Cleaning 94 Escort 1.9 Idle Air Control Valve? - Ford Forums

02-04-2006, 13:01

I'm fairly convinced that the erractic idle/stalling from idle I'm getting
on the subject Escort is due to a balky IAC valve. Going to pull it and
clean it and hopefully avoid replacing it. Whats the best solvent/cleaner
to use? Carb cleaner seems like the obvious choice. Any solvent that
should NOT be used? Anything special to know about the job?

Chris Bowne
Stonington, CT
84 Escort 1.9 5 Speed LX 133K
98 Volvo V70XC AWD Cross Country 117K
97 Taurus GL Wagon 133K with sick Vulcan 3.0-otherwise good conditon- for
sale cheap!

02-05-2006, 04:01

"Chris Bowne" <radiobwn@riconnect.com> wrote in message
news:11ua20vrti5d65a@corp.supernews.com...
> I'm fairly convinced that the erractic idle/stalling from idle I'm getting
> on the subject Escort is due to a balky IAC valve. Going to pull it and
> clean it and hopefully avoid replacing it. Whats the best
solvent/cleaner
> to use? Carb cleaner seems like the obvious choice. Any solvent that
> should NOT be used? Anything special to know about the job?
>
> Chris Bowne
> Stonington, CT
> 84 Escort 1.9 5 Speed LX 133K
> 98 Volvo V70XC AWD Cross Country 117K
> 97 Taurus GL Wagon 133K with sick Vulcan 3.0-otherwise good conditon- for
> sale cheap!
>
>

Got the same problem on my wife's '98 fiesta,took the IAC off
,but I don't know what I am looking at.Do these thing wear out,stick
or what.

John

02-05-2006, 07:01

My F-250 stalls whem cold starting unless I keep my foot on the gas, and it
sometimes stalls when coming to a stop. I had it put on the dealer's
computer & it identified this part (the air bypass valve AKA IAC). They
can be found online for under $50., but I wish I had tried to clean mine
first. Try the carb cleaner & scrub with a toothbrush. Let us know...I
think it will fix it. In the meantime, can anyone tell me where this part
is located?

02-05-2006, 07:01

To answer John's question, they get stuck in the closed position & the
engine is air-starved (yet fuel starved would have the same effect).

02-05-2006, 07:01

On my Escort its' contained in a small housing that looks like a thermostat
housing just above the throttle plate pulley on the throttle body. Has an
electrical solenoid/winding on one end, held onto throttle body by two small
bolts.

Ifs function is to regulate the air supply to the throttle body with the
main throttle plate closed, hence the term Idle Air Control Valve.

Going to work on it this AM - will let you know how I make out.

Chris Bowne
Stonington, CT

94 Escort 1.9 LX 5 Speed, 133K
98 Volvo V70XC AWD Cross Country 117K
97 Taurus GL Wagon 133K with sick Vulcan 3.0-otherwise good conditon-
for sale cheap!

02-05-2006, 10:01

"daddio360" <daddio361@aol.com> wrote in message
news:3bce205b5a3a729cdd44784198cfdb26@localhost.talkaboutautos.com...
> To answer John's question, they get stuck in the closed position & the
> engine is air-starved (yet fuel starved would have the same effect).
>

What's the best way to clean it?Would putting 12volts thru it help,
to make it move back and forth or whatever it does?
As I said,I had a look at it,but I'm unsure how it works.Is it controlled by
the ECU?

John

02-05-2006, 16:02

Well, a simple IACV cleaning made some improvement, and definitely changed
things. Its generally holding normal idle better , seems to be slower than
before responding to shutting the main throttle from speed. It still will
occassionally stumble into a stall after extended low RPM idling at about
750 RPM, but a big improvement from what it was doing recently. At one
point after the cleaning, it hung up at 3K RPM with the main throttle shut
after an upshift. Didn't ever do that before. All I did was give a
uick soaking spray in both ports with some WD-40 and some starting ether
spray (couldn't find any carb cleaner in the garage, and there was a warning
sticker on the IAC with the caution that it should NOT be cleaned due to a
special finish on the internal throttle pate and stem assemby).
It didnt look that coked up, but there was a definite coating of carbon on
the stem and disc inside the body. May try giving it an extended soak in
some carb cleaner (being careful to keep it from seeping into the solenoid
stem) got nothing to lose by doing so - if that doesn't work I'll need to
spring 60 bucks at AutoZone for a replacment.

Also replaced the PCV and associated vacuum hose bits, and put hose clamps
on all associated joints - didn't make much difference though.

Chris Bowne
Stonington, CT
84 Escort 1.9 5 Speed LX 133K
98 Volvo V70XC AWD Cross Country 117K
97 Taurus GL Wagon 133K with sick Vulcan 3.0-otherwise good conditon-
for sale cheap!

02-05-2006, 18:01

"Chris Bowne" <radiobwn@riconnect.com> wrote in message
news:11ud2r9qhd5teae@corp.supernews.com...
> Well, a simple IACV cleaning made some improvement, and definitely changed
> things. Its generally holding normal idle better , seems to be slower
> than
> before responding to shutting the main throttle from speed. It still will
> occassionally stumble into a stall after extended low RPM idling at about
> 750 RPM, but a big improvement from what it was doing recently. At one
> point after the cleaning, it hung up at 3K RPM with the main throttle shut
> after an upshift. Didn't ever do that before. All I did was give a
> uick soaking spray in both ports with some WD-40 and some starting ether
> spray (couldn't find any carb cleaner in the garage, and there was a
> warning
> sticker on the IAC with the caution that it should NOT be cleaned due to a
> special finish on the internal throttle pate and stem assemby).
> It didnt look that coked up, but there was a definite coating of carbon on
> the stem and disc inside the body. May try giving it an extended soak in
> some carb cleaner (being careful to keep it from seeping into the solenoid
> stem) got nothing to lose by doing so - if that doesn't work I'll need to
> spring 60 bucks at AutoZone for a replacment.
>
> Also replaced the PCV and associated vacuum hose bits, and put hose clamps
> on all associated joints - didn't make much difference though.
>
> Chris Bowne
> Stonington, CT
> 84 Escort 1.9 5 Speed LX 133K
> 98 Volvo V70XC AWD Cross Country 117K
> 97 Taurus GL Wagon 133K with sick Vulcan 3.0-otherwise good conditon-
> for sale cheap!
>
>

Try here:
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/cata...&parttype=6072
Shipping may bring it up to AutoZone's price; I didn't check that.

I cleaned the one on my Escape a while back and it has worked OK so far
(knock on wood). I used WD-40 and an old toothbrush, and rinsed it well (
with WD-40) before putting it back on. You can move the plunger back and
forth fairly easily when clean. Don't use alcohol- it dries the rubber
parts, causing to crack.
Good luck!

SC Tom

02-06-2006, 06:01

yep, rockauto is where I got mine (about $50., including shipping). The
part will be a generic; Airtex is the brand. I'd check ebay before
ordering. There is one on there right now that would have fit my engine
(grrrr!)

Good luck to all...this is a great forum!

02-06-2006, 07:01

Don't use carb cleaner. Use stuff espically made to clean IAC's that
won't hurt it. They have this at the auto parts stores.