It was cold between 9-10 degrees yesterday. When I got into my daughters '01 TL to start it, it turned over ok. About 45 seconds later I hit the accelerator to rev it a bit and it suddenly raced by itself upward to about 4-5000 RPM. Thinking the accelerator stuck, I wedged my shoe in but without results. So I turned the car off. About five minutes later I started it again, let it run and it was ok. I did the same this a.m. in about 25 degrees outside, reved it to 4000 five times and its ok again. But I am freaked by the idea of my daughter having this happen again while in drive. I will meet w/ mechanic tomorrow but I am asking what the community thinks. Car is 2001 w/ 145K and needs a slight valve adj.

 

Welcome to Acurazine!


A racing idle could be a few things but start with the basics. Try to clean and lube the throttle springs they might be sticking. Also clean the throttle body and clean the entrance of the body, the plate and lube the throttle body plate hinges with some all purpose oil.


Best case scenario something is just gunked up.

 

I had similar problem from idle 800 rpm to 1500 every two seconds back and forth mechanic scanned codes told me I needed a 400.00 valve adjustment because I had 9 codes from Po 300 to Po 306 (misfire codes) P141 and a p1399 took it to dealer they said I needed O2 sensors which I had done(379.) and a Automatic Idle control valve for 200 dollars plus labour 150.00 they had to order part so I took car home and took off throttle body cleaned it with carb cleaner and I seen the valve was all carboned up then I lubed it with seafoam deep creep the car purrs now I cancelled the part and asked why don't they clean them ( its easier to replace I was told ) so problem fixed very common 275,00 km 2nd transmission

 

Welcome Undersail!

The simplest fix is cleaning the throttle body and iacv valve and lubing up the springs.