Idle Issues - The idle Control Valve
 

Quick little write up incase anyone else is experiencing any issues. Car started to idle erratically lately. It was perfect when Martyn mapped it and last few outings its been poor from cold start and would idle like this

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ps43627fb1.jpg

Did some research and spoke to Martyn and we decided it was the Idle Control Valve. So stripped it yesterday. Before you do this make sure you buy a new gasket from the stealers. Only £6.15 plus vat.

The valve is located near the throttle body here

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ps9bee84db.jpg

They can fill up full of crap, mine was quite dirty so cleaned with cue tips the half mounted to the throttle body. On the other half I removed is a small barrel inside. This was cleaned with carb cleaner and cue tips, it should spin freely, which it wasn't before cleaning.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ps75b7c2e1.jpg

This is how it idles now after being cleaned and free'd off.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ps2d188c05.jpg

So if you are having issues, and like me want it to be perfect,it may be worth trying this first.

mine did this the day before duncan mapped it.

when i removed the gasket it was about twice the size of the hole.

great advice and write up:thumb:

thinks i'll be doing this. Car mapped last night and has started idling low, then sticking, then correcting itself. gasket on order.

Cleaned out the valve with brake cleanser and tissue. Lots of gunck and black oily compound cleaned out. Nothing was wrong with old gasket but I already had new gasket so fitted valve back with that. Didn't immediately idle correctly but I let car idle for 10 mins then drove off boost round the block then let idle drove again then it started to correct itself. Great write up and maintained/repair for idling issues

Excuse my ignorance, but are you talking about the TGV valve?

nope