Megasquirt idle air control

**ra65** · 22-10-2007, 04:22 PM

Just wondering what everyone is using for IAC on their cars with megasquirt. The 22re has a temp activated one. Want to get rid of it as its old and fairly unreliable.

I was thinking of using an on/off type affair and was considering using these:

One was originally the a/c idle up and the other 2 are just vac switches. The problem I see using these is that they probably wont flow enough air.

Anyone know of a newish car that has IAC that is just controlled by water temp or is an on/off type?

**Ben Wilson** · 22-10-2007, 04:29 PM

Probably a bit small for idle up. I spy what looks like an air-con idle up valve attached to your inlet manifold (big white adjuster screw) which might do the job.

How does a MS do idle control anyway?

**jezza323** · 22-10-2007, 04:29 PM

cant use a PWM type?

**ra65** · 22-10-2007, 04:43 PM

Want to steer away from pwm as I will have to most likely have to modify plenum. Also probably looking at being a bit more expensive and harder to set up...not out of the question though. Was thinking the 7m one could be a possibility. Lots of people parting them out lately.

**ra65** · 22-10-2007, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by Ben Wilson

Probably a bit small for idle up. I spy what looks like an air-con idle up valve attached to your inlet manifold (big white adjuster screw) which might do the job.

How does a MS do idle control anyway?

Actual idle control is done through throttle body in the regular way. I should probably rephrase what I talking about. Talking about warmup idle. ie. your car will idle hotter when warmed up, so you set the idle using screw in throttle body when engine is hot and use one of these valves so the car doesn't stall with no throttle input after cold startup.

**thechuckster** · 22-10-2007, 05:26 PM

i used a small solenoid from a camira - was used for A/C idle up - simple 12V solenoid driven by relay.

The low-tech approach would be the aux-air valve from a 5ME - needs Ign power to heat up the bimetalic strip and/or coolant. Otherwise, very low tech and no need for the ECU to drive it.

I grabbed a PWM valve out of a ZL 6cyl fairlane - is a 2 wire bosch thing with largish bayonet fittings for air in and out.

7M is stepper motors - would be even more complex than the Ford valve.

**Ben Wilson** · 22-10-2007, 07:26 PM

Originally Posted by ra65

Actual idle control is done through throttle body in the regular way. I should probably rephrase what I talking about. Talking about warmup idle. ie. your car will idle hotter when warmed up, so you set the idle using screw in throttle body when engine is hot and use one of these valves so the car doesn't stall with no throttle input after cold startup.

Then the A/C idle valve should work OK wouldn't it?

**ViPeR_NiPPleX** · 22-10-2007, 08:00 PM

22re has same bi metallic strip IAC control as 5m-e. It's under the throttle body.

The white valve on the side of the plenum is a control valve for the powersteering idle-up. Completely mechanical.

Go the camira one, megasquirt friendly.

**ra65** · 22-10-2007, 09:08 PM

Originally Posted by thechuckster

i used a small solenoid from a camira - was used for A/C idle up - simple 12V solenoid driven by relay.

The low-tech approach would be the aux-air valve from a 5ME - needs Ign power to heat up the bimetalic strip and/or coolant. Otherwise, very low tech and no need for the ECU to drive it.

I grabbed a PWM valve out of a ZL 6cyl fairlane - is a 2 wire bosch thing with largish bayonet fittings for air in and out.

7M is stepper motors - would be even more complex than the Ford valve.

Any chance of taking a photo of this a/c idle up?

The white thing on the plenum is the adjuster for the a/c idle up but the actual thing that turns it on and off is circled in the first pic, just behind front right hand rocker cover bolt. I am assuming this is much the same as the camira one you are talking about...12v turns it on. Any idea if these look to flow about the same?

So first off you used a camira one and then later on installed a fairlaine pwm?

Thanks for the input everyone

**thechuckster** · 23-10-2007, 12:33 AM

am still using the camira job - is metal canister thing with 1/4" barb fittings - gives me ~350-400 extra rpm.

The bits already on your 22RE could work - plus you can adjust it.

One of those solenoids could be used to trigger the white valve (rather than the power steer) and you adjust the amount of bypass air with the white screw. 5ME uses that same valve for AC idle up.

<snip>

Also, when you remove the cold-start valve - fit a plate with a threaded hole to suit a bosch V6 commode air temp sensor - it's the ideal spot to measure MAT.

edit: i can't find any pics of the current setup - probably easier to come along to a club event and remind me beforehand not to bring the ute

pic showing some of the bits that went into the engine bay - the camira solenoid is behind the 5ME idle-air valve that wilbo gifted me (click on photo for larger version: