[W126 Coupe] Idle Air Valve Repair

[Dick Spellman]

Hi Dana:

Mike Ramay does have the instructions for the solenoid electrical 
repair.  As I recall when I talked with Mike and then tested one of my 
air slider valves there were a few things to sort out.

First was removal of the air slider valve from the intake manifold.
Second was the replacement of the hardened hoses (2) where if they have 
100k or more on them they should be replaced to avoid air seeping by them
Third was to take some carb cleaner and clean the air inlet of any 
carbon. Here you should hold the air valve so that any excess carb 
cleaner fluid drains out the hose inlets.  You want to avoid letting 
that cleaner get into the solenoid.
Fourth was a simple test by  hooking up 12 VDC to see if you can hear 
the solenoid click and if you can see the valve at the hose inlets 
moving.  After cycling the 12vdc connection several times, leave it 
hooked up for a longer period of time and tap the air slider valve body 
near the front (on the metal and near the abs plastic nose) to see if a 
tap or vibration causes the solenoid to go open (you'll hear the click) 
momentarily while the 12vdc remains applied.
If the solenoid is not working with the 12vdc test while tapping the air 
slider valve body then you have a break in this fine nickel chrome wire 
that leaves the solenoid and runs to the abs plastic head where the 
wiring harness clips into the pins.

Mike offered a delicate way of repairing these wires (2) I believe by 
prying the housing up so that the abs plastic can be pulled out of the 
valve body.  Mike cautioned that these wires are very short and that 
pulling too far would cause the other one (assumes only one is broken) 
to break.  Not sure of the guage wire but he basically recommended a 
solder and isolate (tape) the connection to restore the break.

You may want to wait for Mike if this sounds at all confusing.  In my 
case I went through all of the diagnostic steps and determined that 
after a cleaning plus replacement of the aged hoses there was nothing 
wrong with my air slider valve.  My problem lied elsewhere.

Good luck,

Dick

Dana Griffith wrote:

>Someone on the list (Mike R., perhaps) had a method of disassembling the
>idle air valve to fix a broken wire inside.  I've searched the archives to
>no avail...Does anyone remember how?
>
>Thanks!
>
>The MB Coupes Website!
>W126 SEC Mailing List
>Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.
>
>  
>