Expedition throttle sticking/frozen?

[nail106]

2003 Expedition...
I've had a problem twice in the past 2 days where I'm driving (doesn't matter what speed) and I go to let off the gas pedal and the engine stays revved. Yesterday I was driving about 30mph (1800rpm or so) went to let off, and it felt like the cruise control was on--engine stayed at 1800rpm and car kept going. Happened again this morning going about 60mph (~2200rpm). It's not completely stuck, as I can still make the engine rev higher, but it just never came back down below the point it was at (1800 or 2200rpm).

The past couple days have been about 5-10F outside (I have't driven this vehicle before in this cold of weather). So is it possible that it's getting frozen? Should I take it somewhere or is this something I can remedy myself?

Both times, I turned off the heat, stopped the engine, let it sit for a minute or two, then started it back up and it didn't happen anymore during that driving "session".

Thanks a million to anyone who can maybe shed some light on this for me!

[amlitgurl]

I drive a 2002 Ford Escape, and I've had similar throttle sticking problems in cold weather. I've done a do-it-yourself fix that seems to be doing some good, but when I talked to my mechanic, he also gave me some advise, so I'll give you both.

To lessen the degree of sticking or possibly take it away altogether, you can clean the butterfly valve with an engine degreaser or carburetor cleaner. You don't want to use too much, as whatever doesn't go directly on the butterfly valve will disappear in the hose. I used a pipe cleaner or two and a toothbrush for more vigorous cleaning. After you've cleaned and wiped up with a towel as much of the extra cleaner as you can, lightly spray the butterfly valve with WD40 or similar. You can manually open and close the valve with your hands, but someone sitting in the car opening and closing it with the accelerator makes it a little easier.

My mechanic said that it's not unusual for butterfly valves to wear and get old, thereby causing the fittings of the valve to loosen. He suggests I bring it in and reset the valve to stop at the appropriate spot. As it is, he says it may be surpassing the groove that it's supposed to fit into, and that's what is causing it to stick. If yours is sticking while in motion, I doubt that the latter problem applies. Try the first fix first.

If neither of these two things are the problems, your fuel injection line could be stripped.

[04expy]

Hi Nail,

As weird as it may sound try replacing your pcv valve and check the hose for a restriction. If the valve is not flowing properly the excess blowby goes trough the breather hose and at low temperatures the moisture in the blowby gas will freeze around the throttle blade. The ice that forms will cause the throttle to stick until it has had a chance to thaw slightly.

Hope that helps

[1QIK-SNK]

Mine dose some thing kinda like that, but not while driving. When you start it up and goto give it some gas it feels like it sticks , but once the inside wams up it goes away.

[TBIRD430]

The accel cable may be fraying as well, if cleaning the throttle body butterfly doesn't help. This why I add a Sea Foam fuel treatment to my gas at every oil change. It's cheep and the build up is a slow process anyways (due to poor gasoline being made today).

[kamcam]

on my wife 2001 expedition hers did the same sticking. i fixed her by cleaning the tb you can get the cleaner from autozone. remove the air intake tube spray the butterfly' open and close it and spray the gunk out. after that ring around the butterfly is clean you should be good to go