I was wondering what would make an IACV go bad. I have a 93 DX (auto) and I have reason to believe that certain things that are wrong with my car is due to the IACV.

Reason 1: If the car is left untouched for several days and the car hasn't been started, the car will then not be able to start unless you mess with the IACV (I'm guessing there's a switch on it) and crank the car for a while before it'll start. I have to make sure that the car is at least started daily.

Reason 2: After driving for a while (maybe about half an hour) and that the car is up to temperature, certain situations will make the exhaust rattle.... Badly. It's more evident when I'm bringing the car to a stop or when the RPM's is slowly dropping.

I'm not positive if both situations is directly related, but I'm hoping that taking care of the IACV will solve both problems. But I'm just wondering, what would make it go bad to make me get a new unit? Would cleaning it and replacing the "O" ring[s] be enough and make it like new again? Or do I have to bite the bullet and purchase a new unit? Any help you guys could give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

take ur iacv off and clean it. i clean mines, solves my idle problem. there is no switch on the iacv, do u know what the iacv is? have u done a recent tune up? how many miles you have on ur dx? replaced ur fuel fiter lately? plugs, wires. cap and rotor? give us more info on the engine and recent things you have done it to further help you along with ur problems.

 

The idle air control valve. I have a little over 121,000 miles on the car. Can't remember when I had the fuel filter replaced, but the plugs, cap and rotor all have been replaced recently.

The reason why I think there is a "switch" is because a friend of mine that helps me out with my car fiddles with the IACV (it causes the CEL to come on) to get my car started due to reason 1. I let the car idle for awhile just to get the motor running for a while. But the next time that I turn on the car the CEL is not on anymore. He suggested that I might have a bad IACV and that it might have to be replaced.

Looking things up, I see a lot of suggestions that the IACV can just be cleaned rather than be replaced, but I wanted to know a little more about it (about how the IACV goes bad).

 

my car has similar problem.... well just your reason 2. I dunno if it happened to you but has your car stalled on you while at a stop or a red light? Cuz my rpm drops to under 500 sometimes when im idling.

anything else than the iacv that can be causing this?

 

Mine was cleaned and it helped my idling issues for about a day. I ended up buying a new one and no idle issues as of yet.

 

clean / replace IACV & check for loose motor mounts or esaust clamps.

 

I guess I spoke too darn soon. On the way home from the movies my CEL came on and the car started idling weird again. I got home and checked the codes and am now getting a code 14. Darn Idle Control Valve.

 

The odd thing is, I don't get a CEL. Just weird rattling from my exhaust from time to time (more like the tip of my exhaust hitting my bumper). Oh well, when I find the time to get a new "O" ring for it, I'm gonna clean my out. h: