# 2003 Ford Escape V6 Needs Experts Advice **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [June 4, 2013, 2:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-escape-v6-needs-experts-advice/79727 "2013-06-04T02:21:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Struggler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@Struggler](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Struggler)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 2:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-escape-v6-needs-experts-advice/79727/1 "2013-06-04T02:21:24Z")
So . . . my car runs fine almost all the time and I love it. But every couple of weeks when I start her up she won’t hold a steady idle. Unless I hold my foot on the accelerator pedal she dies right out. I have had to limp home as she dies at each stop light. I have tried disconnecting the battery to re-set the computer but it never seems to help. On the drive home, there will be episodes of misfiring after which the computer will re-set itself. (The dash instruments go to zero and then back into normal range while I am driving down the road!) After a couple of re-sets, the car drives fine the rest of the way and continues fine for a couple of weeks (except for some misfiring at idle). And at cruising speed there is a chatter behind the dash which sounds like its from the computer–very intermittent and only at around 45-60 mph–it only lasts a few seconds and goes away when I changed speed. Has anybody ever had these problems? The car is great in every other way after 104,000 miles. In the past 12 months I have changed the thermostat, the plugs, the PCV, the fuel filter, and the air filter. A year ago both Brake Sensor rings cracked so I replaced both CV shafts. The crankshaft position sensor code came on twice and I replaced it twice. I do all my own work but I am stuck in a rut right now. Has anyone had this problem and solved it? Thanks, Struggler ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 5:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-escape-v6-needs-experts-advice/79727/2 "2013-06-04T05:02:42Z")
@Struggler You may have more than 1 problem . . . “Won’t hold a steady idle . . . dies at each stop light” almost certainly the IAC idle air control valve Common problem on Fords, and it’s an easy fix As for the misfires, a lot of things could be causing them Check fuel pressure Do an injector balance test Do a compression test I will say this . . . if you let that misfire go for too long, you may wind up damaging the cat Does your engine us wires or is it COP coil on plug? ---
**Author:** ![Cougar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cougar/32/21348_2.png) [@Cougar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cougar)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-escape-v6-needs-experts-advice/79727/3 "2013-06-04T14:59:48Z")
There are lots of things that could cause the intermittent idle issue. You will have to eliminate things one at a time to get to the trouble, starting with the most likely issues. The dash problem appears to be due to a intermittent power problem to the dash area. By looking at a wiring diagram and by checking which things are affected you should be able to locate suspect trouble areas in the wire connections.