Can you drive with a broken idle air control valve?

As you know, the idle air control valve reads the air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the engine at low speeds and at idle. When the engine RPM drops below the normal range of 750-800 RPM (for most cars), this often times will cause the engine to stall indicating a dirty or faulty idle air control valve. Depending on the severity of how dirty the valve may be (in your case, maybe not enough to register the check engine light), this may be intermittent or erratic. Although normally the idle air control valve monitors air intake at low or idle speeds, this may affect the the functionality of it in the case of driving down the highway and quickly letting off the gas pedal. As you know, part of the job of the idle air control valve is to slowly bring the engine down to an idle or low speed when reducing engine RPM’s. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and repair your idle air control valve.

Amy Gilmore loves writing about cars and helping others figure out how to make their lives easier. If you have car problems, that can put a hiccup in all of your plans but Amy is here to help.

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A bad idle air control valve is one of the most frightening vehicle malfunctions you can experience. When the part is worn, it can cause your car to idle roughly and at times sputter out. 

It can happen anytime. So, this is something you should address as soon as you start to notice signs of a bad idle air control valve. Otherwise, you could put yourself, your passengers, and other drivers in danger. 

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Your car is made up of tons of parts and systems that keep it running smoothly at all times—even while the car is idling. One part that affects your car’s ability to idle smoothly is the idle air control valve. When this part fails, it can cause troubling symptoms in your car and lead to serious performance issues. In this article, we’ll go over the basics of the idle air control valve and how to remedy issues related to failure of the part.

What does an idle air control valve do for your car?

The idle air control valve is part of a series of components in your engine that control how a car’s engine idles in terms of rising and falling RPMs—the goal is to keep a steady idle speed to avoid stalling and to allow the car to begin moving once the clutch or brake is disengaged. The valve is electronically regulated with the help of the car’s ECU, and involves a motorized mechanism to control airflow passing through the throttle body. When the idle air control valve begins to malfunction, you’ll likely notice some troubling symptoms.

How to prevent failure from occurring

A failed idle air control valve is problematic for a number of reasons, but the good news is that the part should last throughout the whole life cycle of the car. In other words, this valve shouldn’t fail under optimal circumstances where parts are well maintained and cared for. You can prevent failure of a number of different parts throughout your vehicle by following the routine maintenance schedule specific to your car, including the idle air control valve. When the engine becomes overly dirty, especially when engine oil isn’t properly maintained, it can cause premature failure of the idle air control valve. Therefore, it’s important to consult with an automotive specialist to learn how you can best prevent such issues from arising.

Symptoms of a bad idle air control valve

It’s critical to keep your eyes peeled for any troubling symptoms your car begins expressing. An automotive shop that specializes in the type of car you drive should immediately address any slight changes in function or reliability. The signs of idle air control valve failure can model the symptoms of other part failures, so a thorough diagnosis is essential moving forward. These are some of the most common symptoms associated with idle air control valve failure:

Check engine light illumination

Any time your check engine light comes on, it is critical to have it checked out by a professional. The check engine light can alert you of idle air control valve failure, but it can also indicate problems with other important areas of your car.

Periodic engine stalling

When the idle air control valve fails, it inhibits the flow of air through the engine. When the car can’t receive air, it leads to engine stalling. The severity of this symptom can range from occasional stalling at first, to stalling immediately after ignition.

Odd idling behaviors

Since the idle air control valve affects idle RPMs, it is not unusual to experience concerning symptoms while the car is idling. You might notice that the RPMs jump up much higher than usual while the car is idling and may overall behave erratically while idling.

What you should do next to address the issue

Although the idle air control valve is meant to last for the entire life of the car, sometimes premature wear and failure can occur due to improper maintenance and routine care. Establishing a routine is a good way to keep failure at bay, but the issue must be adequately fixed first. An automotive specialist will need to diagnose the problem correctly and decide if the idle air control valve should be replaced, or if it can be adequately cleaned and re-installed. Usually replacement is needed to remedy the issue.

What we can do to help you

Here at Euro Automotive, we specialize in luxury European repair services. For the residents of Dallas, Garland, Arlington, and Fort Worth, TX, we provide quality care, expertise, and competitive pricing for maintenance and repair in cars like Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar, Porsche, Audi, Volkswagen, and Volvo. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms related to a bad idle air control valve, please contact us to schedule an appointment right away. Your safety and satisfaction are our number one priority.

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