Bad PCV valve symptoms

[gw33gp]

For several weeks I have been having idle issues. Sometimes it would be normal and other times it would be high ranging from around 1600 to 1000 rpm. The high ide got more frequent as time went on. Sometimes when after decelerating it would kind of hesitate when I stepped on the accelerator pedal and then it would jump forward quickly. This did not happen often and only after driving it long time.

I kept thinking it seemed related to a vacuum leak but could not figure out why it was so inconsistent. Then I realized the PCV valve was a controlled vacuum leak and if it was not working properly could possibly give me these symptoms. I felt that it may be the only thing that could do this and be inconsistent.

I had not changed the PCV valve in a while and they are not too expensive, so I decided to change it. The 4.0 SOHC engine has it in a kind of difficult place for accessibility but certainly doable. I have been driving it for 2 days now and idle is back to normal. I have not driven it long enough to experience the hesitation part, but I suspect that is gone too.

I hope this helps anyone else that may be having a similar issue.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Sounds like you may have fixed it.

Not a SOHC but OHV engine... I've had a collapsed/split vacuum hose give me some similar idle issues. Not consistent but was definitely temperature related.

 

[DILLARD000]

Good troubleshoot & fix!
I try to remember to replace or at least clean the PCVValve on this 2001 V6~4.0L~SOHC, every 33kMiles\4yrs.
Deleted the danged 5/16"CoolantWarmingOxbow+LoopHoses+MiniExchanger+TeeFittings several years ago,
so PCVValve is easier to get at & change now.

 

[gw33gp]

I did not delete the coolant loop but I flexed it out, so it is easy to take off of the PCV valve and don't have to spill coolant changing the loop. It fits loose on the PCV valve and most likely does not function as well but is a little better than eliminating it.

I don't know how necessary it is in the climate I have in SoCal.