1998 Ford Escort Idle Issues?

Question by zcardoza25: 1998 Ford Escort Idle Issues?
My 1998 Ford Escort was doing fine until I took it to get smogged, and it passed except for throwing an error code saying it was too lean, so I figured it was the PCV tubing, since it was cracked, so I replaced it, now the car is running horrible. It starts fine, but after a few seconds it drops the idle down to below 800 rpms, and when constantly pulsate between almost stalling and idling up to 800 or so. That was bad, but I was able to drive it, so this weekend I took off the PCV tubing again and cleaned it all, used “seal all” to seal up the cracks and let it dry. I put it back on, and it’s doing the same thing, except that now I can accelerate very slowly, but any acceleration past just a slight throttle increase will cause it to stutter. There isn’t any backfire, but it exhibits the same symptoms of a car that is being flooded. What should I look for? What can I try?

– It’s a 1998 Ford Escort with the “Fuel Infection 2000 system”

Best answer:

Answer by adam
possibly the idle control valve. i had the same type of problem but with my 1997 explorer.

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