Honda-Tech - Honda Forum Discussion - ***How-To Clean*** Your IACV a.k.a. Idle Air Control Valve

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- - ***How-To Clean*** Your IACV a.k.a. Idle Air Control Valve (https://honda-tech.com/forums/acura-integra-6/%2A%2A%2Ahow-clean%2A%2A%2A-your-iacv-k-idle-air-control-valve-1575913/)

***How-To Clean*** Your IACV a.k.a. Idle Air Control Valve

The function of the IACV a.k.a. Idle Air Control Valve is to adjust the idle based upon the amount of air entering the engine, then the computer reacts to this information by adjusting the cars rpm.

Reasons why you should take it apart and clean it:
-High idle after your car warms up
-Lumpy idle
-Roaming idle
-Hunting idle
-Fluctuating idle

Tools Needed:
Ratchet
12mm Socket
Pliers
Brake Cleaner or Simple Green
Paper Towels
A cooled down engine for at least 2 hours

1) Now you got to locate where the IACV is, pop your hood and it’s located directly behind the intake manifold. It’s actually connected to it. Remove your intake and strut tower bar. (If applicable)

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...e/PA210050.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../P10102242.jpg

2) Place a couple of rags underneath to catch the coolant spill. Loosen the two hoses running to the IACV with your pliers by squeezing the two clips and moving them away from the end, circled in yellow. DO NOT cut the hoses as they are the exact length and you will have to buy new ones if you do.

3) After doing that remove the harness connected to the IACV on the driver side, circle in blue.

4) Then to finally remove it from the intake manifold, remove the two 12mm bolts, circled in red.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../P10102243.jpg

Now that the IACV is removed from the intake manifold make sure that you do not lose the rubber gasket as you need this so that it does not leak after you re-install the IACV.

5) Take your brake cleaner or simple green and start to clean up the inside of the IACV by spray inside the two holes. Continue to do this until no more dirty fluid comes out. Should take anywhere from 5 minutes to 15 minutes. This depending on how old and dirty your IACV is. The gasket can be seen in this picture as well.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../P10102522.jpg

6) Once you’re done cleaning out the IACV let it air dry. I let it air out for 20 minutes while I did other maintenance on the car.

Now your ready to re-install it back on the car so follow the steps backwards from 5 – 2

Good Luck

Re: ***How-To Clean*** Your IACV a.k.a. Idle Air Control Valve (wildoutwhitegsr)

Re: ***How-To Clean*** Your IACV a.k.a. Idle Air Control Valve (DC4me)

Great write up! I do this every now and again just to keep it clean and idleing perfect.

hmm I've never done this, 226K miles on car, and I sometimes have a very slight fluctuation up and down from about 650 to 750 rpm. This could fix that?

Re: (PatrickGSR94)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PatrickGSR94 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hmm I've never done this, 226K miles on car, and I sometimes have a very slight fluctuation up and down from about 650 to 750 rpm. This could fix that?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Definately a good place to start!!

Re: (RippinVTEC)

thanks for the pics man!!!!!!!!

Re: (PatrickGSR94)

Re: ***How-To Clean*** Your IACV a.k.a. Idle Air Control Valve (wildoutwhitegsr)

can u rehost the pics?

Re: ***How-To Clean*** Your IACV a.k.a. Idle Air Control Valve (WhiteOut)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by WhiteOut »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">can u rehost the pics?</TD></TR></TABLE>
x2

thanks i going to do this

Re: ***How-To Clean*** Your IACV a.k.a. Idle Air Control Valve (wildoutwhitegsr)

Re: ***How-To Clean*** Your IACV a.k.a. Idle Air Control Valve (WhiteOut)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by WhiteOut »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">bump for rehost..</TD></TR></TABLE>
x2

Re: ***How-To Clean*** Your IACV a.k.a. Idle Air Control Valve (kuja)

Hey thanks a bunch man. I actually did this today for the first time (on a 103k car) and couldnt believe how dirty it actually was, and as far as I can tell, the rpm fluctuation stopped. Good write up too, all instructions were clear

Re: ***How-To Clean*** Your IACV a.k.a. Idle Air Control Valve (morocco)

i want to say thanks too, great write ups man https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emthup.gif

Re: ***How-To Clean*** Your IACV a.k.a. Idle Air Control Valve (rohit)

Can you use throttle body cleaner? and just dump it in the holes,

when ur done, do u just let it air dry or do have to rinse the cleaner out?

Re: ***How-To Clean*** Your IACV a.k.a. Idle Air Control Valve (KillerElfboy)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by KillerElfboy »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Can you use throttle body cleaner?</TD></TR></TABLE>

yes

The pics will hopefully be back up soon

Re: ***How-To Clean*** Your IACV a.k.a. Idle Air Control Valve (wildoutwhitegsr)

i see them fine? i guess they're back?

if thats not the case, open each image in a new tab, thats what i did and they started showing up after a refresh

Re: ***How-To Clean*** Your IACV a.k.a. Idle Air Control Valve (KillerElfboy)

I clean the IACV and the FITV...new TB gasket...yet it still idle rough. When the car is warmin up...its fine until I gas it alittle then it idle fast...1 to 2. What to do? Also when I unplug the plug to the FITV...it idle fine with the check engine light on.

Re: ***How-To Clean*** Your IACV a.k.a. Idle Air Control Valve (wildoutwhitegsr)

Re: ***How-To Clean*** Your IACV a.k.a. Idle Air Control Valve (poorman's type-r)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by poorman’s type-r »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">rehost pic. please.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Your going to have to do what KillerElfboy said for now...

Right click on the pic, properties then copy and paste that link into a new browser. The pics will show up then, until I get more bandwidth.

Re: ***How-To Clean*** Your IACV a.k.a. Idle Air Control Valve

Re: ***How-To Clean*** Your IACV a.k.a. Idle Air Control Valve (Jdm Blood)

I took mine off awhile ago and just pressure washed it out. didnt think a how to for this was needed but https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emthup.gif . good maint for ur car