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1998 Wrangler High Idle, w/ New TPS

40K views 25 replies 8 participants last post by  Broadcastmatt 
#1 ·
I have a 98 2.5L 4cyl. Wrangler that has a high idle. When I start it cold it is pretty normal, around the 750-850 rpm area, but as the engine warms and/or I drive it the idle rises to upwards of 2000 rpm, and would likely keep going if I let it get higher. When I start it warm it will spike up to 2000 or so and then come back down to 1000 area.

A couple weeks ago my check engine light went on and the code was for the TPS (Throttle Position Sensor), so I just replaced that hoping it would solve the problem. I also used STP throttle body cleaner spray to clean the TB while I have the air duct off.

I was told by a local mechanic who just took a look at it and he didn't think it was a vacuum leak because the idle would be high even when starting it cold.

Kicker- My water pump was leaking for a while and I had just replaced it. I did not have the idle problems until after replacing the water pump, but the check engine light with the TPS code occured prior to replacing the pump.

Any Ideas?? I am not vert versed in doing things on my own, but I can hanlde many things.
 
#4 · (Edited)
Usually a high idle is caused by a vacuum leak but it could also be caused by a hanging IAC (idle air controller). The IAC is what provides all of the engine's air at idle and if it is dirty enough to hang up, it might feed too much air into the throttle body.

Check out this thread for info on how to clean it... idle speed help

Just make sure there's no reason for a vacuum leak too... like if the intake manifold had been removed/replaced in recent history. :)
 
#5 ·
Alright, I tried disconneting the battery but still, the gradual increase of idle speed (kind of like the seconds hand of an analog clock) gets up to 1750 when the temp gage hits mid-way.

Now, on the thread that Jerry directed me to, it says to use the throttle body cleaning spray by concentrating into the AIC hole within the throttle body. How much spray? Is there such thing as too much? And if it gets to the point where I must disconect it and clean the plunger, will i know it when i see it?

Unfortunetly, I don't know if the intake manifold has been replaced before, it doesn't appear to have been. Also, I do think I hear a slight whistle coming from the passenger side of the engine, which would indicate a vacuum leak, but not sure which hoses to check. Sorry, I know I must be ignorant.
 
#8 ·
I removed the IAC, disconnected it to get my rachet around the wiring, and cleaned the plunger with the spray cleaner and a cloth, also used some more spray in the area between the inlet and the IAC; still no improvement:banghead:

I took it for a ride and when I would shift out of gear to another, the RPMs would drop drastically down to 850-1100 area but then spike right back up to 1500-2000 rpm.. perhaps that is a clue. Another observation is I would be driving and then drop out of gear into nuetral, and that same drop in RPM to say the 'normal" idle speed - then back up to the excessive speed.

:confused:
 
#11 ·
The purpose of spraying TB cleaner, brake cleaner, WD-40, etc. is to allow the vacuum leak to suck it into the engine which will cause a sudden rpm change. Same thing with propane... using a common propane torch like any hardware store sells, turn the gas on fairly low and without lighting it, point the propane gas flow at the likely points of leak (including the where the intake manifold is bolted to the head. An rpm jump will confirm the propane (or whatever) has been sucked into the engine and you have found the leak. Some people swear by propane but I'd rather use an aerosol can full of cleaner myself. :)
 
#14 ·
Alright, so i took WD-40 and sprayed around the TB near all the hose connections, and where the intake manifold connects to the engine.. bu again.. no changes in the idle... I might not be spraying the right areas though..

could the drive belt be causing this? too tight? Ummm I just had the thermostat changed while I was doing the water pump... anything there? I also flushed the coolant after the water pump change, maybe water somewhere?... distributor cap wet?

Just throwing as much out there to maybe get a better idea; vaccuum still seems most likely?
 
#17 ·
You had the water pump done? Isn't the temp sensor in the thermostat housing, right by the water pump?

Take a real close look at the temp sensor's wire and the crimped end. Since they probably took it off to get it out of the way, they may have broken the wire, or it's connection is intermittent.

Brake cleaner - (if there is a vacuum leak it gets in the combustion chamber) when brake cleaner burns it creates a very deadly gas.

WD-40, most carb and TB cleaners don't burn like gasoline, you might as well use water.
It takes a lot of it to affect the idle by flooding the cylinder, or it may temporarily plug the leak by surface tension.

The best is a burnable cleaner, like Gumout.

But - the problem with a liquid is it can wash dirt into the leak temporarily. Plus if it is burnable and ignites, the puddles continue to burn, possible melting things or even burning the vehicle down.

The best way is gasoline - but that's way to dangerous - plus it ruins paint.

Propane can ignite, but it has to be in the right proportion of air to fuel. Plus if it ever does ignite - it flashes, scares hell out of you, then it's out. It doesn't puddle and continue to burn. Just don't spray it on the distributor. Even if it doesn't ignite, it's gone within seconds.
 
#18 ·
if you don't find a vacuum leak try completly replacing the IAC. I cleaned mine out that had the same problem a few times with no luck. replaced the TPS, still had the same problem. But when I replaced the IAC, everything went back to normal.

1998 TJ 4cyl...seems like they had the exact same issue...
 
#21 ·
It is a possability that there may have been a decent amount of rouge water... I started it when it was dry out and did have a slight drip of what appeared to be water coming from the the tail-pipe. How/What might the water effect the idle if it could?

Change any of your thoughts?
 
#22 ·
What area do you live?

Is there any water in/around your air cleaner? Is the filter dry?

Did any of the other sensors get really soaked (especially the higher ones)?

I don't know if it applies, but I had a similar thing happen for a couple days after I powerwashed my firewall...

Check for dryness and if you can, give it a good day with the hood open in the sunshine..
 
#23 ·
It didnt get too wet during the flush, most of the water that went rouge stayed at the front of the vehicle near the radiator. Everything in that area stayed pretty dry. I'm starting to think it may be the IAC from what everyone is telling me. Now I just have to find one and see if thats the case i guess
 
#24 ·
RESOLUTION!

Boys, so i think I broke the code, but I stopped by a local shop (one man run, pretty cool guy) to spend the $80 bucks to find out if he could find something I couldn't with a vaccuum problem.

Sure enough, there was a leak. He said on the intake manifold there was a bolt that appeared to have been missing for years, was pretty impossible to notice though. He said I would never have found it with brake/throttle cleaner because its not as flamable these days as it used to be, and everything else is very dangerous.

He used a smoke machine, let the engine take it in and was able to pinpoint the leak. He said the warmer the engine got the more the gasket would expand, thus the reason for the increase in idle speed as the temp went up. There was another bolt that was loose as well because of the missing bolt. He put in a new one and tightened the old bolt, and now my TJ sounds and drives great!

Thanks everyone for all your help.. in the end, between replacing the water pump, TPS, cleaning the IAC, TB, and buying a few supplies, I spent $305. The water pump labor alone was going to be no less than $240. So with your help I saved some $$, learned a lot, and did some good things to the Jeep. Thanks again. And if I wasn't such a newb, I might of found the vaccuum leak.

Matt
 
#26 ·
The Mechanic said it was on the underside of the intake manifold. It was an open shop and I had got there to see him just putting things back together, he had a few crazy ratchet extensions to get to it. I never saw exactly where it was, but like I said, he used a smoke machine to find the exact spot and took care of it within an hour.

Once he replaced it with a new one and tightened the existing bolts it ran great.
 
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