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Author Topic: idle control valve?  (Read 7853 times)

stillmatick

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idle control valve?
« on: January 16, 2011, 09:01:54 PM »
How can you tell if is bad? Because leaving my car idle for a long time the rpm needle jump any where from 1k and under and some other days car idle fine. I'm for sure there's no vac leak. Is there a way to test idle control valve??
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Brian318is

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idle control valve?
« Reply #1 on: January 16, 2011, 09:19:59 PM »
I have similar symptoms in my car. I cleaned my ICV with Seafoam and a toothbrush.. a lot of carbon came out. I put it back in, and it did not solve my problem. I am going to try and clean my o2 sensor tomorrow and see if that takes care of the problem.
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stillmatick

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idle control valve?
« Reply #2 on: January 16, 2011, 10:22:24 PM »
Quote from: Brian318is;100590
I have similar symptoms in my car. I cleaned my ICV with Seafoam and a toothbrush.. a lot of carbon came out. I put it back in, and it did not solve my problem. I am going to try and clean my o2 sensor tomorrow and see if that takes care of the problem.
let me know if that's the cause.
« Last Edit: January 16, 2011, 10:24:26 PM by stillmatick »
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Brian318is

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idle control valve?
« Reply #3 on: January 17, 2011, 02:24:33 PM »
Due to torrential downpours today in SW Florida, I was unable to work on the car.. (no garage to work in.) I'll let you know soon if the o2 sensor does the trick.
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ClassicSkril

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idle control valve?
« Reply #4 on: January 17, 2011, 02:45:00 PM »
I am having the same issue. Did the mess under the intake mod, and have cleaned my icv twice. Been idling fine, but yesterday the same idle surge symptoms returned. Although no t as severe as before I did all the vacuum lines, I'm tempted to think the valve in the icv gets temporarily stuck. Any ideas?
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Brian318is

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idle control valve?
« Reply #5 on: January 17, 2011, 09:38:37 PM »
I've done mess under the intake, NEW injectors, new plugs, COP kit, K&N.. all new hoses/fuel lines and cleaned ICV.. still having the occasional surging idle. It is very frustrating, but I have read a lot about the m42 o2 sensors and it seems to solve this problem.
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stillmatick

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idle control valve?
« Reply #6 on: January 18, 2011, 12:21:09 AM »
I assume is my o2sensor causing the weird idle.

Idle air control valve is getting 7.7 ohm reading on meter which i think is right or suppose to be at 9ohm.
« Last Edit: January 18, 2011, 12:25:38 AM by stillmatick »
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Brian318is

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idle control valve?
« Reply #7 on: January 18, 2011, 08:55:33 AM »
My idle issue is very odd. Sometimes, the car will idle terrible right at startup.. cold or hot. Other times, it will idle perfectly like a brand new car (cold or hot). Then sometimes I will be at a light, and it will idle fine, and then drop to like 400rpm and then start bouncing up to around 900rpm. I have not found any good circumstances for a diagnosis.. it is so random. The only thing I can think of is the o2 sensor at this point..
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stillmatick

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« Reply #8 on: January 18, 2011, 09:54:57 AM »
Quote from: Brian318is;100650
My idle issue is very odd. Sometimes, the car will idle terrible right at startup.. cold or hot. Other times, it will idle perfectly like a brand new car (cold or hot). Then sometimes I will be at a light, and it will idle fine, and then drop to like 400rpm and then start bouncing up to around 900rpm. I have not found any good circumstances for a diagnosis.. it is so random. The only thing I can think of is the o2 sensor at this point..

mine does the same except cold start and gas mileage is bad which can only lead to bad o2sensor.
« Last Edit: January 18, 2011, 12:20:18 PM by stillmatick »
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Brian318is

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idle control valve?
« Reply #9 on: January 19, 2011, 08:26:37 AM »
Yeah, my gas mileage is definitely suffering. Will attempt to clean the sensor in a couple hours if the weather holds.
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Brian318is

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« Reply #10 on: January 19, 2011, 08:51:26 AM »
On second thought, I am just going to replace the sensor. I don't think I will be able to clean it sufficiently.. they are pretty sensitive measurement electronics, so I will probably only make the problem worse. Plus, if it's anything like the rest of the parts I've replaced, it is original.

I found this part on Pelican: http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/smart/more_info.cgi?pn=11-78-1-727-451-M14&catalog_description=Oxygen%20Sensor,%20318i/is/iC%20(1991)%20
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Brian318is

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« Reply #11 on: January 19, 2011, 04:42:49 PM »
Ok so, finally got under there and pulled the o2 sensor. It was caked in carbon and looked quite terrible. I still tried to clean and replace.. nothing has changed.

I then moved back to the intake (all new hoses and a cleaned ICV) to thoroughly re-inspect for any possibly intake leaks.. nothing was found. I removed my AFM and looked to see if anything looked out of the ordinary.. looked like there was some kind of "grease" or something inside the AFM!

So I wiped it all out, then used some seafoam to clean off the little electric thing poking out of the top of the AFM. Replaced, and still having the crazy idle.

I already ordered my o2 sensor. I got it from http://www.autopartswarehouse.com instead of pelican.. it was like $78 for a Bosch one with an "extended" wire.. I'll just wrap the wire and have no problems.

I also did a stomp test and it came back 1444 - No faults found. Hopefully I can sort this out soon before I go crazy.

I'll keep this up to date when I replace the o2 sensor.
« Last Edit: January 19, 2011, 04:51:00 PM by Brian318is »
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stillmatick

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idle control valve?
« Reply #12 on: January 19, 2011, 05:05:54 PM »
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stillmatick

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« Reply #13 on: January 19, 2011, 05:08:57 PM »
Quote from: Brian318is;100685
Ok so, finally got under there and pulled the o2 sensor. It was caked in carbon and looked quite terrible. I still tried to clean and replace.. nothing has changed.

I then moved back to the intake (all new hoses and a cleaned ICV) to thoroughly re-inspect for any possibly intake leaks.. nothing was found. I removed my AFM and looked to see if anything looked out of the ordinary.. looked like there was some kind of "grease" or something inside the AFM!

So I wiped it all out, then used some seafoam to clean off the little electric thing poking out of the top of the AFM. Replaced, and still having the crazy idle.

I already ordered my o2 sensor. I got it from http://www.autopartswarehouse.com instead of pelican.. it was like $78 for a Bosch one with an "extended" wire.. I'll just wrap the wire and have no problems.

I also did a stomp test and it came back 1444 - No faults found. Hopefully I can sort this out soon before I go crazy.

I'll keep this up to date when I replace the o2 sensor.


bought my o2 sensor from here
http://www.autohausaz.com/search/product.aspx?sid=m3hs5tihnbdfjom1zcfsz045&makeid=800003@BMW&modelid=1011249@318I&year=1991&cid=19@Emission%20System&gid=5132@Oxygen%20Sensor
97 with free shipping.
sometime when o2 sensor goes bad it will not pop up cel.
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stillmatick

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idle control valve?
« Reply #14 on: January 19, 2011, 05:11:25 PM »
bought my o2 sensor from here
http://www.autohausaz.com/search/product.aspx?sid=m3hs5tihnbdfjom1zcfsz045&makeid=800003@BMW&modelid=1011249@318I&year=1991&cid=19@Emission%20System&gid=5132@Oxygen%20Sensor
97$ with free ship oem size with plug.

sometime when o2 sensor goes bad it will not pop up cel.
« Last Edit: January 20, 2011, 01:23:19 AM by stillmatick »
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