My hat is off for you Steve. Persistance pays off as personal satisfaction and lot usually in the wallet.

I am curious as to the cause of the short. Was it a wire that was chaffed or something?

Is the valve supposed to click back and forth with the ignition on and the engine not runnig? As in after it chokes down.

I enjoyed your story very much Steve, although it was waaaaay over my head.

Reading your post reminds me of how little I know.

I'm just a simple shade tree mechanic who can replace parts that are obviously broken, but can't really diagnose.

I'm also amazed that after 20 + years there are still things left to learn.

Don't it make you feel good when you resolve an issue like this Steve:):). Thanks for the detailed explanation.

OT - Suginami - now ask him about microbiological corrosion in the heat effected zones of stainless steel piping in river water service :):) - jk.

Well, I guess my question about the clicking sound is over everybodys head!!:rolleyes:

Stephen,

I have never heard my idle valve make a clicking open/close sound while its running. I would look for a short or a ground problem. It does not sound normal to be.

What does it do when it makes the clicking noises? Idle should increase if an open curcuit occurs, as if it is unplugged. You could put a volt meter on it and watch what it does when it has an episode.

Tinker

Engine idle surges up and down, I think it's going into "limp" mode. Eventually it will die. Right after that you can hear the valve "clicking". I think it was clicking during the surging but you couldn't hear it for the engine running. I'm wondering if that's my problem, this valve is opening and closing or "locking up" somehow. I just wonder is it normal. I guess to find out, I'll have to find a like car, kill the engine by unplugging the EZL while running, and listen.

Cap,

Throttle valve and decel switches are making contact at idle? Any vacuum leaks?

Tinker

Stephen, mine just buzzes when the engine runs. You can feel it and hear it. No clicking that I recall. But then again I am in the drivers seat when starting and stopping the engine and I wouldnt hear it if it did.

When the car is running (idle) the rpm will suddenly jump and the thottle plate will open more. Then it will slow back down and, of course, the throttle plate comes back up. This may go on for the entire time the car is running, or, if the check engine light comes on it stops this. If it chokes down, as it eventially will, the idle valve strats clicking in no particular rhythm. Sometimes just before the engine dies it will act as if it's gasping for air, with the throttle plate jumping up and down rapidly.

I am sure your problem is related to mixture control. Sounds like the mixture is changing for some reason and the idle control is attempting to hold the RPM constant until it is unable to do so and then it dies. The idle control valve will chatter when it reaches it mechanical limits of travel on the plunger. Maybe thats is what you are hearing. I would look for problems elsewhere, not in the idle control system.

Could be the Lambda system or the EHA or something in the fuel delivery system - pumps, filters etc.

Already replaced pumps and filter along with the afore mentioned electronics.

I presume that by throttle plate you are really referring to the airflow plate; major difference. The throttle plate does not move at idle on cars with idle valves.

What you are seeing is the airflow plate deflecting in relation to the amount of air passing through. We will not be able to process the test info if all it contains is descriptions of noise. This does not approach test technique.

If you wish to view the problem you must use the right senses. Hearing is not the one. You need to visualize whats happening by viewing what happens under the terms confronting you.

Your valve is moved by a pulse width modulated signal. You need to use a pulse width modulated signal viewer. What ever it takes. The ears won't do it.

My question was very simple. Is the valve supposed to click when the ignition is on or not?

No.