Hi
The idle on my 318 isn't as rough as some of the videos on YouTube buy it certainly can't be described as smooth.
It just causes the car to shake and sometimes the revs fluctuate quite a bit but not always .
Could this be the ICV needed attention/cleaning or does the ICV normally cause really irratic idling?
Thanks
M40 ICV question
Moderator: martauto
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Billwill
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 363
- Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2011 11:00 pm
- Location: South Africa
My ICV gets clogged every few months and the idle starts getting rough.
It is simple to remove it......take note which way the arrow on it is pointing....spray out the inside with carburetor cleaner or petrol and spray a bit of Q40 or similar into it.
Make sure you have no air leaks anywhere around the intake manifold, brake servo or any of the other pipes in that area.
Make sure the Throttle Position Switch is working...must "click" as the throttle is relaxed...best to measure its function right at the ECU with an Ohm meter.
Make sure the Blue Temperature Sensor is working correctly.
It is simple to remove it......take note which way the arrow on it is pointing....spray out the inside with carburetor cleaner or petrol and spray a bit of Q40 or similar into it.
Make sure you have no air leaks anywhere around the intake manifold, brake servo or any of the other pipes in that area.
Make sure the Throttle Position Switch is working...must "click" as the throttle is relaxed...best to measure its function right at the ECU with an Ohm meter.
Make sure the Blue Temperature Sensor is working correctly.
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Mne666
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 279
- Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2012 11:00 pm
- Location: Cheshire
Hi, thanks and its reassuring that its a common and regular fault, does the intake manifold need to be removeD to get it out?
Ill try and get it off one night this week, it runs nicely other than on idle where it smells a little rich and its a bit rougher than inwould hope.
Talking of temp sensors, the one on the dash has stopped working so that's another job
Cheers
Ill try and get it off one night this week, it runs nicely other than on idle where it smells a little rich and its a bit rougher than inwould hope.
Talking of temp sensors, the one on the dash has stopped working so that's another job
Cheers
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soul4t
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 381
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 11:00 pm
- Location: Bristol
You don't need to remove the intake manifold to remove the ICV, just undo the nut clasping it on it's bracket (10mm), carefull not to drop the nut and washer on the under side, then undo the jubilee hose clamp on the bottom hose going to the ICV, once this is undone a bit of wriggling off of that hose, then pull it out of the intake. Do you know where it is?
Does it react anything like the videos on this threads page: http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&start=50
The brown temp sensor feeds the dash, the Blue one feeds to the ECU...best to test the Blue temp sensor at the ECU, saves fiddling around under the throttle body! Also more importantly it tests the wiring. I can't remember for sure, but if you have any other symptoms on the dash it could relate to a different problem...not sure tho!
Does it react anything like the videos on this threads page: http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&start=50
The brown temp sensor feeds the dash, the Blue one feeds to the ECU...best to test the Blue temp sensor at the ECU, saves fiddling around under the throttle body! Also more importantly it tests the wiring. I can't remember for sure, but if you have any other symptoms on the dash it could relate to a different problem...not sure tho!
