2001 Explorer Throttle Body Relearn Procedure

Learn how to perform a 2001 Explorer throttle body relearn procedure

Any time you disconnect battery power to the vehicle or the

This image shows a Ford Ecoboost 3.5L throttle body

powertrain control module (PCM) you lose the baseline throttle body position. That can cause a no-start or rough idle condition. This post shows the procedure for performing a 2001 Explorer  throttle body relearn. to re-establish the throttle body baseline. and fuel trims and give you a smooth idle.

Follow this 7-step 2001 Explorer Throttle Body Relearn procedure

Perform this procedure any time you disconnect the battery cables or remove any of the fuses that power the PCM.

NOTE: Ford states that if you do not allow the engine to relearn its idle trim, the idle quality of your vehicle may be adversely affected until the idle trim is eventually relearned.

In addition to the lose of engine adaptive memory, your vehicle also has to relearn transmission adaptive memory. Any time you disconnect the battery the following may occur:

1. The transmission will need to relearn its adaptive strategy. As a result, you may experience firm shifts during this relearning process. This is normal and will not impact the transmission’s function or durability. Over time, the adaptive learning process will fully update the transmission’s operation, restoring optimal shift feel.
2. The clock and preset radio stations will need to be reset after reconnecting the battery.

These are expected behaviors to ensure proper system calibration and operation after a battery disconnection or replacement.

Your vehicle must be stopped (engine off) before starting the procedure

1. Set the parking brake.
2. Move the gearshift to the P(Park) position and turn off all electrical accessories.
3. Start the engine.
4. Let the engine idle until the temperature gauge shows normal operating temperature (middle of the gauge).
5. Allow the engine to idle for at least one minute after reaching operating temperature.
6. Turn the air conditioning on and idle the engine for at least one additional minute.
7. With the engine still idling, release the parking brake.
8. With the engine running at idle and the air conditioning still on, apply the brake and shift the vehicle into  D (Drive). Maintain this position for at least one minute.
7. Drive your vehicle to complete the relearning process.
• Try to drive the vehicle for 10 miles or more miles so it can relearn the idle and fuel trim strategy along with the ethanol content for flexible fuel vehicles.
• If you skip the relearn procedure, you may experience poor idle quality, and engine performance may be reduced due to the failure to learn new fuel trims in a timely manner.
• For flexible fuel vehicles operating on E85, you may experience poor starts or an inability to start the engine and driveability problems until the fuel trim and ethanol content have been relearned.

Your idle should return to a normal RPM after performing this procedure. If it doesn’t, perform the entire procedure again.

©, 2024 Rick Muscoplat