what is this part? And why better disconnected?

[sasilverbullet]

1998 Chrysler Cirrus LXI with the 2.5l V-6 (DOHC). Friends car, I put new plugs, wires and valve cover gaskets on it. Of course had to take the manifold plenum off to get at the plugs. What a nightmare! Started it up, ran fine. Check engine light is on, don't know why, will go to Autozone later. I noticed that I had left the connector the red arrow is pointing to disconnected. So I shut it off, reconnected it, and now the engine barely runs (smoothly, but barely runs) doesn't want to idle. I disconnected that wire, started it, runs great!

What is that component? Why does is run disconnected, but not connected? (it's on the bottom of the throttle body)

Pic:

 

[spasm3]

Not familiar with chrysler but perhaps a throttle position sensor?

 

[SubyRoo]

Looks like an idle air control valve. It probably is not allowing enough air to bypass the closed throttle plate to allow it to idle

 

[yonyon]

If you disconnected the battery on this car the computer forgot how much extra it has to open that IAC to compensate for all the filth that's accumulated in the throttle body. Chryslers tend to do that.

If that's what happened here's what you need to do:
-Plug the IAC back in.
-Use throttle plate cleaner and a lint-free cloth to clean the inside of the throttle body. Start the engine. You may need to push the gas pedal down some to get it to start. Let it run for a few seconds and then shut it down. This really should have been done before changing out the plugs.
-Clear codes with a code reader or if you don't have one, do another battery disconnect.
-Start the engine and let it idle for a few minutes, then drive it for a bit. Be a little extra careful with your driving at first as the engine may stall and lose power assist steering. If it fails to start or stalls, push the gas pedal just a little so that it runs and ease off very very slowly until it idles on its own.

If you didn't disconnect the battery, you probably unplugged something else and didn't notice. Look around, and if you don't see it, read your codes. That will tell you.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Yonton you are the Master Tech I wanted to be but couldn't in the 1970's. Praise.

 

[Chris142]

tps. plug it back in and disconnect the battery for a few minutes. then start the car and let it relearn its memory

 

[RiceCake]

You can also do the "key dance". On, off, on, off, on, and leave it on. The check engine light will flash codes, in two digit intervals, ending in "five five".

 

[Thax]

Yonyon's reply is 100% correct. Follow his instructions.

 

[mechtech2]

Or, you could simply start it and try and keep it running.
It will self heal.
I assume everything was OK before you unplugged it.

There is the possibility of more than one problem - like a vacuum leak somewhere.

 

[Dakota1820]

idle air control valve! as stated above. we have one of these at school and everyone one hates it!!!

 

[yonyon]

They only hate it because you haven't yet painted it pink, drawn a cute smiley face on the pintle with a Sharpie. and glued a bit of cotton wool onto the back side to look like a little tail.

 

[sasilverbullet]

Originally Posted By: yonyon
If you disconnected the battery on this car the computer forgot how much extra it has to open that IAC to compensate for all the filth that's accumulated in the throttle body. Chryslers tend to do that.

If that's what happened here's what you need to do:
-Plug the IAC back in.
-Use throttle plate cleaner and a lint-free cloth to clean the inside of the throttle body. Start the engine. You may need to push the gas pedal down some to get it to start. Let it run for a few seconds and then shut it down. This really should have been done before changing out the plugs.
-Clear codes with a code reader or if you don't have one, do another battery disconnect.
-Start the engine and let it idle for a few minutes, then drive it for a bit. Be a little extra careful with your driving at first as the engine may stall and lose power assist steering. If it fails to start or stalls, push the gas pedal just a little so that it runs and ease off very very slowly until it idles on its own.

If you didn't disconnect the battery, you probably unplugged something else and didn't notice. Look around, and if you don't see it, read your codes. That will tell you.


Thanks yonyon! All I did was disconnect the battery for a bit, reconnected the IAC, car started up, ran rough for about 10 seconds, then ran perfect! No check engine light either!

Now on to the other problems with the car...