vilent idle

[kzuby]

2002 Taurus 3.0 litre, Check engine light went on 3 days ago, checked at autozone, code read - EGR valve, checked valve today-looked good but I cleaned it anyway with some carb cleaner. It seemed to function fine. Now I started to notice the RPM's jumping up and down at idle. Its so bad now that the whole car jumps back and forth at red lights. It seems to drop idle, almost stall, then jump up again. It does this pretty rapidly. The only thing I can think of, is the idle position sensor. Please help! Has anyone had this happen before??

[sfontain]

Originally Posted by kzuby

2002 Taurus 3.0 litre, Check engine light went on 3 days ago, checked at autozone, code read - EGR valve, checked valve today-looked good but I cleaned it anyway with some carb cleaner. It seemed to function fine. Now I started to notice the RPM's jumping up and down at idle. Its so bad now that the whole car jumps back and forth at red lights. It seems to drop idle, almost stall, then jump up again. It does this pretty rapidly. The only thing I can think of, is the idle position sensor. Please help! Has anyone had this happen before??

P0401?

You need a DPFE sensor from Ford.

[kzuby]

Yeah, the code was 0401. I decided to relace the valve and gasket. Idles perfect. Now what is a DPFE sensor and how much does it cost? Is that the only way to clear that code?

[sfontain]

Originally Posted by kzuby

Yeah, the code was 0401. I decided to relace the valve and gasket. Idles perfect. Now what is a DPFE sensor and how much does it cost? Is that the only way to clear that code?

Oh interesting. EGR valves don't fail terribly often on these cars. Well, if the EGR valve fixed it then I would recommend driving for a week or so and see if the CEL goes away. If not, the DPFE sensor I think is around $80 +/- from the Ford dealer and measures the pressure difference on both sides of the EGR valve. They break a LOT, but if yours is good then if the EGR valve fixed it, the CEL should go away after several driving cycles.

[denisb]

Make sure it's not a dissconnected vacum line. Mine had a similar problem and it was a vacum line. If it just started to act up after you looked at your EGR, you might of accidentaly pulled out the vacum line.

Denis

[Cvkitty76]

Originally Posted by kzuby

2002 Taurus 3.0 litre, Check engine light went on 3 days ago, checked at autozone, code read - EGR valve, checked valve today-looked good but I cleaned it anyway with some carb cleaner. It seemed to function fine. Now I started to notice the RPM's jumping up and down at idle. Its so bad now that the whole car jumps back and forth at red lights. It seems to drop idle, almost stall, then jump up again. It does this pretty rapidly. The only thing I can think of, is the idle position sensor. Please help! Has anyone had this happen before??

See my response in a prior question statin taurus stalling. This is the way my problem started and still exits. except it steadily gets worse. and then it dies at each light.

[Wodinator]

You can pick up a DPFE sensor at Auto Zone for around 60 bucks. Very easy to remove/install. I had the same trouble code, it went away after installing the new DPFE sensor.

[sfontain]

Don't buy an aftermarket DPFE sensor. This is one part you need to buy as original equipment.

[way2old]

If you buy aftermarket, make sure it is Motorcraft. That is Ford OEM part.