91 Escort running weird!!! Please HELP!!!

[raptor125]

I have had this car for about 5 months now and for some odd ball reason it is starting to act up. First when I got it, I gave it a tune up and it ran great. It also had a slight oil leak and I fixed it, but a couple days after I fixed the oil leak, the car started to ide weird. It has a 1.9L motor in it with a 5 speed. The weird thing is, it seems to run fine, but it is ideling weird. It will start up just fine, but when it is ideling when cold, it will act like it is going to die, but then ide back up again. It keeps doing this until it is warmed up, then it sorta stops. Now when you drive the darn thing, it will act like it has bad gas and stutter when it is cold. But when it warms up, it still stutters a little bit, but not much. It only does it like a few times. It hasn't seemed to loose any acceleration yet, but I am worried about driving it. What could be wrong? I have already replaced the PCV valve and the fuel filter. I know it is getting gas, so has anyone else had this problem?

[Jet-Lee]

try checking your throttle position sensor or maybe you idle air controller. check your fuel pressure too. Do you have the right plugs, are they gapped perfect? Are your plug wires good? Lotsa possibilities...

[Frunobulax]

Try cleaning the idle air controller. Also, check all vacuum hoses and replace if necessary. I did this on my '91 last year and it made a world of difference.

[tacarp]

Check your air flow sensor as well, that was my problem when idle got ugly.

[Tigerchick929]

I am having the same problem with My 93 escort. I was told it could be water in the gas tank. My b/f who also has a 93 escort he replaced the Vacuum hose, Didnt make a whole lotta difference. Do Escorts usually act like this when they need a tune up? I dont want to take my car to a garage and have some one take advantage of my lack of automotive knowledge. Thanks guys appreciate the help.

[nco]

Check the hose going to the PCV valve. Changed the PCV valve and accidently tore the end and had to replace the hose. In replacing it, found the other end was already ripped, had a big hole. after changing the hose, the car ran great. No more idle problems. Hose costed $23 at the dealers.