The idle air control (IAC) valve is located in the throttle body of both SFI and MFI Systems. It consists of a movable pintle, driven by a gear attached to an electric motor called a stepper motor. The IAC valve motor is a two phase bi-polar permanent magnet stepper motor that is capable of highly accurate rotation, or movement, every time the polarity of a winding is changed. This change in polarity can be seen when observing a test lamp connected between ground or B+ and an IAC valve circuit while the powertrain control module (PCM) is attempting to change engine RPM. The test lamp will flash on or off each time the polarity is changed. The PCM does not use a physical sensor to determine IAC pintle position, but uses a predicted number of counts, one count represents one change in polarity which equals one step of the stepper motor. The PCM counts the steps it has commanded to determine IAC pintle position. The PCM uses the IAC valve to control engine idle speed. It does this by changing the pintle position In the idle air passage of the throttle body. This varies the air flow around the throttle plate when the throttle is closed. To determine the desired position of the IAC pintle at idle or during deceleration, the PCM refers to the following inputs:
• | The engine RPM |
• | The battery voltage |
• | The air temperature |
• | The engine coolant temperature (ECT) |
• | The throttle position (TP) sensor angle |
• | The engine load |
• | The vehicle speed |
When the ignition key is turned OFF after an ignition cycle, the PCM will first seat the IAC pintle in the air bypass bore and then retract it a predetermined amount of counts to allow the proper amount of air to bypass the throttle plate for engine start-up. This procedure is known as an IAC Reset.
• | DTCs P0101-P0103, P0106-P0108, P0112, P0113, P0117, P0118, P0121-P0123, P0125, P0128, P0171, P0172, P0174, P0175, P0200, P0300, P0440, P0442, P0443, P0446, P0449, P1111, P1112, P1114, P1115, P1121, P1122, P1380, P1381, and P1441 are not set. |
• | The engine run time is more than 60 seconds. |
• | The engine coolant temperature (ECT) is more than 60°C (140°F). |
• | The intake air temperature (IAT) is more than --10°C (14°F). |
• | The TPS is less than 0.7 percent. |
• | The barometric pressure (BARO) is more than 65 kPa. |
• | The vehicle speed sensor (VSS) is less than 1.6 km/h (1 mph). |
• | The ignition voltage is between 9 volts and 18 volts. |
• | The above conditions are present for 2 seconds. |
The actual engine speed is 100 RPM more than the desired engine speed.
Inspect for the following conditions:
• | The correct positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve, properly installed and proper operation of the PCV valve. |
• | Proper operation and installation of all air intake components. |
• | Proper installation and operation of the mass air flow (MAF) sensor, if equipped. |
• | A tampered with or damaged throttle stop screw. |
• | A tampered with or damaged throttle plate, throttle shaft, throttle linkage, or cruise control linkage, if equipped. |
• | A skewed high TP sensor. |
• | Excessive deposits in the IAC passage or on the IAC pintle. |
• | Excessive deposits in the throttle bore or on the throttle plate. |
• | Vacuum leaks. |
• | A high or unstable idle condition could be caused by a non-IAC system problem that can not be overcome by the IAC valve. Refer to Symptoms - Engine Controls . |
• | If the problem is determined to be intermittent, refer to Intermittent Conditions . |
The numbers below refer to the step numbers on the diagnostic table.
This test will determine the ability of the engine controller and IAC valve circuits to control the IAC valve.
This test will determine the ability of the PCM to provide the IAC valve circuits with a ground. On a normally operating system, the test lamp should not flash while the IAC counts are incrementing.
Step | Action | Yes | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Schematic Reference: Engine Controls Schematics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 | Did you perform the Diagnostic System Check-Engine Controls? | Go to Step 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2 |
Important: Ensure engine speed stabilizes with each commanded RPM change to determine if engine speed stays within 100 RPM of the commanded RPM.
Does the engine speed stabilize within 100 RPM of the commanded RPM during the above test? | Go to Step 3 | Go to Step 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
3 |
Does the DTC fail this ignition? | Go to Step 4 | Go to Diagnostic Aids | ||||||||||||||||||||||
4 |
Did the engine speed steadily decrease to near 600 RPM and steadily increase to near 1,800 RPM when the IAC valve was commanded in and out? | Go to Step 5 | Go to Step 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Did the test lamp remain ON, never flashing, while the IAC counts where incrementing at any of the IAC valve circuits during the above test? | Go to Step 9 | Go to Step 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
6 | Did the test lamp remain OFF, never flashing, while the IAC counts where incrementing at any of the IAC valve circuits during the above test? | Go to Step 8 | Go to Step 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Did the test lamp stay illuminated, never flashing, while the IAC counts where incrementing during the above test? | Go to Diagnostic Aids | Go to Step 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
8 |
Did you find and correct the condition? | Go to Step 15 | Go to Step 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
9 |
Did you find and correct the condition? | Go to Step 15 | Go to Step 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
10 | Visually and physically inspect for the following:
Repair any of the above conditions as necessary. Refer to Throttle Body Cleaning . Did you find and correct the condition? | Go to Step 15 | Go to Step 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
11 | Inspect for a poor connection at the PCM harness connectors. Refer to Testing for Intermittent and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs in Wiring Systems. Did you find and correct the condition? | Go to Step 15 | Go to Step 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
12 | Inspect for a poor connection at the IAC Valve harness connector. Refer to Testing for Intermittent and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs in Wiring Systems. Did you find and correct the condition? | Go to Step 15 | Go to Step 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
13 | Replace the IAC valve. Refer to Idle Air Control Valve Replacement . Did you complete the replacement? | Go to Step 15 | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||
14 | Replace the PCM. Refer to Powertrain Control Module Replacement . Did you complete the replacement? | Go to Step 15 | -- | ||||||||||||||||||||||
15 |
Does the DTC run and pass? | Go to Step 16 | Go to Step 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
16 | With a scan tool observe the Stored information, Capture info. Does the scan tool display any DTCs that you have not diagnosed? | System OK |