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DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: xwill112x on November 25, 2008, 12:13:57 PM

Title: bad idle...icv?
Post by: xwill112x on November 25, 2008, 12:13:57 PM

ok so... here it goes..


my e30 has been messing up over the course of one month and its really pissing me off. it's been idling rough aka 600 to 1700 rpms with both tb's closed so that rules out throttle linkage. it will only idle shitty after its been driven...not when first cranked in the morning. sometimes when i come to a stop and push the clutch in , it will die all together. but then smetimes idle at 1600 rpms. <<--really annoying cause when u barely touch gas it will rocket off in an unexpected way.

pelican parts is like $$162.00 for an ICV...


would these symptoms be an icv...and could i fix the current one before i spend that much on one?

Title: bad idle...icv?
Post by: bearsbmw on November 25, 2008, 12:17:39 PM

take ICV out and put 12 volt's to it and see if it opens quicky and smoothly ... if it's slow(clean) or won't open then replace

take a peice of electrical tape and jam it between the two prongs or get 2 small butt connectors befor you atemp test to keep from arching

Title: bad idle...icv?
Post by: ///m42 sport on November 25, 2008, 09:56:37 PM

Also might want to check the voltage regulator on your alternator.  I just replaced my whole alternator and noticed a immediate improvement in the idle.  before it would hover at 900-1100 at idle.  Now its dead at 900 at idle.  I found this out incidentally when my voltage regulator crapped out on me and I was left stranded on the road.  Its easy to check.  Remove your airbox, and check the back of your alt.  Its held in by two philips head screws.

Title: bad idle...icv?
Post by: xwill112x on November 26, 2008, 11:39:08 AM

i read somewhere on here that they could be revived with electrical cleaner? is that true? b/c the price on a new one is a LITTLE steep (168$$) <<---fts

Title: bad idle...icv?
Post by: bearsbmw on November 26, 2008, 12:05:29 PM

Quote from: xwill112x;61736

i read somewhere on here that they could be revived with electrical cleaner? is that true? b/c the price on a new one is a LITTLE steep (168$$) <<---fts

I took a dremil tool polishing wheel and wd-40ed the shit out of it and it looked like new inside after I sprayed throtle body cleaner in it... it's a sealed unit so fire away with the WD-40 and whatever else within reason... While your at it use the dremil tool wirebrush on the butterfly valves and spray with cleaner after

Title: bad idle...icv?
Post by: roundel318 on November 26, 2008, 01:22:22 PM

Agreed, clean the ICV and perform the test! :)

Title: bad idle...icv?
Post by: xwill112x on November 26, 2008, 06:58:06 PM

k ill let you all know how it goes.