My IACV keeps giving me problems

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rallyak
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My IACV keeps giving me problems

Post by rallyak »

I've cleaned it dozens of times which helped but now it won't idle lower than 1200 rpms at lights. My CEL comes on throwing code 24 and sometimes when I start it runs really ruff like a misfire, always when it's hot but still idles at 1200 rpm's. Of course mine is a 90 5spd and they only put those on 90-91 5spd so finding a used one is difficult.

Things that I've done in the past to help the problem is:

Adjusted the idle down (I know not to touch the factory settings) till the throttle valve is completely shut and put a restrictor in the hose going to the intake pipe. That's help a lot at start up in the morning (w/out restriction it runs at 3500 rpm's when cold with restriction 2000 rpm's)

After the idle was adjusted down when it warm it use to idle at 850 rpm's but that was two years ago. It keeps creeping up and now I don't have any more tricks to throw at it.

I've ordered a new IAC from Subaru today to try to fix this problem and the price wasn't bad 124$. If any one has any suggestions or any other tricks let me know.
Charles

90' White/Gray Outback DD workhorse (670,xxx) miles
92' Onyx Metallic (430,xxx) Wife's DD
68' Barracuda formula S 340 4spd coupe (ongoing project)
66' Mustang 2+2 4spd wife's (ongoing project)
lucas
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Re: My IACV keeps giving me problems

Post by lucas »

I posted a video a while back of a dude with the same problem, and he showed a good way of "cleaning" it. I have the exact same problem you do ive just accepted its a fact of life for old legacies. I managed to lessen the occurances of the IACV acting up on my car with routien stuff. Plugs Good wires, PCV, Coolant temp sensor. and fixed a few split wires on some sensor pig tails. Let us know how the new valve works out and man you got a cheap price.
1993 legacy ss "Shela"
rallyak
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Re: My IACV keeps giving me problems

Post by rallyak »

It's defiantly frustrating, I use ngk plugs and wires coolant sensor is fairly new and PCV has been replaced. The car runs great starts in -70 temp with no problems. I believe I cleanest IAC on the board. I seafoam it every oil change in the winter and in the summer I remove it to clean it. It's never very dirty but yet it keeps climbing. I posted a pic in my journal of one of my cleanings in the snow. I hope the new IAC fixes it, I will let you know.
Last edited by rallyak on Tue May 06, 2014 5:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Charles

90' White/Gray Outback DD workhorse (670,xxx) miles
92' Onyx Metallic (430,xxx) Wife's DD
68' Barracuda formula S 340 4spd coupe (ongoing project)
66' Mustang 2+2 4spd wife's (ongoing project)
wtdash
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Re: My IACV keeps giving me problems

Post by wtdash »

Something I've noticed on my car is if I just replaced the top piece which is interchangeable with almost all the 2.2 and 2.5 IACs it'll help with that idle issue - it doesn't fix the coldstart issue with EJ 20 ECU - but it does help with the idle. good luck w/the new one.
And where did u get it for $124?

TD
Turbo Subies:
'87 GL-10 Turbo - SOLD
'90 BJ EJ22T/DOHC & 5speed swap - SOLD
'04 FXT, Forged internals, VF39, STI TMIC, Cobb AP- SOLD
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rallyak
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Re: My IACV keeps giving me problems

Post by rallyak »

I don't think the top piece on mine is interchangeable with others, mine is two pin and and just a solenoid that goes up and down. I know my wife's is a different design, hers spins and adjustable I believe that is the common one. I'm getting my new one from my local subaru dealer, I hope he ordered the correct one but he did match it up with my vin.
Charles

90' White/Gray Outback DD workhorse (670,xxx) miles
92' Onyx Metallic (430,xxx) Wife's DD
68' Barracuda formula S 340 4spd coupe (ongoing project)
66' Mustang 2+2 4spd wife's (ongoing project)
wtdash
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Re: My IACV keeps giving me problems

Post by wtdash »

That part is close to $300 on other sites....but if it's for the '90 may be it's different??
Turbo Subies:
'87 GL-10 Turbo - SOLD
'90 BJ EJ22T/DOHC & 5speed swap - SOLD
'04 FXT, Forged internals, VF39, STI TMIC, Cobb AP- SOLD
'93 Legacy SS - 5-speed, SOLD :-(
'02 WRX -SOLD
'96 BD-turbo'd-SOLD
'98 SF - NA-T
lucas
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Re: My IACV keeps giving me problems

Post by lucas »

I know the price is crazy, wish it was the same for my 93 ss. IACV imo is the most dumb idiot thing on any car ever. I have a 93 S10 that has IACV problems too......................... must have just been 90's stuff.
1993 legacy ss "Shela"
rallyak
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Re: My IACV keeps giving me problems

Post by rallyak »

It's basically a controlled vacuum leak, I think it dumb also.
Charles

90' White/Gray Outback DD workhorse (670,xxx) miles
92' Onyx Metallic (430,xxx) Wife's DD
68' Barracuda formula S 340 4spd coupe (ongoing project)
66' Mustang 2+2 4spd wife's (ongoing project)
lucas
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Re: My IACV keeps giving me problems

Post by lucas »

i wish i could just block it off and not have more problems.
1993 legacy ss "Shela"
Legacy777
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Re: My IACV keeps giving me problems

Post by Legacy777 »

If you are getting a code for the IAC valve, than the actual solenoid part of the valve is probably what's bad and not the valve itself. There's no cleaning you can do to fix the solenoid. I would suspect the new valve should fix your problem.
Josh

surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT

If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
rallyak
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Re: My IACV keeps giving me problems

Post by rallyak »

Well Subaru ordered the wrong part, it was the purge solenoid. I knew it was to good to be true. They checked the correct part # and guess what.... Discontinued. So I went digging through my parts and found a two pin IAC, but I remembered installing that one on my car and didn't work, the idle was way to high. So I took the solenoid off the top and the one on mine and found the spare was missing a spring. I install the new solenoid and all is good now. I don't think my IAC has ever worked properly since I've own it.
Charles

90' White/Gray Outback DD workhorse (670,xxx) miles
92' Onyx Metallic (430,xxx) Wife's DD
68' Barracuda formula S 340 4spd coupe (ongoing project)
66' Mustang 2+2 4spd wife's (ongoing project)
lucas
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Re: My IACV keeps giving me problems

Post by lucas »

Right on man!! Glad it all worked out.
1993 legacy ss "Shela"
jessman1942
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Re: My IACV keeps giving me problems

Post by jessman1942 »

thread from the dead im gonna try this on my ej20g swap iv been having erratic iac issues aswell wish me luck
88 Honda civic wagon B20VTEC SWAP-RIP
85 Subaru loyal sedan-SOLD
95 Subaru impreza $500 BEATER-SOLD
91 Subaru legacy SS jdm ej20g swap

CHECK OUT MY ej20G BUILD HERE>> viewtopic.php?f=25&t=53766
lucas
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Re: My IACV keeps giving me problems

Post by lucas »

good luck man I've had IACV problems for 6+ years
1993 legacy ss "Shela"
oldscoobyturbo
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Re: My IACV keeps giving me problems

Post by oldscoobyturbo »

i've swapped the top part on my swapped car and its solved the warm idle issues. The 20g ecus don't like the cold/cold starts
Silver 99 Legacy GT Wagon
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