Driving With A Bad Idle Air Control Valve- Impacts & Symptoms Explained+ Video

The Idle Air Control (IAC) valve deals with your car engine speed when it’s in an idle position. It controls the quantity of engine airflow. A faulty IAC valve affects the airflow adversely and directly impacts engine performance.

Practically, driving with a bad idle air control valve isn’t prohibited. But, it’s not recommended as it can lead to some serious issues in your car.

And that is why learning the impact and symptoms while driving your car with a bad IAC valve is vital. So, read on and learn the symptoms and effects of a bad IAC valve. And protect your car from severe internal damages like engine stalling.

Driving With A Bad Idle Air Control Valve- Learn the Impacts & Symptoms

The IAC valve helps the engine to control the speed when you keep your car idle. Indeed, it provides rest to the car engine when its power is discarded.

When the IAC valve goes bad, it affects the engine poorly – even it can make the engine stall. As a result, it may suddenly stop working, and the situation worsens over time.

The symptoms of a bad idle air control valve come out in different ways, and engine stalling is the prevalent and first one.

Moreover, it indicates the symptoms with varying idle speed, requiring more force on its brake pedal, illuminating engine check light, etc. No matter the symptoms, a bad IAC valve isn’t good for any car engine. 

What Happens If The Idle Air Control Valve Goes Bad?

Failing or malfunctioning of the IAC valve will make your car engine low efficient. As a result, the engine can cause different issues for your vehicle. Typically, a bad IAC valve generates some telltale signs to warn you about engine-related problems in the early stage.

In some rare cases, a bad IAC valve can make your car completely out of driving condition. Besides, in some cases, you can continue driving your car with a faulty IAC valve. However, the experts and manufacturers don’t recommend driving a car with a bad IAC valve.

As it usually triggers engine stalling, it may compromise car safety. Moreover, it’d prevent you from passing a state idle air control valve test in terms of emissions because the check engine light is on for a bad IAC.

Symptoms Of The Bad Idle Air Control Valve

Knowing the symptoms to identify and fix the issue is always best for your car. Let’s know them below:

Irregular Idle Speed

The most common and direct symptom of the bad IAC valve is irregular or fluctuating idle speed. The IAC valve works to manage your car engine’s idle speed. It comes with a preset program that constantly maintains and regulates its idle speed.

When this valve goes bad, it’d be unable to regulate the engine speed anymore. It results in oddly low or high idle speed. In some other cases, it can repeatedly fall or climb the idle speed.

Note that a passenger vehicle’s regular idle speed is between 600RPM and 1000RPM. For medium to heavy-duty trucks, the idle speed is about 600RPM. If you find your car engine’s idle speed is more or less than those amounts, it’d be a warning symptom of a bad IAC valve.

Engine Stalling

Freezing or stalling your car engine is another common warning symptom of a bad IAC valve. A car engine needs a specific amount of fuel and air to help it run smoothly.

If the engine doesn’t get as much air and fuel as it requires to maintain a correct idle speed, the IAC valve can fail. Consequently, the engine starves for essential air and stalls or freezes while operating.

Even in some cases, the engine stalls right after you start it without making its idle speed. If your car engine stalls, you’d not drive your car. It’s because the entire valve system starts malfunctioning when you ignite it.

Check Engine Light On Dashboard

The engine control module always looks for issues with its components, like the IAC valve. If it finds any variation in the number of revolutions than the standard reading, it activates its Check Engine Light.

Although it’ll not stop your car engine immediately, you must fix the issue as soon as possible. And it requires a computer scan to get the trouble code. Also, you should perform this computer scan for other symptoms. 

Extra Force On The Brake

When your car engine is at idle speed, it doesn’t require extra force for the brake pedal to stop forward motion. However, sometimes, it needs more force on its brake pedal to prevent your car from moving somewhere like signals.

It also indicates a bad IAC valve. It happens when the IAC valve is at a faster motion than normal. Because of a higher amount of RPM, the brake pedal needs additional effort to stop the car while running.

This Video Can Help You Too!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How Do I Reset My Idle Air Control Valve?

It’s possible to reset the IAC valve by turning the car engine. Keep your car at the parking ‘P’ position and press down the brake. Then, push down and hold the gas pedal for five seconds. Now, turn your car off and wait for ten seconds. After that, start your car again, and you should get your IAC valve working properly.

How Much Does It Cost To Fix An Idle Air Control Valve?

The faulty idle air control valve cost around $120 to $500, including parts and labor. The price may vary depending on the car models, locations, and availability of the parts and labor.

Does Idle Air Control Valve Affect Acceleration?

The IAC valve in your car engine plays a vital role in precise combustion. It allows in the correct quantity of air with the mixture of fuel. It may cause trouble while accelerating when the engine gets more or less air than it needs. The IAC valve plates can stick and may require more force to accelerate.

Concluding Words

Driving with a bad idle air control valve will warn you of some symptoms that may cause issues for your car engine. You must not take those symptoms lightly, even if you get one of them.

Otherwise, they can result in costlier penalties to your car engine. It may be tricky on your own when it comes to fixing the issues. In this case, it’s best to consult an expert auto mechanic and get the job done correctly.

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