Idle air control valve

After reading about the IAC valve on top of the throttle body, I thought back to the times my idle shot up to 2K and stayed there a couple of times. I've never cleaned the IAC in particular, though I've shot TB cleaner into the TB a number of times. Always looking to fix something that ain't broke, I went out to the driveway, lifted the hood, disconnected the electrical plug to the IAC, and took it out by unscrewing its 2 screws. They are small. Put them in a safe place if you take yours off. Not surprisingly, there was a ton of carbon buildup on the valve and inside it's port in the TB.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/surferfletch/IACbefore-1.jpg

I didn't have any TB cleaner, so I used some denatured alcohol and a toothbrush to clean the valve off.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/surferfletch/IACafter.jpg

I put it back on and started it without plugging it back in (forgot at first, admittedly), and it idled right at 2K. This is what makes me think something with the IAC caused the intermittent high idle before. I know some others have had this problem and I wonder if it's IAC related.

I shut it off and plugged in the IAC and tried to start it again. Trouble. It wouldn't start without giving it gas and it stalled immediately if I took my foot off the gas. Damn. I shut it off. This sounds like the problem somebody in another thread is having. I'll bet cleaning the IAC will solve it, because I then started it up without any trouble and it idled fine. Whew. It's running fine now, but I'm going to clean out the TB really well tomorrow. Hope it helps someone...

Just wait till the wife finds out it was her toothbrush you used. :rofl: :nono:

I need to do some maintenance cleaning of parts one of these days on mine.