IAC Valve cleaning tool
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 65
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From: Fort Belvoir, VA
IAC Valve cleaning tool
1999 F-150 4.6
Maybe this can help someone else out there in a pinch.
Engine was stalling as soon as it started. Forum members helped me check a few possible culprits including the fuel pump, fuel pump fuses and relays, PCM relays, and the IAC valve. They all checked out good. The IAC voltage and resistance checks were good so I took it off to clean it. After several minutes of spray and drain, spray and drain with brake parts cleaner I noticed the valve was still pretty gunked up. I needed something to scrub it. A tooth brush wouldn't angle in right so I made an ugly little tool for the job. I cut half a tip off of a children's size toothbrush and used a soldering iron to melt a hole in the center. I inserted a piece of a clothes hanger in the hole. Using the iron, I melted the toothbrush head into a roundish shape to fit in the holes in the IAC valve. I used the iron to push the melting plastic up around the hanger to hold the hanger in place. Get the inside of the valve wet with the brake parts cleaner, clean with the brush, and then spray the valve out again. Repeat as necessary. Worked like a charm. Now that I know it was my IAC causing the trouble, I'll replace it very soon. I'm sure that there is something better to clean the valve with, but this worked for me.
Maybe this can help someone else out there in a pinch.
Engine was stalling as soon as it started. Forum members helped me check a few possible culprits including the fuel pump, fuel pump fuses and relays, PCM relays, and the IAC valve. They all checked out good. The IAC voltage and resistance checks were good so I took it off to clean it. After several minutes of spray and drain, spray and drain with brake parts cleaner I noticed the valve was still pretty gunked up. I needed something to scrub it. A tooth brush wouldn't angle in right so I made an ugly little tool for the job. I cut half a tip off of a children's size toothbrush and used a soldering iron to melt a hole in the center. I inserted a piece of a clothes hanger in the hole. Using the iron, I melted the toothbrush head into a roundish shape to fit in the holes in the IAC valve. I used the iron to push the melting plastic up around the hanger to hold the hanger in place. Get the inside of the valve wet with the brake parts cleaner, clean with the brush, and then spray the valve out again. Repeat as necessary. Worked like a charm. Now that I know it was my IAC causing the trouble, I'll replace it very soon. I'm sure that there is something better to clean the valve with, but this worked for me.
