Ford escort 1.8 petrol idle

sounds like it could be the idle speed control valve

Try cleaning the throttle body and check the gap on all the spark plugs also all electrical sensor plugs and battery terminals this could be related to engine temperature also if to hot rpms stay up longer to cool off but maybe your idle air control valve is bad when did it start?

sounds like a vacuume leak, take some soapy water in a spray bottle and spray the hoses slowly, when the motor levels out you found your leak, being 11 yrs old, i would change all the hoses anyway, they are overdue

Sounds like you idle air control valve is starting to mess up. You can actually take this off and clean it with throttle body cleaner and it should help get your idle back to normal. As is sounds the idle air control valve controls how fast/slow your car idles. It is located on the throttle body normally held on with a couple of screws. The throttle body is where the air duct hose coming from the air filter box ends at the engine block. Here is a picture of what you are looking for:
Make sure that you clean the valve portion and not the electrical plug with the throttle body cleaner. Let it air dry or blow lightly with compressed air before putting it back on. Let me know if you have any more questions. Thanks for using FixYa!

POSS AIR FLOW METER

The idle speed needs to adjusted if that is not it try checking the fuel filter.

this is your problem:

Here are the most common causes of surges, stalls at stops, low 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

Hi

Possible faulty Idle valve.

Also check for air leak/vac hose adrift or split

Good Luck

John

hi when do it idle worst is it when its cold or hot how does it idle is it just low idle speed or is it up and down when did it start [just started or gradullay got worse] is there any check light on just post me back and lets see if we can solve your problem yates210456

The easiest way to find fuel filters is to start at the petrol tank and work forwards some put them just infront of the petrol tank others are just befor the engine bay you should be able to follow you fuel lines from either end and it should be about 1.5 feet from motor or just after tank