93 Escort/1.9Li Idle problems

well, the engine runs just fine when it's at a fast idle setting or when I'm driving. When it's up to temp and I let it idle though about 5 seconds later the engine will start to hunt for an idle speed. Surges to about 1100 RPM then drops to about 500. After about 30 seconds the engine will stall. It will start right back up. I have the nagging suspicion that this is related to an EGR valve, but I wanted an opinion before I went out and bought the $50 part. There is no check engine light, the O2 sensor has been recently replaced, as have the wires and spark plugs.

come on, some1 needs 2 reply 2 this, i have this EXACT same problem in my 93 lx wagon w/ a 1.9l. HELP!!!!


Edit:
ok, just after posting this i was thinking. i know the 93 lx scort has an idle chip that will seach for an idle after the battery has been disconnected. i'm thinkin maybe this chip is messed up or @ least has sumthin 2 do w/ the chip cause it seems like it's searchin & searchin but never finds it. any1 know any more about this or has ever replaced that chip? my dad & i used 2 think it was the egr valve, but when he replaced that it still searched. spark plugs, ignition wires, everything is fine. everything otherwise is perfect, no engine light either.

Vacume leak, if it's not the EGR it could be a tear in the intake tube, it happends. Usally the O2 sesnor does this, but the MAF could do it also.

sry i'm usin this post, but i gotta get this problem fixed before it gets any colder (it's gonna suck when it gets 2 b like 20 degrees & gotta go 2 school & can't warm up the car before i gotta get in cause it will only stay idling on it's own 4 a few seconds). how do check those 2 things? as detailed as possible would be VERY nice & i would kiss u if i ever saw u (not really, but i'd b VERY greatful). thanks, jordan
Ps. Chicago winters suck

ok, well fw 190, i suggest u try the o2 sensor. i did that 2day & it purrs like a kitten. it's a ***** 2 get @, but it's worth it. just a lil note (and sorta a question), the stock o2 sensor looks different than the new 1 will probably be (the question is was this redesigned or did bosch just make their repalcement differently?). the new one for me had a fatter body. thanks 4 the help, jordan

Same syptoms with a dirty mass air sensor. Problem is common on Fords. Happen to my Mustamg and Escort.

yea, maybe that isn't the answer (new o2 sensor). a few days later it started again... but worse. this problem sucks so much. it does this at every light over 5-10 seconds. it doesn't just do that, after 10-15 seconds it stalls (that's becoming a BIG pain, especially in city driving). i'm gonna take a look @ the Mass Air Sensor, where is that located? thanks, jordan

MAF is on the air filter box.
I still think it could be a vac leak, from the intake tube, EGR, E-Vap, intake mani gasket, ....ect

ok, i just came in like 3 minutes ago from takin apart the air filter box. there weree 2 sensors, one on the side, & the other attatched 2 the metal housing thing above. which is the mafs? i'm thinkin it's the one on the top of everything in the metal housing, but the only way i could take it off 2 get a look is to take out 2 funky lookin screws (looks like a 6 point star with a circle in the middle. anyone know if a tool for this is available?). i recently found out that my spaz dad never replaced the egr valve (he thought the o2 sensor was the EGR valve), but it looks pretty new, so idk. idk if this might help diagnose the problem, but when i turn the car on cold, it'll idle for a minute or so, then start surging slowly. then after more than a minute of doing that (i was suprised it didn't stall), it started doing it really fast. i let it do that 4 a couple minutes, then i just turned the car off. i'm thinkin about trying the EGR, but $ is kinda tight right now. i'll see if i can't give that a shot. any more help GREATLY appreeciated, & thanks every1 4 tryin 2 help, jordan

this is related to the Idle air control valve also.

not to be mean, but this thread is 9 months old... bringing it up after so long at all... especially to add (sry, accidentally typed ass... lol) so little is generally taboo (although what you said is true... i also wound up replacing the idle control valve... which didn't help either)... and will normally get many more experienced posters very upset. it's no big deal to me, but just a lil bit of a warning in the future. but just to update... i solved this problem (it turned out it was the pcv valve... a $4 or 5 part... o well). shortly after that was solved the timing gears went and the engine was pretty much destroyed. while waiting for a new engine the police towed it because it hadn't been moved in over 3 days (although i had moved it the day before, curious... but o well... what ya gonna do). the fee was $130... and it was $30 a day as well... so needless to say i couldn't afford it and it wasn't worth the money, so some scrap yard has my baby... o well. but again, i wouldn't bring up any threads older than a month or so unless you have something that could be incredibly usefull... but after 9 months just let it die. i don't mind, but again, some will. ttyl, and as many have done for me, welcome to the forums

Idle Air Control Valve