97 dodge w 360-idle adjustment?

[wtnhunt]

After my step father passed away, no one could get his truck to stay running to move it. Looked it over and saw no reason for any problems, cranked it up and it runs fine so long as you hold a little pressure on the gas pedal, let off and it dies. Seems the engine is strong and runs fine it just won't idle, even after warming it up. Not real familiar with the fuel systems on the 90's and newer dodges, do they have any type of idle adjustment, if so where?

[Shaun_300]

Most vehicles now-a-days have an IAC Valve (Idle air control). This is a passage that bypasses the throttle body to let air around it when the throttle plate is closed to let it idle. There's a pintle in the electric valve that moves in and out to control the idle speed. (how much air it lets by). It is more than likely stuck closed, or not working at all and the engine is not getting any air. I know the GM ones are fairly cheap. That'd be my first guess William. You can try taking it out and cleaning it with brake clean, if it's mechanically stuck it might fix it, if it's electrically dead, you'll need a new IAC.

[Shaun_300]

Just found this William, in case you don't know what an IAC looks like.

[wtnhunt]

Thanks Shaun. Will take a look next time I get over there, from that pic looks like a couple screws in the side to the tb housing.

[Shaun_300]

Yup and they're probably torx too, ours are T-15 and the newer ones are T-15T (tamper-proof)

[wtnhunt]

Thanks Shaun, will be sure to take plenty of tools with me inlcuding torx and metric sockets, would hate to get over there and not have what I need. Auto zone has an idle air control valve for $50, not seeing a listing for a motor, assume it is the same thing. Have changed out a few tps on gm vehicles, but don't know that I have ever had to change one of these valves/motors, should be a pretty simple fix.

[Shaun_300]

It's about as difficult as changing a TPS, so not too difficult.

[Goinghuntin]

Also could be a major vacuum leak. Just finished fixing a vacuum leak on my mom's van, with symptoms just the same as yours. A line ran from the PCV valve and was broken. The line was big enough (and BEHIND the throttle plate so the manifold could suck in as much air as it wanted to) that enough air got in to stall the motor while idling but ran fine with a little throttle. Also, if you can run the truck long enough to get hot you should be able to pull trouble codes with an OBD II reader.

Nathan

[wtnhunt]

Also could be a major vacuum leak. Just finished fixing a vacuum leak on my mom's van, with symptoms just the same as yours. A line ran from the PCV valve and was broken. The line was big enough (and BEHIND the throttle plate so the manifold could suck in as much air as it wanted to) that enough air got in to stall the motor while idling but ran fine with a little throttle. Also, if you can run the truck long enough to get hot you should be able to pull trouble codes with an OBD II reader.

Nathan

Will keep that in mind too. Downside to this is that my mother is two and a half hours away one way. Not real familiar with the auto parts stores or where they are at over there either, so likely I will buy the idle air control valve here at home and have it with me, but will be sure to check lines for leaks too. Don't have a code reader, did run the truck for about 10 minutes and never saw a check engine light come on.

[wtnhunt]

It was torx screws, and it was the idle air control valve. Battery was dead and I had to jump start the truck, but it fired right up and ran perfect after changing the valve. Problem solved. Thanks Shaun.

Also noticed the throttle body on the dodge was a holley.

[Shaun_300]

Figured that's what it was, glad you got it going William.

[LETMGROW]

Dodge IAC replacement

William, you may have to drive the truck at highway speeds for about 15 minutes for the system to relearn itself. This is common on these models. This is especially true on most Chrysler products after the battery has been dead or changed.

Lynn