Been a while!

Anyway, after the car is warm when I come to a stop light the engine will occasionally idle low - about 450rpm.

If I blip the throttle it will jump back to normal idle. No CEL (other than the cat below efficiency - p0420?- that comes on and off every 400 miles)

I was thinking that it might be the Idle air control valve on the throttle body sticking up, so I ran seafoam through it yesterday. I really dont want to pull it apart, is there another way to check it?

Any suggestions?

 

You can pull the IACV connector and see if idle speed drops (it should). If no change, then IACV is not providing idle air control. Another way is to load up w/ AC and full electrical load. If idle bogs down to 500-600 rpm, the IACV is not able to compensate for added load to maintain idle speed.

Easy to clean IACV, throttle plate, and bore to see if improvement is realized.

good luck

 

IAC is an easy clean? Do I have to remove the whole throttle body to do that?


I ran seafoam through it yesterday, havent had a chance to see how its doing. I feel that it still is functioning but it might be sticking up.

 

It's pretty easy to take off... just a couple of bolts off the back of the throttle body and a coolant and electrical connection.

The bolts are a bit hard to get to, but nothing terrible.

Mind you, I'm talking about a 98 accord.

 

"Silver" - you know me...poor and lazy

I'd clean the tb with cleaner. Do the best you can to get the port inside the TB infront of the butterfly. I've bought the seafoam spray - that comes with a hose that is like 16 inches long and will get WAY down those ports

 

Is there anything to clean on a 3-wire IACV? I don't remember seeing any screens. Maybe the rotary valve gets gummed up?

 

Thanks guys and yea poorman I do know ya and your laziness haha.

I think I may have put a band aid on her for a bit. I got the seafoam spray and had the car idling with AC and all accessories on and just sprayed the whole can through the IAC valve, and some into the TB.

She seems to be doing better now. Thanks everyone

 

Keep that hose that came with the can - that thing is one of my favorite toys these days. That hose and even and regular carb clean has come in handy.

As you know, an old tooth brush helps with the tb cleaning....the wife can't figure out why I take the old ones to my toolbox and not the garbage. They clean tb and the small places on wheels like nothing else...IMHO.