P0507 Idle Speed Higher Than Expected
Get it checked soon
The engine idles faster than the computer is aiming for, and it cannot bring it down. A vacuum leak or a dirty or unlearned throttle body is the usual cause. Drivable, but a high idle pushes harder against the brakes, so fix it soon.
- Safe to drive?
- Yes, fix soon
- Typical cost at a shop
- $124-$767 RepairPal national averages, parts and labor
- Emissions test
- Yes, while the check engine light is on, most OBD emissions tests fail the car.
Watch idle rpm, throttle position and the fuel trims live to find a vacuum leak or a dirty throttle.
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Codes and live sensors are free in the app. Obie, the AI mechanic, is part of ScanMyCar Pro.
What it means
When you are not pressing the pedal, the computer controls idle speed with an electronic throttle or an idle air control valve. P0507 means the idle stayed higher than the target, even with the computer closing the throttle as far as it can. Extra air is getting in somewhere.
The technical version
The idle control system sets a target rpm from coolant temperature, loads such as the air conditioning, and the gear. P0507 sets when actual rpm stays above the target by more than a set margin for a set time. Vacuum leaks, a dirty or worn idle air control valve, a throttle body that has not relearned its closed position after cleaning or a battery disconnect, and a PCV fault are common causes.
Official name: Idle Control System RPM Higher Than Expected.
Symptoms
- High idle, often 1,000 rpm or more when warm.
- Idle that surges up and down.
- More creep in Drive.
- Sometimes a hissing sound.
Causes, most likely first
| Cause | How likely | How to tell |
|---|---|---|
| A vacuum leak (hose, intake gasket, brake booster) | most common | Hissing at idle; lean fuel trims. |
| A dirty throttle body or idle air control valve | common | Carbon around the throttle plate. |
| A throttle body that needs an idle relearn | common | It started after cleaning, a battery disconnect or a new throttle body. |
| A faulty PCV valve or hose | less common | A cracked or collapsed PCV hose. |
| A faulty throttle body or sticking throttle cable | less common | The throttle does not close fully. |
How likely is our ranking from repair data and common practice, not a published rate.
What the live data shows
Watch rpm, throttle position and fuel trims at warm idle with everything switched off. A healthy engine idles near its target with the throttle almost closed. High rpm with a nearly closed throttle and positive fuel trims points to a vacuum leak. Some cars also show the target idle speed and the idle air control position.
What to check first, in order
-
Listen for hissing and inspect vacuum hoses.
Vacuum leaks are the most common cause.
What the data shows: Positive fuel trims at idle support a leak.
Cost: free to look
-
Clean the throttle body if it is dirty.
Carbon changes the airflow at idle.
What the data shows: Idle drops toward the target afterwards.
Cost: a can of throttle body cleaner
-
Run the idle relearn for your car.
Needed after cleaning or a battery disconnect on many cars.
What the data shows: Idle settles after the relearn.
Cost: free
-
Check the PCV valve and its hoses.
A cheap part that can leak air.
What the data shows: No reading needed.
Cost: $124-$173 at a shop (PCV valve replacement, RepairPal)
-
Replace the throttle body if it still idles high.
It can fail or wear.
What the data shows: Idle near the target.
Cost: $627-$767 at a shop (Throttle body replacement, RepairPal)
Is it safe to drive?
Get it checked soon
Yes, fix soon. A high idle makes the car creep harder and can wear the brakes and the transmission.
Usually drivable. Expect a high or surging idle and more creep in Drive, so keep a firm foot on the brake. A throttle that sticks open or an engine that races on its own is different and urgent: shift to neutral, stop safely and do not drive.
Stop driving and get help if
- The engine races on its own or the throttle sticks.
- The car is hard to hold with the brakes.
What it costs
| Repair | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Check engine light diagnosis (shop)RepairPal, updated September 3, 2026 | $125-$183 |
| PCV valve replacementRepairPal, updated September 3, 2026 | $124-$173 |
| Throttle body replacementRepairPal, updated June 18, 2026 | $627-$767 |
National averages for the full job at a shop, parts and labor, from RepairPal (updated June 18 and September 3, 2026). Your price depends on the car and the area. Many of the first checks on this page cost nothing with a scanner. RepairPal publishes no separate estimate for an idle air control valve, which older cars use instead of an electronic throttle.
Can I clear it? Will it come back?
After the repair, clear the code and drive. Many cars need an idle relearn first: follow the procedure for your car. If the idle stays near the target, the fix worked.
Will it fail an emissions test?
Yes, while the check engine light is on, most OBD emissions tests fail the car.
Related codes
Also related, no guide yet: P0505, P0506.
How Obie handles P0507
Obie reads rpm, throttle position and fuel trims at idle and tells you whether the pattern points to a vacuum leak, a dirty throttle or a relearn. Obie is part of ScanMyCar Pro. Codes and live sensors are free.
Questions people ask
Can I drive with P0507?
Usually, but keep a firm foot on the brake. Stop driving if the engine races on its own.
Can cleaning the throttle body cause P0507?
Yes, on many cars, until the computer relearns the idle. Follow the relearn procedure for your car.
Is P0507 a vacuum leak?
Often. A vacuum leak lets in air the computer did not plan for, which raises the idle.
Sources
- RepairPal: P0507 code page repairpal.com
- RepairPal: Check engine light diagnosis (shop) (updated September 3, 2026) repairpal.com
- RepairPal: PCV valve replacement (updated September 3, 2026) repairpal.com
- RepairPal: Throttle body replacement (updated June 18, 2026) repairpal.com
- Texas DPS emissions testing FAQ dps.texas.gov
- Arizona myazcar.com: OBD and the check engine light myazcar.com
A guide, not a diagnosis. This page describes what P0507 generally means across OBD2 cars. What is actually wrong with your car depends on its live data and its history, and any repair decision deserves a proper diagnosis, whether that is you with a scanner or a professional with a lift.