ve ss idle issues

[Jonesy40]

Hey guys,

Looking for some help. Cleaned my air cleaner nd throttle body today put it all back together and now my Ute won't idle correctly seems to idle around 1000 to 1500,
have tried to do a tps reset and also a idle reset but can't find anything specific to the ve and L98 any help would be appreciated.

Thanks Jonesy

[Jonesy40]

Couple more things I think it it related to the tps my scan tool reads around 20% throttle at idle and only 84% at wot so I'm guessing this is the problem any way of resetting this?

[IJ.]

That's normal, I'd be looking for leaks first..

[Jonesy40]

Cheers IJ maybe I knocked a line when I out it back on will keep looking in the morning. Any tips on an easy way to look for a vacuum leak

[white lie]

Spray a bit of throttle body cleaner or whatever you used around the area. If the revs pick up, you're getting warmer ;)

[Smashfist]

Got an engine light? You haven't pulled the ducting off and forgotten to plug the MAF back in?

[Jonesy40]

Got an engine light? You haven't pulled the ducting off and forgotten to plug the MAF back in?

No engine light just a high idle hoping its just a vacuum leak car was fine before hand. Maybe I just haven't tightened the throttle body up enough

[blackvussii]

Give the iac valve a really good clean up under the metal rim of the plastic piston and the spot where it seats on the tb. Also when u do the idle relearn after pulling the PCM fuse make sure the ac is off then turn it on after a couple minutes

[macca_779]

Give the iac valve a really good clean up under the metal rim of the plastic piston and the spot where it seats on the tb. Also when u do the idle relearn after pulling the PCM fuse make sure the ac is off then turn it on after a couple minutes

That might apply if he had one.

[IJ.]

Cheers IJ maybe I knocked a line when I out it back on will keep looking in the morning. Any tips on an easy way to look for a vacuum leak


Spray a bit of throttle body cleaner or whatever you used around the area. If the revs pick up, you're getting warmer ;)

As White posted, just be careful tightening the TB as it's brass threads molded into the Plastic manifold, think the spec is like 12nm from memory, my guess would still be pirate air somewhere as I've cleaned my e38 TB and replaced it a bunch of times and never had to do an idle relearn.

[blackvussii]

That might apply if he had one.

Ah didn't realize the electronic ones didn't have one...
How does it control idle air out of interest?

[macca_779]

Ah didn't realize the electronic ones didn't have one...
How does it control idle air out of interest?
With the throttle itself

[IJ.]

With the throttle itself

89mm IAC :D

[Jonesy40]

Well this is confusing me even more. Went out this morning started the Ute and drove around the block all was fine pulled back into the driveway and the idle was at 1000 rpm. Turned it off and back on back to normal idle around the block again back to the high idle also throwing p0507 if I let it idle for long enough. At a loss not even sure who to take it to

[IJ.]

LOL have to love that it throws a code to tell you it's idling faster than expected... as if you haven't noticed.

[Jonesy40]

Yep its great like that really is doing my head in though. Can't find any vacuum leaks and nothing seems to work

[IJ.]

Do you know anyone with EFI Live or HP Tuners that can pull a log for you?

[Jonesy40]

No unfortunately thinking cleaning the throttle body is going to become expensive

[IJ.]

What did you clean it with?

Also have you checked the connector to make sure it's clipped all the way in and dry inside?

[Jonesy40]

What did you clean it with?

Also have you checked the connector to make sure it's clipped all the way in and dry inside?

Nylon throttle body cleaner thinking I should have just used a cloth like normal and no cleaner yep checked the plug several times

[IJ.]

Have a look at the pins in the connector on the TB make sure none are folded over..

Can't really think of anything you could possibly do to make it do this as the electrical bits are well sealed :(

[Jonesy40]

Have a look at the pins in the connector on the TB make sure none are folded over..

Can't really think of anything you could possibly do to make it do this as the electrical bits are well sealed :(

Thanks IJ yep very has me very confused and annoyed. Just started it again idle fine when first started at about 14% throttle as soon as I drive it and let it come back to idle it sits at 20-21% throttle thinking this is the problem anyone in Perth have a spare throttle body I could try?

[sjhugh]

I had the exact same thing happen to my VE SS.

It has a MAFLESS tune and after I cleaned the filter and throttle body as I’d done many times before it started to idle at around 2000rpm.

I’d drive it and sometimes it would calm down for a while but it would always return and then after a day or so it started to get worse and wouldn't calm down.

I took it in and the dealer replaced the Intake Air Temperature Sensor or was it called the Inlet Air Temperature Sensor. I can’t remember which name it was.

The outcome - problem fixed.

[Jonesy40]

Thanks I did clean the maf as well will see if I can find another Maf to try. The iat would make sense given that it behaves before it gets hot

[Peter B - CV8]

Did you open/close the throttle butterfly by hand when cleaning ? I've heard that this can cause problems on cars with an electronic throttle body (especially some euro models).

[Jonesy40]

Yes but have done this several times before

[sjhugh]

Thanks I did clean the maf as well will see if I can find another Maf to try. The iat would make sense given that it behaves before it gets hot

Good luck, I’m not saying it’ll cure your problem but my symptoms were the same and it fixed it.

It’s just something to consider while fault finding.

[IJ.]

Good luck, I’m not saying it’ll cure your problem but my symptoms were the same and it fixed it.

It’s just something to consider while fault finding.

That's where a log would help heaps, the e38's are a complex thing to diagnose at the best of times!

[Jonesy40]

Thanks at the moment it does make sense but until I can get one to test I won't know

[Micks]

A decent multi meter can test an iat sensor. They're just a temperature dependent resistor. As most have said check the looms/connections.
Those iat bulbs are pretty robust but that's not to say some carby/intake cleaners won't kill em either!
Good luck with it.

[Jonesy40]

Well none of the tuners in Perth seem to be open which is fair enough given the time of year.

So a mate has a maf sensor and possibly z throttle body so will try that tonight if not off to the dealership tomorrow for a diagnosis.

Will let you know what it was when if I get it sorted

[IJ.]

Make sure the Blade is the same colour, the electronics are a bit different.

[Jonesy40]

Make sure the Blade is the same colour, the electronics are a bit different.

Thanks ij have read that

[Jonesy40]

Well drove over to my mates place and changed the maf no better so changed it back, he didn't have a throttle body so just left that.

For some reason I left the key on while we had a beer and when I went to leave battery was flat and had to jump start the car.

Now the issue seems to have fixed it self not sure what fixed it but for the time being it seems to resolved it self see what its like in the morning.

Cheers for everyone's help. Sorry I don't have a better answer to what has fixed it

[white lie]

Must have just spat the dummy when you cleaned it and needed a proper reset.
Did you disconnect the battery when you first tried to reset it?

[Jonesy40]

Yes had it disconnected several times, anyway just happy it has sorted it self out

[jca]

They get a bit upsett if you man handle the throttle blade when u r cleaning the throttle body

[izaks]

If it is a pre 2009 model, and you moved the throttle blade with the harness plugged in, there is a good chance you have blown a driver in the ECU - have a pile of ECU's that have been damaged in tjis way

[bush_basha]

^^^ that's something that most people wouldn't know. Wouldn't that throw a code?

[Micks]

^^^ that's something that most people wouldn't know. Wouldn't that throw a code?
Pretty sure have read same if not here but on other US forums too. Very easy to remove the throttle body & give it a clean from either side without screwing with the throttle blade.

[bush_basha]

Yeh but not everyone is on a US forum, lol. Pretty sure I've fiddled with my throttle body plugged in when I first got the car, threw a code but that's about it if I remember correctly. Seems I may have been lucky

[IJ.]

If it is a pre 2009 model, and you moved the throttle blade with the harness plugged in, there is a good chance you have blown a driver in the ECU - have a pile of ECU's that have been damaged in tjis way

Really good thing to know thanks! :)

[Micks]

Yeh but not everyone is on a US forum, lol. Pretty sure I've fiddled with my throttle body plugged in when I first got the car, threw a code but that's about it if I remember correctly. Seems I may have been lucky
When I can't find the info locally that's where I go! :cool:

[izaks]

The first one we dealt with, came from a dealer who had "only" cleaned the throttle body. I first tried everything in the software, but with no success. We then checked everything that could cause an air leak, nothing. We then changed everything we could - MAF , T/B (older and newer model) , intake manifold (including MAP).
As a last resort, we changed the ECU - instant sucess.
After that, it was easy - change the ECU first !

[swingtan]

I'm guessing there are a few people out there that think cleaning the TB with the ignition ON is a good idea when it's not. I've moved the TB blade many times and never had an issue, but I only do it with the ignition off.

The TB on these cars had an "at rest" position of aprox. 20% throttle. This is the common average position that is required for normal cruise driving. SO at cruise speeds, the TB is normally sitting close to the "at rest" point. If you watch the TB when the ignition is turned on, it will actually close before the engine is started (as well as when the key is turned off). In this condition, the ECM is applying power to the TB to close the blade and attempting to move the blade may cause the ECM to increase the power to try and "correct" the blade position.

Simon.

[IJ.]

Think what happens Simon is Ign and no engine start within xx seconds the TB driver powers the TB down and the blade returns to it's default fast idle position.