What Does the Idle Control Valve Do?
This component functions to control and regulate your engine’s idle speed, increasing and decreasing it as needed to keep up with the operating conditions.
- How Does the Idle Control Valve Function?
- Irregular Temperature Readings
- Check Engine Light Illuminates
- Engine Stalls
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1. How Does the Idle Control Valve Function?
2. Signs Your Idle Control Valve is Faulty
3. Irregular Idle Speed
4. Engine Stalls
5. AAMCO Can Help!
6. More From Our Blog
The idle control valve, also known as the idle air control valve, is an engine management part that can be found in most road-going vehicles. This component functions to control and regulate your engine’s idle speed, increasing and decreasing it as needed to keep up with the operating conditions.
Usually, most cars come with an idle control valve that is in the form of a motor or motorized mount that is mounted somewhere on the vehicle’s intake manifold. The engine control module unit controls your car’s idle control valve that will adjust the car’s idle speed depending on parameters such as the temperature as well as the electrical system load.
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How Does the Idle Control Valve Function?
The idle control valve is an internal combustion engine component that works to manage idle speed. It ensures that your engine’s idle speed is within normal RPMs. For example, when you stop to park your car, the car’s engine will continue running.
A properly running engine needs to run somewhere between 700 and 1100 revolutions per minute when idling. This idle speed prevents the vehicle from stalling or consuming more fuel than necessary.
If by any chance, the engine’s RPMs go below 700 RPM or above 1,100 RPM, the idle control valve works to increase or decrease to adequate, proper levels.
Signs Your Idle Control Valve is Faulty
When your vehicle’s idle control valve malfunctions, it can cause all sorts of issues for your car, and on some rare occasions, it will stall. Normally, a bad idle control valve will throw off a few signs that will alert the driver of a potential problem. The following reasons are the most common symptoms of a faulty idle control valve.
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Check Engine Light Illuminates
When there’s a potential issue with your idle control valve, your check engine light will be triggered. The moment the engine control module unit detects a problem with the idle control valve signal or circuit; it will cause the Check Engine Light to come on to alert the driver of a problem with the system. It is important to note that a wide range of issues can also turn on the Check Engine Light. Consulting a professional mechanic such as one from AAMCO Colorado to scan your computer for trouble code is advisable.
Irregular Idle Speed
One of the most common symptoms that are associated with a faulty idle control valve is irregular idle reading. An idle control valve is designed to regulate the car’s idle speed at a constant rate. In case the valve is faulty, it will cause the idle speed to be thrown off. This will result in a low or high idle speed, and in some cases, a surging idle speed that falls and climbs erratically.
Engine Stalls
Yet another severe symptom of a faulty idle control valve is when your engine stalls. When your engine control valve fails, it will generally leave the engine without sufficient air to maintain a proper idle. This will force the engine to stall. In some rare cases, the engine will not idle at all, stalling as soon as it is started.
AAMCO Colorado: Complete Valve Care & Engine Restoration
A failing idle control valve will trigger some symptoms that will notify the driver of a potential problem. In case your vehicle is experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, contact your local AAMCO Colorado mechanic, and have them diagnose the issue for you. Remember, ignoring these symptoms could escalate into significant damages worth thousands of dollars in replacement parts.
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