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How do you clean the idle air control valve in a Honda Accord?

I’ve been having some trouble getting my car to idle lately, and I think I need to clean the idle air control valve. How do you do that in a Honda Accord?

avatar
Liz Jenson · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
To clean the idle air control (IAC) valve in your Honda Accord, just follow these steps:
  • First you’ll need to disconnect the negative battery cable by loosening the nut on the cable clamp attached to the negative terminal, then lift the clamp off the terminal.
  • Next,
    open the hood
    and locate the throttle body on the backside of the engine. Remove the two screws that hold the idle control valve to the throttle body.
  • Squeeze the top and bottom of the electrical plug running to the IAC valve and remove it.
  • At this point, you should be able to remove the IAC valve from the throttle body.
  • Turn the IAC over. You should see two holes, one of which has a sensor inside. Spray the sensor with a non-residue electronic parts cleaner.
  • Continue spraying the sensor until the fluid runs clear.
  • Once your sensor is clean, you can reinstall the parts in reverse order.
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