2000 Windstar SEL...need ideas (IAC?)

[Tracey in GA]

I've got a 2000SEL 3.8 V6 with just under 61000 miles on it (very low milage for the age...)

It is sputtering and stalling when i idle at a light or stop sign so we've got it parked at home now (not safe for me to drive with 3 kids when it stops working in the middle of a lane, yk?) The engine light is on now (well not right now, I've disconnected the battery to work on it) but I haven't taken it to run codes bc this has been happening when it is raining and it's rather unsafe to drive like that in rainy conditions, so we're waiting for clear weather to take it to AZ for a code scan.

In order to eliminate possible causes I've disconnected the battery and am tinkering around. The problem occurs mainly when damp/wet so we're thinking maybe plugs/wires but they aren't so easy to reach (the back 3 anyways.) We're trying to eliminate the least expensive causes before taking it to the shop for major work (ie. fuel pump problems or ???)

From reading here I thought I'd check the IAC and see if it is clogged, but I can't get the bolts to move. I've got the lekemby page printed and found the IAC no problem, but my bolts are on ubertight. Any ideas on how to get them to turn w/o stripping the heads?

Once I get them to turn I'll check the IAC and go from there...

[wiswind]

Maybe try soaking them with a good penetrating oil.
P-Blaster, etc

[Tracey in GA]

got them off

sometimes one just needs to break out the blessed socket wrenches now my IAC is soaking with WD40 & we'll see.

it was kind of sticky (where the spring goes in) with soot so i'm hoping (cross fingers) that this is the problem. i'm all about a .97 repair (the cost of a bottle of wd40) as opposed to the more costly stuff...

[scottcolleenb]

I also own a 2000 Windstar SEL with only 47K miles on it. My problem sounds very similar to yours. When at a stop sign or even if I've let off the accelerator my van will die. Have you found a fix for your problem yet? My check engine light just came on today, 03/28/2006, after the van died in the driveway after I put it in gear. Any help would be appreciated. This thing is a bigger pain than my 78 Ford F250 4X4

[DRW1000]

You should get the codes read. Autozone does this for free but ensure that you get the actual numeric values.