How To Know When Idle Air Control Valve Is Bad

Last Updated on March 17, 2022

In this commodity, nosotros're going to talk near one office in the engine system called the "Idle Air Control Valve" or in some country also known as idle speed command valve (ISCV) or idle speed stabilizer. I promise after read this commodity, you will know the basic role, bad symptoms, the boilerplate replacement cost and tips to clean. Hither we go:

How an Idle Air Control Valve Works

The idle air control valve is a component of the internal combustion engine. The function of this valve is to manage the engine idle speed so that it stays within a normal RPM (revolutions per minute).

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For example, whenever you finish or park your vehicle, the engine will go along running. It is of import that the engine runs at a speed of somewhere effectually 700 and i,100 RPM while it is idle. This helps prevent the engine from stalling out or using more fuel than necessary

If the engine idle speed goes college than 1,100 RPM or lower than 700 RPM, the idle air command valve works to either decrease or increment the speed; respectively. That way, the speed can stay within the proper RPM range.

The idle air control valve is connected to the intake manifold of the vehicle. The engine control module manages the idle control valve based on the data it receives from other sensors in the vehicle.

Basically, once the engine control unit knows the electrical system load and the engine's temperature, it volition be able to properly manage the idle control valve so that the idle speed either goes upward or down.

Related: Code P0505, Code P0507

Elevation iii Symptoms of a Bad Idle Air Command Valve

When your vehicle's idle air control valve starts to go bad, yous will be able to discover some strange symptoms. Many of these symptoms volition impact your ability to drive and operate your vehicle. That is why you need to take them seriously and go your vehicle to a mechanic every bit presently as you notice them.

Below are the top three symptoms of a bad idle air control valve.

#1 – Bank check Engine Warning Low-cal

check engine light

Since the idle air control valve is a component of the engine, the engine control unit monitors its status on a regular basis. If the control valve were to malfunction or become bad for any reason, the engine command unit would activate the Bank check Engine alert light on the dashboard.

Of course, you probably won't know exactly what is incorrect with your engine simply by seeing that light illuminate. Whatsoever office associated with the engine could be faulty, only at least you lot will know that some problem exists.

Related: Electronic Throttle Control Lite On? (What it Means)

#2 – Engine Stalling

There are a lot of things that can cause engine stalling. One of which is a bad idle air control valve. For the engine to remain idle, it must receive a consistent corporeality of air.

If the idle air control valve is not working properly, then the engine won't receive this air. As a result, the idle speed will be thrown out of whack and cause the engine to stall.

See Likewise: Why Won't My Auto Stay Running Unless I Give It Gas?

#3 – Fluctuating Idle Speed

rough idling

When yous feel irregular or fluctuating engine idle speed, this unremarkably means your idle air control valve is bad. After all, this control valve is supposed to manage the engine idle speed so that it stays at a normal RPM rate.

If the valve is bad, and then information technology won't be able to succeed at its task. As a result, the engine idle speed will exist all over the place. It may spring really loftier above 1,100 RPM or it may leap lower than 700 RPM. Sometimes it will become back and along from high to low. You can be certain the idle air control valve is to blame when this happens.

Replacement Cost

idle air control valve replacement cost

The replacement cost of an idle control valve is anywhere from $120 to $500. The cost of the parts lonely will be betwixt $lxx and $400+, depending on the make and model of your vehicle. The labor toll should only be around $l to $100 considering information technology doesn't have that long to remove and replace the old idle control valve.

If you take automobile mechanic skills, and then yous could salve yourself $100 past doing this replacement job yourself. Merely if yous don't have the confidence to exercise information technology, so it is worth spending that extra coin for a professional to replace the valve for yous.

Overall, the replacement price is not that much in the long run. If yous were to leave the control valve alone and not supervene upon it, then your engine could suffer harm. And so y'all'd be looking at thousands of dollars in repair costs.

Read too: PCV Valve: Role, Bad Symptoms and Replacement Price

Tips to Clean

To assistance you go the well-nigh life possible out of your idle air control valve, you need to clean information technology periodically. This maintenance task is not as complicated as you lot might think. Yous don't fifty-fifty need to be a car expert to effigy it out. All you need to exercise is know where the idle air control valve is located after you lift the hood of your vehicle.

If you know where the throttle intake manifold is located, the idle air control valve should exist right adjacent to it. Of class, you lot'll need to disconnect the air cleaner hose with a screwdriver. This will help you lot see the throttle body where the valve is located.

Now you'll have to remove the idle air control valve past detaching the battery cables and removing the screws from the valve. Make sure your vehicle is completely shut off or else you might get an electric shock. When you have removed the valve, y'all'll want to spray it with a carburetor cleaner.

Find a soft clean cloth or rag and use it to wipe abroad the carbon debris that has accumulated on the valve. You tin likewise go ahead and make clean the throttle body too. In one case the cleaning is done, reconnect the valve and cables back in their original positions.