erratic and high idling speed

[MRacer77]

Definitely sounds like you need to send the car in. Maybe something is wrong with the ECU programming or something... definitely does not sound like a mechanical problem.

 

[gwumpkus]

wonder if cleaning out the ICV will help? ok..that applies to my E36..idling was erratic and unstable..turns out the 10yr old layer of soot and crud in the ICV was the culprit!! 30mins and some WD40...my old jalopy now idles happily....

 

[Racebred]

problems with the idle control valve will also turn up on the diagnostic tool. so just plug it in and check for fault codes first.

 

[peterlaw]

where is the ICV? how to go about cleaning it? mine's a e36 318IS.

 

[gwumpkus]

where is the ICV? how to go about cleaning it? mine's a e36 318IS.

eh?...if i'm not wrong it should be the little silver cylindrical thingamabob thats connected by two hoses and an electrical socket, located just after the air intake, before it entres the manifold.. apparently from what i understand, its location is similar for a no of engines... erm...i go take a pic and show u what my ICV loks like? shouldnt be difficult to find..

cheers!

m.

 

[peterlaw]

have a vacuum valve and a set of hoses replaced and the irritating problem went away. thanks for all the advices.