Should this rod be bent? Uneven part throttle..

[NickVyse]

My idle dips about a bit as the air-con/radiator fan switches on and off, the car's died on my once as I've coasted to a stand-still, but more annoyingly with very small throttle openings it seems to hunt up and down a fraction, making smooth driving in traffic a bit hit and miss.

From advice found here I'm about to clean to clean the ISV (not sure what to expect inside, or what to clean, but it sounds like it'll be obvious once it's off the car). It's a well maintained low mileage car, so I'm hoping it's just a bit of dirt build up.

However, having a good look round the throttle body I noticed this rod that I think links the throttle to the pressure regulator. It looks odd and very un-Germanic in it's bent state - normal, or ******ed??

[mcandmar]

Cruise control, and i dont think it should be bent that shape.

Mark.

[Keeper of The Kitten]

Lol no way it should be bent like that! You can see the threaded end of the rod also bent. I was about to say what is it, not got one on my car!

[HPmuirt]

Cleaning the ISV is indeed the best place to start. Use carb cleaner and just keep swilling it through until the fluid remains colourless. When you look into the valve of the ISV, you will see that black carbon deposits. Cleaning the ISV should remove these and give you a gentle drop to idle and also no hunting (assuming no other issues)

The rod is indeed the linkage to the cruise control bellows, which are mounted to the bottom of the IM. The rod should not be bent, but is still available from the stealers (I bougth one last month). I would be more concerned over HOW it got into that condition

It is easy to remove...just pull the clip off the lower part of the socket and it will come off the throttle cam. The other end is flattened out and runs in a plastic bush in a metal bracket connected to the bellows. To remove the other end of the rod, pull the rod and bush forwards (towards the radiator) and out of the bracket (it will come out).

HTH

Cheers n

Si

[NickVyse]

ISV cleaned - it was a bit black on the face of the rotating part, but nothing much. First impressions are good - part throttle seems even, but it was only a quick test drive - I'll reserve judgement until she's properly hot and sitting in traffic.

Rev's seem to drop slower than they did, and tickover still occasionally hunts between 800-850rpm.

I'll add cleaning the throttle body and MAF to my service list.

Bent the rod back to straight! But I'll get a new one as and when. I reckon some eedjit has tried to pry the rod off without noticing the retaining clip - which just makes you worry what other stupid things they've done.. Can't imagine how else it would get bent?

Thanks for your help.

Nick

[archiboy24]

If the ISV didn't do it, I would suspect the O2 sensor (Lambda sensor). Also, no real need to go and buy a new push rod for the cruise control. As long as you've bent it back reasonably straight, you will be fine. Not a very high tech gadget.

[NickVyse]

previous owner had just fitted a new Lamba - presumably chasing the same issue.