Do idle control valves have a life expectancy?

[wrinkledpants]

I see that cleaning is often recommended, but is there a certain mileage or time at which people just replace it?

[john walker's workshop]

when it doesn't work anymore?

[wrinkledpants]

Is that how they work - they either work or they don't? I know some sensors like O2 will slowly degrade, and some sensors either work or they don't. I have no idea how the ICV works, so I'm not sure if there are moving parts in there that wear out or not. My car has 200k on it, and I'm in the process of bringing it up to speed. Idle sometimes hangs on it's way down from a higher RPM, and I'm just trying to knock off branches on the trouble shooting tree. I've added lube the the throttle cable at the tranny, and it seems to not feel sticky.

[KNS]

They can be removed and cleaned out, spray some throttle body cleaner or the like inside.

[Arne2]

Interesting question. The one in my car was apparently replaced in the late 90's, judging from what looks to be a production date code stamped on it. My car suffers from a hunting idle during warmup. It will oscillate badly two or three times on cold start, then steady at 1200 or so. During warmup, it will often oscillate whenever I drop back to idle (like at a neighborhood stop sign). Once the engine gets reasonably warm (10 minutes or so during the winter and spring), the idle is rock-steady at ~875 at all times.

I've cleaned my ICV several times, Seems to help just a tiny bit. Checked and adjusted the base idle speed, that seems to change the characteristics some, but hasn't cured it. I've checked for intake leaks, haven't found any (yet). I'm not certain my ICV is really bad, considering how well it works once the car warms up. I've thought about replacing the ICV, but still not certain that is the problem.

[dshepp806]

After back and forths (over time), I decided to load my girl with a brand new one after having delivered 24 years of service,...it sure as hey isn't fine wine, getting better with age. Out with the old,..in with the new.
Of course,..keep the old!


BEST!

Doyle

[T77911S]

the ICV is very missunderstood and very often just replaced when not needed.

the ICV only does what it is told to do.

a quick check of the ICV is to turn on the AC, if the idle increases, the ICV works, if the idle drops due to the load on the engine, it does not work.

[wrinkledpants]

Interesting. I'll have to give that a try.

[chuckr]

Funny you bring this up now. I just changed mine out with a new one. I did the cleaning thing
twice ! It worked for a while, say a year then started acting up...fluctuating idle when cold
After talking with my mechanic, cleaning it twice in three years and still having issues,is is time to replace it. New one installed, problem solved and man does the new one look great!

[Rodsrsr]

I agree with Doyle....at 29 years old its done its job. I rather pony up and replace it knowing that its one less thing to worry about for many more years.

[dyusem]

Looks like an approximate 30 year life span is the length of time that this component was built to perform.

The original unit on my '80 SC started exhibiting fluctuations a couple of years ago and was finally replaced earlier this year.