[shorod]

Okay, it won't hurt anything to pull the IAC and clean it and the passages in the throttle body for it. Be careful though not to lose or damage the gasket or the bolts when removing and reinstalling though. I've had very good luck with STP Throttle Body Cleaner for cleaning the IAC (as well as the throttle body). While you're in that area, you may as well clean the throttle body and as much of the intake as you can reach. Make sure not to let the straw from the cleaner launch into the upper intake though.

When's the last time your Explorer had a tune up? You might consider plugs and wires along with the fuel filter and air filter if it's been awhile. If you get the odd idle figured out you might try a can of SeaFoam in the "Cylinder Decarbonization" method. You'll probably be as amazed as I was in how effective that is.

-Rod