Hi all, following in with the rigmarole I'm having with the 2003 STI's erratic idle issue ( 3 weeks and counting lol )

After changing the MAF and then the coolant temp sensor this weekend the problem remains, starts perfect and idles fine then once warm and you come into boost as soon as you stop it starts with the mad idling and idling high.

Alyn can't data log the car till the end of the week, so I decided to have one last attemp at finding a leaky vac line or pipe and also to check the in wing air filter, whilst the car was sat running as I was using another tin of carb cleaner I noticed the EML came on again, managed to get it on a different diagnostic reader and it came back with P0507 - idle air control system rpm higher than expected.....

So...... Checked all the pipes I could get to with intercooler off, couldn't find anything, removed IACV and cleaned it out again and replaced went for a drive and........yep same old ****e idling all over the place EML has not came back on after clearing codes but its still not right.

Has anyone ever had an idle control valve actually fail as a unit? Or has cleaning them out always fixed em?



Mick

 

i am having the same sort of issue with a 2000 turbo uk model.
i have changed all parts relating to the idle issue IACV/TPS boost pipes/ plugs/leads/throttle housing/o2

... one of my symptoms was slight hesitation on throttle and now i have irregular idle constantly. i took my car for data logging and all of the data was fine apart from the O2 sensor which was showing the car running RICH, i was then told that this was down to a INJECTOR leak.

so going to try this to see if it solves my problem. nopt sure if this applies to your problem but worth a look

Cheers

 

Ive had mine seize solid from carbon. I removed the electrics from it and soaked it over night. I then worked the flap free with a small screwdriver and plenty of wd40. Its been ok ever since

 

I had idle problems when the car warmed and also the same code.
I tried just cleaning the icv with cleaner and it made it slightly better but still felt notchy when spinning it,I then cleaned it again using a guide by scoobyclinic which involves spinning it in a drill chuck while spraying cleaner inside and it's been like new since, no problems at all. Jon

 

What's all this buisness about rotating it and spinning in a drill lol, I've just been spraying the cleaner in the wholes and tipping the dirty stuff out and repeating!

I take it you take the two screws out and separate the plastic bit off the end with the electrical gubbins inside?

Looks like I'm taking it off for a 3rd time lol

Mick

 

Yes exactly. Mark the electrical bit with some tipex or similar so that you refit in the exact same place

 

Cheers fella, anyone remember what they used to take the two screws out? I've got 3 different boxes of torx and security bits but none them fit lol, mine are like torx screws but just different enough for nowt I have to fit lol.

Cheers

Mick

 

It was in a old total impreza issue 29,I've got a copy in front of me now if you want me to post pictures from that

 

That would be great, pm me them if u don't want to put them in here mate, can't see y u couldn't like lol

Thanks again

Mick

 

 

 

 

 

Hope this helps.jon

 

 

That's awesome mate, thanks for taking the time to post the pics!

Just need to find a bit that fits tomorrow and see if this cures it, I'll send u a beer in the post if it does but I can't guarantee some bugger at royal snail won't drink it then forward on an empty bottle!

Thanks again mate

Mick

 

No problem mate, I found the bit I needed at my local halfords, if you need a new gasket I bought mine from importcarparts.co.uk for around £6-£7 next day delivery,my gasket was knackered and wouldn't fit anymore after removing it. Jon

 

Aye I already found out about the gasket the first time I cleaned it, mine was swollen twice the size it used to be lol ( my gasket I mean boom boom )

Mick

 

Sorry this is still an issue for you Mick.

I have had ICV's fail on me in the past, but they weren't on Subarus and they always caused the car to randomly stall when they did fail.

One thing I used to do after cleaning the serviceable ones was to put a drop of engine oil into them to make sure they moved freely, although I wouldn't necessarily recommend that to anyone with a Turbo car, it's obviously at your own risk. It never hurt my V6's, but I can't claim the same on a scoob!

Good luck.

 

Hi frenchwood, would they be vauxhall v6's by any chance? I bet I've changed 20 iacv's on vauxhalls lol the x20xev Eco tec engines were serious for them lol

Mick

 

Yes mate. My X30XE conversion in my Vec. As well as X25XE's and Y32SE/Y26SE. Lol

They got through them well on the X20 didn't they? Lol

Did Mondeo ST24 V6's too, although they were worse for the IMRC's giving way. Lmao.

 

Cleaned the IACV with the guide above, soon as took the end off I could feel it was notchy to turn and thought hey up this might actually sort it....... Fires up fine, idles fine, soon as I've been out for 5-10 mins every time you come to a junction and use the clutch the revs are back to jumping up and down.

Ringing Alyn at AS performance in the morning cos I'm fooking done with it!!

Might be up for sale as soon as its sorted lol as I'm sick of it now I can't stand owt like this, the revs are jumping up and down, the throttle is cable operated so theres electrics involved somewhere I would think so why no fault code now even though its running like a bag of ****e

Anyway I'm going back to watching the telly in a big sulky huff!!!

Mick