Uploaded May 2017 | Updated September 2026, 12 hours ago
Hey everyone, today I’m going to show you how to clean the IACV on a Honda S2000. The IACV is responsible for letting air pass into the intake manifold when the throttle body is closed and the car is idling. Over time it is possible for carbon buildup to prevent the idle air control valve from opening, resulting in a poor idling car. With the right tools cleaning the IACV is quite easy, let me show you how. (This is a revised and more complete version of an older video I already made on the IACV clear. )
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated time: 30 minutes
Tools necessary:
- 3/8" or 1/4" Ratchet
- 10mm socket
- T20 Tamper Proof Torx Bit: amzn.to/2rhnSlO
- Carb Cleaner: amzn.to/2rCbTCt
- Towel/Rag
- Safety Glasses
Steps
1. The first thing you want to do is to insert a towel or rag underneath the IACV to catch any coolant that will spill out.
2. Then remove the rubber shield and unplug the sensor connected to the IACV motor by pressing the tab on the bottom of the plug.
3. Remove the two 10mm bolts that hold the IACV to the intake manifold.
4. Swing out the IACV and remove the IACV motor by removing the two tamper proof bolts using a T20 tamper proof torx bit. Note that this is not your normal torx bit. When splitting the motor be careful not to lose the two small metal pieces that sit between the valve and the motor. Remove these and keep them somewhere safe.
5. At this point you can properly inspect your IACV. Spin the rotary valve with your fingers to see if your IACV is stuck. This is what a clean IACV looks like, as you can see the rotary valve spins freely. Now look into the two right chambers to inspect the IACV for carbon build up on the walls and valve.
6. If you decide to clean the IACV put on a set of safety glasses and then carefully spray carb cleaner inside the two right chambers of the IACV to remove carbon build up. You can also clean up any remaining deposits using something like a Q tip.
7. Reinstall the IACV motor by aligning the rotary valve to the closed position in the second chamber. Then replace the two small metal pieces that sit between the valve and the motor. Lastly reinstall the two tamper proof bolts with a T20 tamper proof torx bit.
8. Move the IACV back into position and reinstall the two 10mm bolts that hold the IACV to the intake manifold. Torque them to 8.7 ft-lbs.
9. Plug the sensor back into the IACV motor and replace the rubber shield.
10. Remove the towel or rag and perform the idle relearn procedure.
Hey everyone, today I’m going to show you how to clean the IACV on a Honda S2000. The IACV is responsible for letting air pass into the intake manifold when the throttle body is closed and the car is idling. Over time it is possible for carbon buildup to prevent the idle air control valve from opening, resulting in a poor idling car. With the right tools cleaning the IACV is quite easy, let me show you how. (This is a revised and more complete version of an older video I already made on the IACV clear. )
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated time: 30 minutes
Tools necessary:
- 3/8" or 1/4" Ratchet
- 10mm socket
- T20 Tamper Proof Torx Bit: amzn.to/2rhnSlO
- Carb Cleaner: amzn.to/2rCbTCt
- Towel/Rag
- Safety Glasses
Steps
1. The first thing you want to do is to insert a towel or rag underneath the IACV to catch any coolant that will spill out.
2. Then remove the rubber shield and unplug the sensor connected to the IACV motor by pressing the tab on the bottom of the plug.
3. Remove the two 10mm bolts that hold the IACV to the intake manifold.
4. Swing out the IACV and remove the IACV motor by removing the two tamper proof bolts using a T20 tamper proof torx bit. Note that this is not your normal torx bit. When splitting the motor be careful not to lose the two small metal pieces that sit between the valve and the motor. Remove these and keep them somewhere safe.
5. At this point you can properly inspect your IACV. Spin the rotary valve with your fingers to see if your IACV is stuck. This is what a clean IACV looks like, as you can see the rotary valve spins freely. Now look into the two right chambers to inspect the IACV for carbon build up on the walls and valve.
6. If you decide to clean the IACV put on a set of safety glasses and then carefully spray carb cleaner inside the two right chambers of the IACV to remove carbon build up. You can also clean up any remaining deposits using something like a Q tip.
7. Reinstall the IACV motor by aligning the rotary valve to the closed position in the second chamber. Then replace the two small metal pieces that sit between the valve and the motor. Lastly reinstall the two tamper proof bolts with a T20 tamper proof torx bit.
8. Move the IACV back into position and reinstall the two 10mm bolts that hold the IACV to the intake manifold. Torque them to 8.7 ft-lbs.
9. Plug the sensor back into the IACV motor and replace the rubber shield.
10. Remove the towel or rag and perform the idle relearn procedure.
