Car starts at high idle for a few seconds, When your driving it is fine but if you have to stop it idles really low and dies. It is a 200 Ford Focus XL.

It can be issue with IAC( idle air control valve) causing the problem.

There are many other possibilities causing these idle issues. Engine idles rough.

There are few help links with solutions to troubleshoot such idle issues.

I suggest you refer the link below and follow its troubleshooting details:------

Click the link below:-----

Ford Expedition IAC valve replacing

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/12/ford-expedition-iac-valve-replacing.html

Bad miss at idle?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/bad-miss-at-idle.html

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Stumbling and stalling at idle after engine rebuild?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/03/stumbling-and-stalling-at-idle-after.html

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1999 Ford F-150 Idles rough and quits when gas pedal is pressed less?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/01/1999-ford-f-150-idles-rough-and-quits.html

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Engine stumbles coming off idle when warm?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/01/engine-stumbles-coming-off-idle-when.html

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Erratic idle on car?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/erratic-idle-on-car.html

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Cold start problem and vehicle shudder around 2500 to 3500 rpms

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/10/cold-start-problem-and-vehicle-shudder.html

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Low idle when cold out side?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/12/low-idle-when-cold-out-side.html

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GMC Sonoma Stalls and idles low

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/10/gmc-sonoma-stalls-and-idles-low.html

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GMC Idle Air Control (IAC) Valve Replacing?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/gmc-idle-air-control-iac-valve.html

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1996 Camry intermittent engine failure while idle?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/10/1996-camry-intermittent-engine-failure.html

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Engine quits at idle?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/10/engine-quits-at-idle.html

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Car overheats and Air blows hot at idle?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-overheats-and-air-blows-hot-at-idle.html

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High Idle Problem

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/10/high-idle-problem.html

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While stop engine idles like cylinder missing?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-stop-engine-idles-like-cylinder.html

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Idle flair is noticed on car? Rough idle? car will not idle? Erratic idle speed?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/idle-flair-is-noticed-on-car-rough-idle.html

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High rpm in neutral? Inconsistant high RPM in neutral?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/high-rpm-in-neutral-inconsistant-high.html

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Vehicle stumbling at idle and shows code 54?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/03/vehicle-stumbling-at-idle-and-shows.html

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Rough idle, staling and Erratic shifting?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/03/rough-idlestaling-and-erratic-shifting.html

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While stop engine idles like cylinder missing?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-stop-engine-idles-like-cylinder.html

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These details will help.

Thanks.

It can be issue with IAC( idle air control valve) causing the problem.

There are many other possibilities causing these idle issues. Engine idles rough.

There are few help links with solutions to troubleshoot such idle issues.

I suggest you refer the link below and follow its troubleshooting details:------

Click the link below:-----

Ford Expedition IAC valve replacing

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/12/ford-expedition-iac-valve-replacing.html

Bad miss at idle?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/bad-miss-at-idle.html

-----------

Stumbling and stalling at idle after engine rebuild?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/03/stumbling-and-stalling-at-idle-after.html

------------

1999 Ford F-150 Idles rough and quits when gas pedal is pressed less?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/01/1999-ford-f-150-idles-rough-and-quits.html

---------

Engine stumbles coming off idle when warm?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/01/engine-stumbles-coming-off-idle-when.html

------------------

Erratic idle on car?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/erratic-idle-on-car.html

-----------

Cold start problem and vehicle shudder around 2500 to 3500 rpms

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/10/cold-start-problem-and-vehicle-shudder.html

----------

Low idle when cold out side?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/12/low-idle-when-cold-out-side.html

-----------

GMC Sonoma Stalls and idles low

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/10/gmc-sonoma-stalls-and-idles-low.html

--------

GMC Idle Air Control (IAC) Valve Replacing?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/gmc-idle-air-control-iac-valve.html

-------------

1996 Camry intermittent engine failure while idle?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/10/1996-camry-intermittent-engine-failure.html

------------

Engine quits at idle?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/10/engine-quits-at-idle.html

-----------

Car overheats and Air blows hot at idle?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-overheats-and-air-blows-hot-at-idle.html

---------

High Idle Problem

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/10/high-idle-problem.html

-------

While stop engine idles like cylinder missing?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-stop-engine-idles-like-cylinder.html

---------

Idle flair is noticed on car? Rough idle? car will not idle? Erratic idle speed?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/idle-flair-is-noticed-on-car-rough-idle.html

--------

High rpm in neutral? Inconsistant high RPM in neutral?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/high-rpm-in-neutral-inconsistant-high.html

-------

Vehicle stumbling at idle and shows code 54?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/03/vehicle-stumbling-at-idle-and-shows.html

----------

Rough idle, staling and Erratic shifting?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/03/rough-idlestaling-and-erratic-shifting.html

-----------

While stop engine idles like cylinder missing?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-stop-engine-idles-like-cylinder.html

---------

These details will help.

Thanks.

It can be low fuel pressure issue or clogged fuel pump. Or its engine related issues,---------------

Check the help link mentioned below to troubleshoot the problem: ------

Engine stalls when gas is given?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/01/engine-stalls-when-gas-is-given.html

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Car stalls when MAF sensor is connected?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/01/car-stalls-when-maf-sensor-is-connected.html

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Car Engine Stalls While Driving?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-engine-stalls-while-driving.html

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Car stalls and throws white smoke from exhaust?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/01/car-stalls-and-throws-white-smoke-from.html

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Stalls And Dies At Stop Sign?

http://www.howtobyme.blogspot.com/2012/07/stalls-and-dies-at-stop-sign.html

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GMC Sonoma Stalls and idles low

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/10/gmc-sonoma-stalls-and-idles-low.html

------------

Nissan Pathfinder stalls and bucks on Acceleration?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/nissan-pathfinder-stalls-and-bucks-on.html

-----------------

1992 Chevrolet stalls and shutdown?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/04/1992-chevrolet-stalls-and-shutdown.html

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Stumbling and stalling at idle after engine rebuild?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/03/stumbling-and-stalling-at-idle-after.html

--------------

1990 mazda 323 stalls and quit running?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/1990-mazda-323-stalls-and-quit-running.html

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2000 Toyota Camry: Idling and Stalling Problem?

http://whatisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/05/2000-toyota-camry-idling-and-stalling.html

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1995 Toyota Corolla: Stalls, Sputters and Pops Through Intake Manifold?

http://whatisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/05/1995-toyota-corolla-stalls-sputters-and.html

----------------

1999 Toyota Camry: Erratic stalling and high engine RPM at idle?

http://whatisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/05/1999-toyota-camry-erratic-stalling-and.html

--------------

Dodge Dakota stalls, stumbles at idle. Has low fuel flow and runs hot?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/03/dodge-dakota-stallsstumbles-at-idlehas.html

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1994 Toyota 4Runner: Stalls and Stops While Driving?

http://whatisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/05/1994-toyota-4runner-stalls-and-stops.html

---------------

1997 Toyota Camry: Erratic Idle and Intermittent engine stalling?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/04/1997-toyota-camry-erratic-idle-and.html

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Ford Maverick: No Idle and Stalling issues?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/04/ford-maverick-no-idle-and-stalling.html

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These details will help.

Thanks.

Hi timberdwelle,

I believe you Ford dies while idling is because it's idle is too low, adjust the idling you will notice the change from the sound of the engine and base on the speedometer to see how high the needles goes up, don't go over 2 lines.

I hope this helps,

michaelvincentc

I had the same problem and it was a vacuum leak in the PVC hose. It's hard to track the vacuum lines, but if you take it into local mechanic they can do a "fog" or "smoke" test they call it, and if you do have a vacuum leak it will show up. My car was doing same thing and it was the PVC hose, which is hard to see & hard to get to. $200 parts and labor to replace and it was fixed.

have the check engine light checked at a parts store its usuall free. I would bet its the idle air control motor. This controls the fuel air mixture at idle

check for possible vac leaks.

not sure, but if battery was dead and alt was replaced.... the computer may have lost some of its memory and need to be re-flashed

Could be the throttle position sensor. ?

this is your problem:

Here are the most common causes of surges, stalls at stops, low erratic idle speed, rough idle and engine hesitation (and other problems), it is in most cases the idle speed control air-bypass valve and or throttle valve and upper intake, these area's get full of gunk and combustion residue over the miles and cause idle issues (stalls, low idle) like yours, Get a can of intake cleaner from any local parts store, not carb spray, intake cleaner, it is made by a company called CRC, remove the air intake hose to the engine, hold the idle high so the engine won't stall, then spray the can of cleaner into the intake while keeping the engine running, use at least 1/2 the can, shut down the engine and disconnect the battery for 5 minutes, then restart and complete a number of mixed driving cycles, town, freeway, stop and go etc., after a few days the problem will go away as the system will relearn to the clean intake