Location Chicago:
I have a 2001 Cherokee and have the same issues with the idle control. This problem has developed over the last 5 years. A few things I have figured out after numerous attempts to fix the issue. It does not seem to matter how often I replace the sensor or test the functions, the symptoms continue to occur in different times of the year. These symptoms seems to occur seasonal or with changes in the weather. I can go months without a single problem and one day…. Dam… it’s not working again. It continues to not function properly for a week or so and suddenly it works for another few months. I know we are gong into our snow season and 3 days ago it started having its issues. I can’t warm up my car in the cold without sitting in it and manually keeping the idle up other wise the idle immediately drops to 0 and engine dies. My idle also has done the opposite and reached almost 2000 rpm or 2,500 rpm and I actually have to press on the brake so it does not move forward. It is scary to hear the engine reach such High levels because I feel I can’t control it.
I can’t use my remote starter because of these problems. Sometimes when I step on the accelerator and give it some gas in high idle it may correct itself, but most likely it does nothing. Extra acceleration does not correct in low idle. People have mentioned that I might have a vacuum leak, but when I tell them that it comes and goes 2 times a year, they look at me in a bewildered way. I have not done a vacuum leak because the symptoms are not continuous. If I had a vacuum leak it would have this problem all the time and it doesn’t. [br]
So, I concluded over several attempts to fix this issue myself and with professional mechanics replacing parts and the symptoms still Come and go twice a year. Seasonal changes must play a role in how my jeep functions. Any advice will be greatly appreciated or I am just crazy. ?