P1518 IMRC stuck open: 2000 winnie, 3.8l

Heading out on a 2 week drive in 2 days. Looked around and discovered that the bushing on the linkage were rotten on the rear bank ( closest to cowl ). Wondering if this needs to be fixed before the trip.

How to fix it? Can I buy just the bushings? Will I have to come up with my "own fix"? I imagine have to take the intake off, cowl, etc, almost as much work as the po171 fix.

I would appreciate your thoughts. Thanks

The IMRC actuator is different on the 1999 and newer than on my '96.
From what I understand, you have 1 electrical actuator that moves both IMRC shafts.
The common failure mentioned is that the nylon clips that connect each IMRC shaft to the actuator breaks.
You can buy new nylon clips, and reconnect the shaft to the actuator, or somehow fasten the IMRC shafts in the closed position.

In the stuck open position, you will have poor fuel economy, and possible pinging.
The open position is for extra power during Wide Open Throttle.
Closed position is for 99%+ of the time.

Stuck closed should still give you a CEL with a code for IMRC stuck closed, but as mentioned, it is the prefered of the 2 positions to be stuck in.

The IMRC actuator is different on the 1999 and newer than on my '96.
From what I understand, you have 1 electrical actuator that moves both IMRC shafts.
The common failure mentioned is that the nylon clips that connect each IMRC shaft to the actuator breaks.
You can buy new nylon clips, and reconnect the shaft to the actuator, or somehow fasten the IMRC shafts in the closed position.

In the stuck open position, you will have poor fuel economy, and possible pinging.
The open position is for extra power during Wide Open Throttle.
Closed position is for 99%+ of the time.

Stuck closed should still give you a CEL with a code for IMRC stuck closed, but as mentioned, it is the prefered of the 2 positions to be stuck in.


Thanks so much for your post. Really appreciate it. Ok, I understand; Now a stupid position.

What is the closed position? Is it when you look at the IMRC module dead on, valve closest to the cowl is rotated couterclockwise fully?

Look forward to your kind response.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=764861&highlight=47099

http://www.oreillyauto.com/EW3/ProductDetail.do?id=760958760&line=MTM&itemNumber=47099&exactItemNumberIndex=0&didSearchFor=47099&bid=1247717922181&cycleCount=2532&currentPage=0



O'Reilly Auto Stores, pack of 5 for about 6 bucks. Not the easiest to replace though unless you have small hands. The rear ones are really tough unless you take the whole IMRC motor assy. loose. Mine was the front one and was the easiest to replace.

Well, I broke down, and bought 2 plastic bushings, after taxes came to $15 a pop & 70 to have em put in.

Was it a good decision? Probably not. Cheaper than an Actuator what the Extortion Place with the blue sign said had to be done....

Thanks for your help folks.

Found out something interesting.

I got Winnie back, and in the driveway in park, I tried to rev past 4000, no go, seems there is a rev limiter at 4K. I thought the imrc wasn't working. So took it on the road, and worked better than ever before, seems you can;t test an imrc in the driveway with a scan tool where you can force the actuator open/close.


learn something new everytime with the Winne