Can I adjust the idle?
 

Hi Folks.
I have a 94 WRX and it is idling at 1000 when warm.
Can I turn it down or is it a computer jobby?
If it needs plugging in to something, does anyone know where I can get it done? Im in the St Neots area of Cambridgeshire.
Cheers
Bod

you can adjust the idle valve.. although it might have been upped in the past to cover a problem?

it is on the inlet manifold just in front of the intercooler.. loosen (don't remove) the two screws and rotate anti-clockwise to drop the idle speed.

Simon

re
 

Thanks Simon,
I'll give it a bash.
Cheers
Bod

I don't think adjusting the valve will help, have tried this myself, ECU will just compensate for this by moving the valve electrically to regain idle control. Moving the valve mechanically will induce either under or over reving during coasting/gear changes.

You could have an engine sensor problem causing the ecu to set idle at 1000.

Does it always idle at 1000? As simon says someone could have messed with it before and it's min stop is giving you 1000 rpm.

re
 

Ta for the advice. I did it and it has kept the idle down ok, not compensating. I've not been out in it but left it running and it picks up ok, only problem is starting when hot it cuts out the first time. Start it again and revs drop then it idles fine. Maybe it needs to settle down/learn or whatever. Its been at 1000 for as long as I can remember, but I never bothered with it, until I read on here somewhere it should be quite a bit lower.
I did a ecu test (green and black wire thing) last week and no faults were showing, so I'll see how it goes.
Thanks again for the help folks!!!:)

Brill :)

Well, I got it through its Mot, and been driving it a bit, and although the idle is holding its own, it is hunting a bit.
No fault codes and just passed emmisions for the MOT, so nothing too untowards happening.
Any ideas folks?
Please let it be something simple.
Cheers
Bod

I had the same happening on my 96. It was idling high, hunting slightly and a right pain to drive slow around town. I took off the ICV (idle control valve) gave it a good clean with brake cleaner put it back together with a new gasket. Reset the ECU and it idles lovely now. :thumb:

Thay is funny he contacted me to buy a icv yesterday and he said he cleaned it and it was still bad so I will take it another one saying he will buy something and doesn't PAY??????????

I have already apologised for the delay and explained why. Money will be in post this afternoon.
Sorry again for any inconvenience.
Jason.

Thanks,
I'll give it a go.
Cheers
Bod

I just took the top of the icv off (i thought it might come out that way but now I see the whole thing needs unbolting) and there is a little bit of swarf in there, which maybe the problem.
Anyone know how much they are? And where I can get one (94 wrx).
Cheers all
Bod

Well, I got an idle valve from a breakers and just fitted it.
It seems to be better than before in as much as it cold idles at 1500, then gradually comes down to 1000. Whereas before it was at 1500, then suddenly dropped to 1000.
But thats it. I did ecu reset but still the same. It once went down to about 800, but one rev of the engine and its back to 1000.
I cleaned it with loads of carb cleaner before I fitted it, and a bit in the manifold too.
Im stumped now. What else could keep the idle at 1000 all the time???
Cheers all,
Bod

An air leak on induction/Manifold.
Tps (throttle Position Switch) could need setting & adjusting to the correct closed & open Voltages, Throttle cable to tight, Throttle Body butterfly sticking, May relate back to a cable issue.

I actually found that cleaning the Idle control valve made my car worse than it was, So i will be avoiding that next time :D

Dean

have you adjusted the new one?

Very Good point Simon, As the setting is not one for all, Position Varies from car to car

Dean

Thanks guys.
I havnt adjusted the new one. It has a blob of paint on the screws so thought it best to leave it, but worth giving a goas I can always put it back how it was.
I looked at the cable and there is a little slack in it so that seems ok and the throttle stop didnt make any difference when I adjusted it.
The breaker I got it from actually sent me a throttle body first by mistake and has let me keep it foc, so perhaps I'll give that a good clean and fit it.
Is the position sensor the black box about the size of a matchbox at an angle on the side of the throttle inlet? If so, how would I adjust it?
Cheers again folks, I feel like an idiot, but I am learning.

Thanks guys.
I havnt adjusted the new one. It has a blob of paint on the screws so thought it best to leave it, but worth giving a goas I can always put it back how it was.
I looked at the cable and there is a little slack in it so that seems ok and the throttle stop didnt make any difference when I adjusted it.
The breaker I got it from actually sent me a throttle body first by mistake and has let me keep it foc, so perhaps I'll give that a good clean and fit it.
Is the position sensor the black box about the size of a matchbox at an angle on the side of the throttle inlet? If so, how would I adjust it?
Cheers again folks, I feel like an idiot, but I am learning.

sorry, didnt mean to post it twice

yes that is the throttle position sensor..

I would say though you need to turn the idle valve very very slightly anti clock wise and the idle should drop to normal..

Simon

I adjusted the idle valve today and it seemed much better. I then fitted one of scott's ecu upgrades and went for a spin. When I got back I had to adjust it back again as the idle was now too low! So, either the problem was fixed by the new chip or something odd was happening.
So, fingers crossed it is ok now.
Cheers Simon, I'll try that with the position sensor if it happens again.
Ta all,
Bod

my 93 wrx idles at 1000 i always thought that was normal??

Well, the latest is, I have been getting some cutting out, like when the boost solenoid is playing up, only it has been when under hard acceleration.
A dawes device is on the way to keep a lid on the boost from the new ecu and today I fitted boost and afr gauges.
I only had time for a couple of blasts up the A1 but is it right that you get more boost in higher gears? I was getting about 5psi in first gear upto about 15 in 5th. Difficult to be accurate and thats where the cutting out problem is too.
The afr is showing lean when moving but no throttle. I assume thats right???
Cheers all
Bod