I am about to pull my IAC valve and clean it due to my idle fluxuating up and down, but I was wondering what I should use to clean it with. Any suggestions???


Thanks.

 

throttle body cleaner, or carb cleaner, either works, don't forget about the passage either

 

remember to hold it pintle down. If you get that cleaner into the motor windings, it'll melt the laquer on the wires and short it out. Been there, done that, never do it again.

 

how much does a new IAC valve cost to replace? are they hard to take out? I haven't looked in my Hayne's manual yet, but I don't think they should be too hard.

Also, IF your IAC needs to be cleaned or is bad, would it set off any codes? I have an irregular idle and it's setting off my MAF sensor, and i have replaced it twice now (stupid remanufactures).

 

how much does a new IAC valve cost to replace? are they hard to take out? I haven't looked in my Hayne's manual yet, but I don't think they should be too hard.

Also, IF your IAC needs to be cleaned or is bad, would it set off any codes? I have an irregular idle and it's setting off my MAF sensor, and i have replaced it twice now (stupid remanufactures).

 

It's EASY to take out, all you do is unplug it, and get a wrench on it to remove it. Then clean it and the passageways and put it back in.

What exactly is going on with your idle? Give me a good description of what's happening and I will do what I can to help you out. most idle problems are not caused by a bad IAC. Dirty, yes, because the pintle doesn't seat right, but if you still have the problem after cleaning it, let me know exactly what is going on, and I'll give you a crap load of ideas. Here's a few.

Bad PCV Valve.
Intake manifold leak, even a small one.
Bad O2, not common, but it happens.
bad vacuum operated component like egr, Air injection diverter valve, Cruise control, A/C Controls and associated hoses.
Bad/Misadjusted TPS.
Bad VSS

Give me an idea of what's going on and I can narrow i down for ya'

Do you have a Breather filter on your valve cover instead of the oil cap and breather tube to the intake boot? That'll cause it too. It'll also give you a MAF code.

Jeff

 

All I really know is I just had it in the shop, spent $1000 on it for a new distributer, a magnaflow catback exhaust, and some donut gaskets replaced. The MAF was the WRONG ONE i had in the car, causing my engine to flood. The freakin store gave me the wrong MAF sensor back in october (must of been misplaced in box) and car didn't run for the longest time. Got all that done.
Now, I have new (reman) MAF sensor in, the car is idling REALLY high, then REALLY low, trying to stall, but it doesn't, it goes high again.
After it's been idling like that for a while, the check engine light comes on (when it's in the low idling) and i check codes and it's MAF (33 I believe). I have put 2 MAF sensors in it, and they all do the same. The shop checked vaccumes (sp?) and spark and all that, and it's all good.

Thanks for the help. does this add anything?

 

have you tried unhooking your battery to reset the computer since you put the new maf in? that might help and its easy to do.

 

Check to make sure that you have a good PCV valve and it's not stuck open.

You didn't say whether you have a Breather filter in the valve cover...That's something that everyone thinks will get you more power, but that's the stupidest thought in the world.

 

I have cleared the codes since the new sensor, and yes, it still persists.

Also, how do you check to see how good your PCV valve is? I'm not too familiar with them, and don't know what to do.

also, I am not sure what a breather filter is. The only mods i have done are K&N air filters, Magnaflow exhaust, and new fuel injectors (not really a mod, but i did it).