IACV fix?: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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April 29, 2009 12:56 p.m. CivicSiRacer Reader

Don't know if you guys have a Grassroots way of fixing this before I have to shell out money.

I have a 93 Civic Si with 230,000 miles. Last week had the head gasket replaced. Afterwards took the car out for a drive and the car was bogging and almost stalled a couple times.

Took it back to Honda and they tried to fix the timing and found the ICV (Idle Control Valve) is sticking open and shut. New part is $200 including labor. They say if that is replaced my idling and bogging should go away.

Does anyone know a fix for this? I'm skeptical about buying one off Ebay, and some friends recommend buying new. I just spent $$$ on head gasket and new clutch and wife wants to kill me if I put anymore money in

Right now it will idle high (1200-1400 rpms) when warm, turn AC on it will drop to well below 500rpms. Sometimes it will idle normally around 700rpms. Around 2000-3000 rpms will be a slight bog and then accelerate again.

I cleaned it with Carb cleaner year ago or so.
April 29, 2009 1:17 p.m. internetautomart SuperDork

on some cars you can clean the IAC with some carb cleaner.
My suggestion is to disassemble it and clean it thoroughly then reassemble and reseal it.
April 29, 2009 1:33 p.m. Nashco SuperDork

As said, they can usually be cleaned to free them up. Give it a shot again, it might only buy you another 6-12 months, but if you're trying to avoid buying a new one that's the tradeoff. Meanwhile, go to the junkyard and get another used one for $10. Clean it and when it starts acting up again, it's a ten minute job to swap it out and you can clean the other one when you get around to it.

Cheap, fast, and easy. Pick two.

Bryce
April 29, 2009 2:17 p.m. Grtechguy UltraDork

soak it in seafoam over night