html
------While stop engine idles like cylinder missing? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-stop-engine-idles-like-cylinder.html
---------This will help.Thanks.

Could be a idle air problem. The injector could be leaking when you shut it off ..Try some injector cleaner see if it gets better..The idle air shouldnt run rough just idle real low or sometimes it will get stuck and idle high....Are you losing any antifreeze..If you are the 2.0 SOHC engine bad about leaking antifreeze into the cylinder and makes the engine run rough until it burns it out..See if you can see the smoke coming out when it happens..White smoke indicates antifreeze,,Black smoke indicates fuel..