Hose it out with carb cleaner. If you tap it on your hand the right way you
can hear the valve open and close. Hose it. Shake it out. Hose it again. Let
it dry and reinstall.

On Fri, May 14, 2010 at 8:12 AM, Raymond Paquette <raymondpaquette@gmail.com
> wrote:

> Any recommendations on what to do, what not to do to loosen up my idle
> air control valve? What to use for solvent/penetrant that won't damage
> it? Brake cleaner, gas, diesel, motor oil?
>
> Back story is that van sat for 2 years due to bad ECU. Ran perfectly
> before ECU died. 2.1 in an '87 Syncro
>
> Now it idles at a pretty consistent 2200. Same thing on three different
> ECU's I've tried. IACV buzzes (as I understand it should) when the key
> is on, engine not running. Yesterday, out of idle curiosity (no pun
> intended), I lifted the IACV and stuck my finger in the hole to seal the
> vacuum leak I'd created. Motor immediately went to 900rpm which is where
> it idles before ECU problem and two years of sitting. So, I WD40'd the
> IACV let it buzz for a while, then put things back together. Now, each
> time I take my foot off the accelerator, it idles steady, sometimes
> right at 900, but often at another speed. Now, it's always less than 2200.
>
> This suggest to me that the IACV was stuck, now is moving but sticky and
> inconsistently. But I really have no idea what the thing does nor how it
> works (or doesn't).
>
> Am I on a useful path? Or, am I barking up the wrong tree? Suggestions?
>
> Thanks
>
> Raymond
>