Well these stuck, as you witnessed, but a carb cleaner should do the trick
Is it more convenient to you to buy a brand new one than 2 cans of carb cleaner? The valve is not that cheap
And of course, no need to buy the bmw one

 

Well these stuck, as you witnessed, but a carb cleaner should do the trick
Is it more convenient to you to buy a brand new one than 2 cans of carb cleaner? The valve is not that cheap

I will definitely try some carb cleaner but I figured the the brake cleaner would dissolve the carbon but maybe not. lol

 

Hmm,brake cleaner and shake the sh out of it

If that doesn't get it clanking ,replace

 

Hmm,brake cleaner and shake the sh out of it

If that doesn't get it clanking ,replace

I first sprayed it with brake cleaner and nothing. I got some carb cleaner and it sprayed it and let it sit and sprayed it some more. Every now and then I hear it clap but I think it is done.

 

Glad it is rubber. Silicone spray should help me get it off! Got lots of pictures of the depth and orientation.

 

If you do get the rotor free, ensure you re-oil, otherwise the bearings will be completely dry and you will have the problem repeat itself soon. Take a look at the thread below to see why.

My ICV started to have problems soon after I bought the car in 2006. Dealership had no clue. Using the method below I'm still using that same ICV. Every time I need to pull it out, generally for some other reason, I oil like I describe and it keeps it working like new forever.

Project M54 engine: Dissection of an ICV.

 

Great write up! I could not get it to break free and rattle. At first I used break cleaner and then I used carb cleaner. Once in a while I would hear it rattle when I shook it but then it would stop.

I cleaned it three years ago and didn't put any oil in it. It worked fine back then. Maybe this caused the bearings to wear out. Maybe I'll put some oil in it to see what happens. I have nothing to lose.

I am getting another used one so I'll put oil in thst one. 😊

 

When mine was really stuck initially I needed to get a screwdriver in there to move it around and get it free. You can't do any damage by being aggressive. I don't think you would wear out the bearings. You just need to get some lube in there to have it move freely and help remove all the crud.

 

Mostly agree. However if you scratch the center moving piston bad, it will hang up.

 

I just got another used ICV and it doesn't make any sounds when I'm shaking it. Is it bad too? How can I test it? Hook it up to a battery?

Here is the sound that I was expecting to hear.

e46 Idle Control Valve cleaning ICV STUCK OPEN

 

I cleaned mine after I got it, and since how to clean it wasn't quite clear to me, I sprayed it with a can and a half of Throttle Body cleaner from every angle. Right side up...let fluid swish around and dump it. Upside down, sideways, while listening to Ska...good music for cleaning.

My cleaning took my car from stalling whenever I dropped into neutral for a quick stop, especially in the rain for some reason, to never doing that again for the rest of its life--from 140k to 386k miles. I also use Techron religiously...and in my gas tank too.

 

My car would stall every now and then at a stop light or in a fast food line. After taking out the ICV and not hearing it rattle, I understood why.