How do I clean my IAC valve?
10-14-2009, 12:00 PM
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How do I clean my IAC valve? Hey all,
My car has a problem where it will occasionally idle at 500 rpm or lower when I come to a traffic light. I have figured this problem to be linked to the IAC valve. Does anybody have a procedure for removing it and cleaning it? I have 85k on the car, and it probably hasn't been cleaned. I have searched for a procedure on here, and can't really find anything. Thanks.
My car has a problem where it will occasionally idle at 500 rpm or lower when I come to a traffic light. I have figured this problem to be linked to the IAC valve. Does anybody have a procedure for removing it and cleaning it? I have 85k on the car, and it probably hasn't been cleaned. I have searched for a procedure on here, and can't really find anything. Thanks.
Last edited by Tuffguy610; 10-14-2009 at 12:01 PM. Reason: .
10-14-2009, 12:36 PM
#2
Unplug it first. Then take the two torx screws out and the valve comes out in one piece.
Simply spray the hell out of it, everywhere, with MAF cleaner or Sea Foam spray or WD-40.
Then spray inside the port where it goes. Black crap builds up in there and that black rubber piece on the valve leaves a gummy residue in there. You can twist a rag and stick it in there too to get the crud out.
Actually, its rarely the IAC valve causes idling issues, those damn things last forever. But it could be. Its usually a vacuum leak, dirty filters or dirty injector(s).
.
Simply spray the hell out of it, everywhere, with MAF cleaner or Sea Foam spray or WD-40.
Then spray inside the port where it goes. Black crap builds up in there and that black rubber piece on the valve leaves a gummy residue in there. You can twist a rag and stick it in there too to get the crud out.
Actually, its rarely the IAC valve causes idling issues, those damn things last forever. But it could be. Its usually a vacuum leak, dirty filters or dirty injector(s).
.
10-14-2009, 12:53 PM
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Thanks. I was afraid to take it out because I took one out on another car I used to have, and the plunger assembly sprung right off of the actuator! I had to go to the parts yard and get another. But yea, the car runs good other than the random idle issue. Sometimes I start it up in the garage and let it run, and it seems like after a little while it will get real quiet and begin to fight as the RPMs drop. It seems like its getting starved, sometimes it throws a lean code or two (maybe once every 2 weeks). I have basically ruled out the MAF because the car does not buck when the converter locks up (i've had bad MAFs before and they've done that) and runs great all the way up to 6000 RPMs .
10-14-2009, 01:11 PM
#4
Thanks. I was afraid to take it out because I took one out on another car I used to have, and the plunger assembly sprung right off of the actuator! I had to go to the parts yard and get another. But yea, the car runs good other than the random idle issue. Sometimes I start it up in the garage and let it run, and it seems like after a little while it will get real quiet and begin to fight as the RPMs drop. It seems like its getting starved, sometimes it throws a lean code or two (maybe once every 2 weeks). I have basically ruled out the MAF because the car does not buck when the converter locks up (i've had bad MAFs before and they've done that) and runs great all the way up to 6000 RPMs .
I've had mine out about 6 times to clean it over the years and its always nicely together.
While you're at it...spray the hell out of the MAF anyway to clean it. Also....lift your lid and spray the hell out of the IAT sensor thats stuck in the lid. They need cleaning sometimes.
.
10-15-2009, 07:27 PM
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