Idle is rough

Ford Windstar Starting/Stalling Problems - Car Forums at Edmunds.com

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Oct 16, 2007 - 31 posts - ‎26 authors
Learn more about Ford Windstar at the Edmunds.com Car Forums! ... I tried to startmy van on a 15 degree morning - heard a loud bang and now it won't start. Battery ....The engine will crank, start run about 5 seconds then stop. ... I have a 2003 Ford Windstar, same problem,Ford is covering up the problem.

Why My Car Won't Start? - Reasons and Solutions

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As a rough guideline, problems with the battery, alternator and starter are the most ...Before I even put the key into the ignition I hear a clicking noise on the right side ...started it and then it started making a loud clicking noise while I was driving it ..... i have a 2003 windstar ford it was clicking and wouldn't start had to get a ...

Rough Idle Engine Dies Loud Ticking!?! Please Help! - Ford Focus ...

www.focusfanatics.com/.../103146-rough-idle-engine-dies-loud-ticking-...

Nov 6, 2006 - Rough Idle Engine Dies Loud Ticking! ... down then dies and then i restart and it has no problems but the ticking continues PLEASE HELP ME ... Level Up0% Completed ... 2. my injectors are bad and the ticking sound is one of the injectors.... Another method is to turn the AM radio on to a place where there ...Missing: windstar

tune it up first , then go there

The Ford Escort ZX2, the 2.0 liter is a interference engine,The valve and the piston kissed each other as they met with a broken timing belt,Just to let you know a cam position sensor does not create rough idle, it can stall the engine at a stop sign,but the solution is a valve job, and who ever put the timing belt on after the job should have done a cylinder effeciency test.

Here are the most common causes of idle surge, rough idle esp when cold, other symptoms include stalls at stops, slow idle speed, erratic idle speed, rough idle and engine hesitation (and other problems), it is in most cases the idle speed control air-bypass valve and or throttle valve and upper intake, these area's get full of gunk and combustion residue over the miles and cause idle issues (stalls, low idle) like yours, Get a can of intake cleaner from any local parts store, not carb spray, intake cleaner, it is made by a company called CRC, remove the air intake hose to the engine, hold the idle high so the engine won't stall, then spray the can of cleaner into the intake while keeping the engine running, use at least 1/2 the can, shut down the engine and disconnect the battery for 5 minutes, then restart and complete a number of mixed driving cycles, town, freeway, stop and go etc., after a few days the problem will go away as the system will relearn to the clean intake

I would suspect a vacuum leak to be causing the rough idle. When you turn the A/C on the idle control solenoid raises the RPM's in order to compensate for the added load to the engine. Take a can of WD-40 or Carb cleaner and spray it around the intake manifold and any accessible vacuum lines, when the spray comes across a vacuum leak the engine idle will smooth out and usually increase in speed. Once this is done replace or reconnect whatever the fault may have been.

What is model year? How long since a tune-up?
With idle issues, check and clean idle air system, see if it helps? Use a gage and check proper fuel pressure, key on engine off. On some ford vehicles, with everything off, unplug the maf sensor, where applicable, take the vehicle for a spin, if it does a lot better, have to check the maf system, that includes, sensor--wiring circuits--pcm.
The basics on a rough idle, is to check for a leak of some kind, fuel--egr--vacuum.
Positive fuel trim at low speed and load, the first thing, look for vacuum leak.

There is a TSB for the PCV hose. The elbows at both ends get holes in the underside that you can't see unless you remove them and look. This is a very, very common issue on the ZX2. You can get a new PCV hose with both elbows for about $30 from the Ford dealership. You only need to remove the air intake to gain access to the PCV hose to replace it.

All automatic ZX2's have a rough idle in gear. Ford even put out a TSB and tried to fix it with no success. The engine is internally balanced and does not have a harmonic dampener. This means you get all of the engine vibration transferred to the frame. I own three ZX2's, my sister has one, my friend has two, they all have rough idle in drive.

The noise you get from the oil filler is normal to an extent. It is an overhead cam engine so you will hear noise from the oil filler. The oil you see on the spark plugs is likely from the valve cover gasket. That is the only place the oil can come from and get onto the top of the spark plugs. It can't travel through the spark plug threads and get on top from the combustion chamber.

It is good you replaced the PCV valve (I know it is hard to reach) but did you replace the breather? There is a round black box with a hose coming from the intake that goes onto the top of the valve cover. This is the air inlet for the PCV and if it gets clogged it will allow pressure to build up in the crank case.

2003 zx2,rough idle when stoped and the car in drive,runs fine on open road,while idleing i opened the hood,when i loosened the oil fill cap i heard a pufffff,like a relief valve,it should not be building pressure should [email protected],please

Is the MIL(check engine) light on?
If so what codes are stored?

This sounds like the DPFE/EGR.
Possibly a P0401 code?

Check and make certain the hoses connected to it are not damaged, holes/cracks, and are open. Check the tubes the hoses are connected to as well. It is common for the tubes/hoses to plug with carbon and ****.

I honestly would consider new mechanics, sounds like these guys just change parts until something works. They need to methodically analyze the problem, not just throw parts at it, that just costs you money.