Pulsating idle

Jan 28, 2018 4 Replies

Ford Focus Mk1. 2001, 1.6 petrol, 140K miles



Once warmed up the idle will regularly pulse with 2 or 3 second period between 800 and 900 rpm. It sits at 800rpm and "blips" to 900 rpm before immediately falling back to 800 rpm. This pulsing is more pronounced if the lights or heated screen is on nd the blip may just reach 1000 rpm. It's almost as if its detecting a lower battery voltage and increasing the engine revs but as soon as the alternator supplies more power it senses this and drops the revs back to 800 rpm.



There is no noticeable drop in performance when driving. Car starts on first turn of key and when cold the idle is at approx 1200 rpm which drops back to nominally 800 rpm after warming up for 10 minutes.



Any ideas?


air leak is first check, then dirty throttle valve assembly

Thanks - one can of throttle body cleaner later and the idle has settled down to a steady 800rpm.

The throttle body didn't look that dirty. I was a bit worried afterwards that the idle was around 950 rpm but after a 10 mile drive it; s come back to 800rpm.

They often take a while to relearn, glad to hear it is better.

Sensor electrical contact problem? Unplug and plug back Air Mass sensor and see if it helps.

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