[2001Silver330CI]

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

 

[2001Silver330CI]

No, the carb cleaner is much more aggressive. Careful not to get it in your eyes as you spray. And forcefully rotate the valve. Lots of gunk will come out.

Side funny story. I cleaned my icv like 5 times, a jerk I had at low rpms was the symptom. It got a little better, but still there. I wasn't going to buy a new one , so I deleted the valve. And the jerk is still there. Like cmon [emoji23][emoji2356]

I almost got some brake cleaner in my eyes when I sprayed it in the valve. :-(

How did you delete the valve? 🤔

 

[2001Silver330CI]

There is info on ms4xwiki, you have a 330 so there are the full data for your car. You need to plug the intake manifold hole and the hole the valve goes to the intake hose and to re flash the car with slightly different parameters

I hope I don't need to do that or buy a new one. lol

 

[2001Silver330CI]

Hahaha I did it for the mod and for the jerking, but I didn't solve that

 

[2001Silver330CI]

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.

 

[2001Silver330CI]

Shake, it and poke it, try to free the valve. Rotate it vigorously

I shaked it hard. Not I will start poking it with a screw driver. What do I have to lose at this point? lol

 

[2001Silver330CI]

It's all metal, hard to do any damage. But I believe with enough shaking it will break loose

I stuck my screwdriver in it and it is moving but not making that clanking sound. Once in a while and I've been shaking it for 15 minutes on and off.

Thinking about getting a used one from ebay.

 

[2001Silver330CI]

It's all metal, hard to do any damage. But I believe with enough shaking it will break loose

BTW - How do you take the bracket off one of these? I don't see any bolts to remove.

 

[2001Silver330CI]

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

 

[2001Silver330CI]

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. 😊

 

[2001Silver330CI]

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

 

[2001Silver330CI]

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.