87 Escort idling high, running rough

87 Escort 1.9 CFI

Idles really high, like 3000-4000 rpm when first started, then after about 15 seconds, the idle slowly drops to normal, about 900 rpm. If you push on the gas pedal, the idle goes right back up to 3000 rpm or so again, and stays there for 15 seconds, then slowly drops again.

When driving, its like there is a dead spot when you try to accelerate. I have to press the pedal really lightly when starting from a stop, get the car moving about 5 mph, then push it down past the "dead spot", or the car will spit and sputter, hesitate real bad, and sometimes stall. The rpm's are way too high when driving in town, also. The car wants to go 35 mph just idling down the street, but again, after fifteen seconds, the idle goes down slowly and the car will slow down.

I sell auto parts for a living, but I don't work on cars. My knowledge of how fuel injection systems actually work is somewhat limited. I can sell you whatever parts you want all day long, but I can't do diagnostics.

I'm thinking Throttle Position Sensor.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Check for a vacuum leak in the intake system. A loose breather hose or a hole worn into the intake components... A bad throttle position sensor is also a possibility.