04 freestar idle problem

[@jamielynntreat8691]

The one I'm driving has the exclamation point with a circle around it flashing and the rpm jumps when it gets to the 3.

[@amberericjones5694]

Is it a full circle if so could be something wrong with the brakes, either emergency brake on, or low brake fluid possibly something wrong with abs. If half circle could be tpms tire pressure monitoring system.

[@tomgarrison8492]

It's the PCM which is a common problem with the Freestar. I've had to replace the PCM in my Freestar TWICE. You may still be able to purchase a used PCM (Ford hasn't made them in years). Surf the interweb. Most sellers of used PCMs will pre-program it for your specific vehicle before shipping it to you. Just need to send the seller the VIN. But, REALLY, that thing has over 200k miles - 150k miles past the average life of a Freestar! It's overdue for the crusher.

[@amberericjones5694]

Yea I found out the computer had corrosion in the pins and stuff when I went to do further scoping. Van is long gone now.

[@amberericjones5694]

Bout the dumbest spot they could of put the computer is under the cowl panel

[@frankmack7517]

4.2 ??

[@tomgarrison8492]

@@frankmack7517 2004 3.9L

[@SuperTrumpMAGA]

Ford Engineers !!! 🤗💩

[@willg9764]

Mine had a signal wire shorted to ground the customer didn’t want to go further the wiring harnesses were a mess I suspect a bad pcm

[@Vo0d0o2009]

broken wire between ecu firewall and engine compartiment for sure ,, my friend have same symptoms as your but in stade to be intermitant like a pre cutted wire ,.,,,

[@amberericjones5694]

No wires were broke, but I did find alot of corrosion in the plug and also the computer. The dealership came and got the van after my dad got a new van. Kinda did a trade with some money down.

[@amberericjones5694]

Pcm is subjected to alot of moisture since they have it right there in the firewall. Never have agreed with the design flaw. And it's not just free stars it's done in others too my 97 ranger is set up the same way plus side it's more protected. These newer cars they build them to be throw aways

[@willg9764]

I have one doing the same thing my iMac is short to power my theory is a bad pcm or problem in the harness

[@amberericjones5694]

Pull the computer check for corrosion they are subject to alot of moisture. Being it's right on the firewall. Also check the plug as well. Found moisture in this one. The dealership took this van after my father got a new van.

[@williamrobles254]

Censor de aceleración mal ubicado, tiene que sacarlo nuevamente y volver a ubicarlo en pociccion ,primero tiene que poner el suich y desde el acelerador ponerlo en pociccion del sensor de aceleración y ponerlo enpococision del sensor aseleraccion una vez puesto con los tornillos apretados se cierra nuevamente la mariposa y se apaga el suich, después lo enciendes, para calibrarlo lo calibras a 700rpm si tiene tornillo si está acelerado de más pues lo bajás a 700rpm y eso es todo, esto le pasó a mi Freestar 2004 .

[@amberericjones5694]

I'm having to Google to translate what your saying some of it I can make out but I don't know Spanish well

[@amberericjones5694]

Ahhhh I didn't think about that. I'll know next time if I run into this problem again. Thx

[@andreal891]

When this happens to mine I clean the throttle bottle and I also use the special MAF spray and clean the MAF. Also behind the big black housing there is a little hose that is suppose to be in place behind there.

[@amberericjones5694]

Come to find out it was the computer. Which made a video on that as well. Those vans has a bad problem with moisture getting into the plug on the computer an it ends up causing corrosion. Found a few prongs that was loose.

[@andreal891]

@@amberericjones5694 I will have to look at that also next time I work on it. Have heard about the moisture in panel and plugs before. Thanks for the reminder!

[@amberericjones5694]

@@andreal891 yw

[@garyjenkins6629]

My 2004 is idling steady at 1500rpm. No codes, no misfire, plenty of power. Computer plug-in is dry. I've found no vacuum lines broken or loose. Any ideas please share!!

[@amberericjones5694]

Spray around the intake make sure you dont have no leaks. If they dont seal it can cause a high idle

[@vanchie21]

I've ran into a problem like this on my mercury sable and come to find out it is the pvc valve, changed it out and it fixed that high idle and lagging. Maybe it was that?

[@vanchie21]

also that egr valve maybe bad

[@amberericjones5694]

@@vanchie21 it ended up being the computer. Corrosion and pins extremely loose

[@vanchie21]

Ah well that is not cool at all, I just did a complete overhaul on mine due to oil pump lock up and now I'm kicking myself for not changing the main turbine speed sensor out and I have a engine lope

[@amberericjones5694]

@@vanchie21 my dad ended up trading the van in for a dodge caravan before he passed.

[@vanchie21]

@@amberericjones5694 I'm sorry to hear that. Caravans are a fine van, I also think the freestar is a fine van

[@tedpietryka2929]

Change your EGR valve,it fixes all,trust me,I have owned a 2004 and 2007

[@amberericjones5694]

It was the computer on that one

[@chriswilliams3462]

Did you try the foot pedal

[@sagebowyer5400]

Have you tried replacing the EGR valve or MAF sensor?

[@amberericjones5694]

Sara Yankowski yes

[@amberericjones5694]

Which that's not why the check engine light is on. It's on because it's throwing the idel air control valve that's brand new that's the 2nd one on it. I check the volts and ohms everything checks out good. But still causing same problem..

[@amberericjones5694]

Maf sensors when they go bad or get dirty it will cause the vehicle to stall. Or it will cause the engine to delay a few seconds after the throttle is pushed... And egr which is exhaust gas recirculation measures fuel and air ratio. I know the egr would not cause this problem. If it fails it will cause the engine to run to rich or to lean. It don't have nothing to do with idle. But it does have to do with sending the proper fuel mixture and air mixture. What i find strange is when the idle air control valve sensor is plugged in it idles high but once unplugged it idles normal. That's what I can't get figures out. I may pull the throttle body on it. If that's all clean inside. Could be possible air in the cooling system or the ecm is acting up. I done a coolant flush on the van all air was burped out..

[@amberericjones5694]

One thing I did forget about is pulling the pcm to make sure there is no moisture or water that's getting to the pcm. I've heard that it can cause problems such as transmission issues and idle problems. Which I do know that these vans are horrible about getting moisture that drips under the crowl panel. Looks like I'll be checking all that tomarrow

[@guilhermebezerra5303]

I feel like I’m having the same problem, but the rpm only goes up while in neutral, the van isn’t shifting and is dying after a little while, also, when I put it in drive I have to hit the gas pedal strongly, otherwise it won’t go forward, does it have anything to do with the computer or is it a transmission issue?

[@amberericjones5694]

Are you getting a check engine light on the dash? If so I'd run codes. If not clutch bands in the transmission may be trying to take a crap on you. But I couldn't tell you for sure. May check transmission fluid if you can keep it at idle up to operating temp. See where the fluid is at or if its bad dirty.

[@yeeahyeah9246]

thats the idle air control balve

[@christopherroch2921]

I would check the MAF sensor and replace it

[@amberericjones5694]

christopher roch it's up for sale. It's not throwing a code for the maf.. normally on these 2000s they will throw a code.

[@amberericjones5694]

Transmission needs rebuilt or new put in... Transmission shop took a look at it guy sounds pretty knowledgeable. 2500 to fix the transmission.

[@trealwilliams1563]

Plug your Vacuum Line back into the big air intake hose bro, see if that helps!!!

[@amberericjones5694]

Nope, but I found out there was a problem with the computer due to moisture. My dad got rid of the van along time ago... Let the dealership take it for a trade in kinda sorta.

[@trealwilliams1563]

@@amberericjones5694 Wowww... My same make but 2005 had the same issue, but I used a hair- blow dryer for the computer connector, and then I spread dielectric grease in-between the terminals... problem solved...then my van would idle poorly, so I remembered that if I unplugged a vacuum hose it would cut off after idling badly. Problem solved! Bad 02 sensor would cause similar problems. Do you have any new projects?

[@amberericjones5694]

@@trealwilliams1563 I have another video of this van showing how bad the computer is. Moisture got in so bad caused some corrosion an a few loose terminals... As far as projects I am currently been working on my 91 firebird I have videos galore of it lol... From back when I first got the car to fixing problems an to where I am driving it. Right now I am doing inner and outer tie rods an sway bar linkages. As we speak. Was going to do a video on it today. But phones been going off the hook some what...

[@amberericjones5694]

@@trealwilliams1563 although here few weeks ago I done some body work on a buddies fz1 fuel tank. Posted up a video although its just pictures but it goes through most of the body work process. Good little song/story behind it motivation type vid I guess you could say.

[@waragainstmyself1159]

im about to buy a used 04 freestar right now for 2200.. 200k miles is that a bad idea?

[@amberericjones5694]

Little high on mileage for that price. Just comes down to is how well the owners took care of the van. Like as far as all maintenance been kept up on.

[@amberericjones5694]

Other thing is is that all city miles or all hwy miles.

[@cameronabernathy4675]

The idle air control valve is stuck

[@amberericjones5694]

Wasn't that either had a computer problem

[@cameronabernathy4675]

@@amberericjones5694 weird but glad you figured it out

[@amberericjones5694]

@@cameronabernathy4675 the computer under the crowl panel was corroded I want to say it was the pcm. But dad ended up using the van as a trade in. His health started declining fast and now is no longer with us 😢

[@IzzyRyda956]

Did you ever find the problem my van started doing the same thing

[@amberericjones5694]

Found a issue inside the transmission which in these vans they are notorious for transmission issues... my father had it priced around 2500.00 to have it rebuilt. over time it got worse and the van would shut down and take a bit to get it started back up... the transmission shop didn't want to do the work because these vans are a pita to work on and just a bunch of headach... you are better off selling your van and getting something else possibly.. because to drop this motor and transmission the whole subframe under neith will have to be dropped. It's a major operation...

[@RowChicken215]

Might need a new cpu my Pontiac bonneville did the same thing it needed a new cpu

[@amberericjones5694]

R Johnson the van is up for sale 1500.00 obo

[@amberericjones5694]

I checked the pcm today it's corroded on the terminals and one of the terminals is broke or seems broke and the plug was corroded. Where water and moisture was getting in. Trying to find a harness is like a needle in a hay stack

[@ygnextfkgaming3222]

I had 6 transmission put in mine

[@amberericjones5694]

More than likely had something to do with computer instead of the transmission. Which is eventually what I found out with this one

[@ivandunn2417]

Adjust the throttle that you push the gas way by the cargo

[@amberericjones5694]

That wasnt the problem

[@philipshortz6444]

I bet it's got water on the computer connections

[@amberericjones5694]

No water but there was corrosion on the pins where water has been

[@amberericjones5694]

Ford and their bright idea 💡 🤣

[@williamrobles254]

Primero cambiar la pieza de arriba y ponerle la vieja si funciona bien pues la pieza nueva está mala.

[@amberericjones5694]

Van is long gone by now

[@decemberlusher603]

Speed control sensor have you checked

[@amberericjones5694]

Ended up being a bad computer

[@elishamyers3415]

Vaccum runner on the egr

[@amberericjones5694]

Nope ended up being the computer

[@Tesorosabandonados]

Hey man did you find what's was wrong with your freestar mine it is doing the same ....thanks..

[@amberericjones5694]

Pull the pcm check for moisture.found out the pcm in the van had bad moisture i have a video on it.

[@johnfargisjr1701]

Check fuel filter

[@amberericjones5694]

@@johnfargisjr1701 bad pcm

[@amberericjones5694]

@@johnfargisjr1701 kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4XQZWCqqpKNn6s

[@raymundomartinez5061]

El problema es el sensor del ac está abajo del radiador el mío asiestaba

[@amberericjones5694]

Raymundo Martinez speak to me in English language, I don't understand your language. The only thing I've made sense of is problem sensor and something about the radiator... Lol sorry my friend.. there isn't a translator

[@raymundomartinez5061]

Amber Brantmeier the problem is the ac sensor the high temperature is below the radiator

[@amberericjones5694]

Raymundo Martinez that's strange that it would cause it to do that..

[@jDot2414]

Hey, I have a 2006 mercury monterey , 87k miles on it. out of nowhere beginning to stall. battery is fine , engine stalls , steering gets tight and breaks freeze up a bit. any help would be appreciated ? Local mechanic couldn’t find anything , he cleaned throttle body, and replace idle air control valve .

[@amberericjones5694]

Does it have a check engine light on

[@jDot2414]

@@amberericjones5694 it does when it stalls but soon as I turn the van back on the check engine light clears: I don’t own any equipment to read the light . And unfortunately it happens at such random times.

[@amberericjones5694]

@@jDot2414 itll illuminate on any that stalls just like if you were to turn the key to the on position. May not have any codes reading. One of those situations somethings going out but it's not enough to trigger a engine light while running.. all charging I assume is good. It could be anything with out actually being there to diagnose it I'm just shooting the wind. I'd start with fuel pressure go to the easiest source first. Sometimes fuel pressure if it's not enough to keep flowing to the rail can cause it to stall. Fuel pump or bad ground or something can be culprit. It can be anything

[@jDot2414]

@@amberericjones5694 thank you! I will check the fuel pump, I’ve read sometimes it can be the computer on these vans something to do with when it rains the way the windshield wipers are set up it lets rain get into the computer system. Also read cam shaft synchronizer is common on these vans , tho not to sure what that is lol. Thank you 🙏🏻

[@vanchie21]

@@jDot2414 the cam shaft sync. Basically tells the ignition coil what cylinder to fire and it also drives the oil pump, yeah when the oil pump locks that shaft will shear sucked for me finding a new one

[@oldcelt1520]

Check your PCM. There could be moisture and it could be sending wrong codes....check out this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppnLpXloiNRjedk

[@amberericjones5694]

Dave Dickey I'll check that out next time I head back to dad's.

[@mrduffy_4090]

It’s the PCM

[@amberericjones5694]

Which I do have a video of that pcm was corroded

[@amberericjones5694]

We no longer have the van my father traded it off for a dodge caravan before he passed.

[@emmanuelblanco4718]

Dealing with the same problem right now, I'm sick of it.

[@amberericjones5694]

Check the pcm

[@emmanuelblanco4718]

@@amberericjones5694 I will, thanks for the videos.

[@amberericjones5694]

@@emmanuelblanco4718 I got a video on this one checking pcm on this van. An sure enough there's corrosion from water.

[@emmanuelblanco4718]

@@amberericjones5694 I just took it apart and it has water in it... I don't now if I just have to use a hairdryer to evaporate the water and that's it.

[@amberericjones5694]

@@emmanuelblanco4718 its got water inside the cover of the computer is there any corrosion going on.

[@jodieperkins7131]

Pcm wet

[@amberericjones5694]

Yup corrosion in with the pins

[@willg9764]

IAC

[@samtoler7306]

Vacume leak

[@amberericjones5694]

Sam Nunya no vaccum leaks

[@amberericjones5694]

Sam Nunya I'm beginning to think it's the pcm under the crowl panel. Somebody here mentioned it I looked it up. Which could be it if it gets wet. It can't perform properly.

[@samtoler]

On fords the "Pvc" hoses tend to be made of cheap rubber split . causing this issue among others. they get mushy and collapse. there should be hard plastic tubing then these cheap pieces of rubber connecting them to intake, pcv ect.. tf you put your finger on bottom side of said connections you will feel what I'm talking about. many don't cause noise just issues like this, then others have a haunting howl in intakes usaly on a 4.6 for howl.

[@amberericjones5694]

Sam Toler we had to fix it few years ago but rock auto sent the wrong piece. So I had to use a hose and ran good after... I rechecked it not to long ago but the hose wasn't collapsed