850 GLE, 1995, (very) high idle at startup, then up and down

[Ozark Lee]

Clean the IAC valve. You can be very aggressive with it - I used brake cleaner on mine. VolvoforumsUK has a very good writeup.

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=77064

...Lee

[unxetas]

ding ding ding!

It appears we have a winner. Took out the IAC, sprayed it liberally with carb cleaner (didn't touch the connector, don't trust carb cleaner around those, but I might be paranoid) and replaced. Also cleaned the flame trap a bit (wasn't too bad, actually, same with the throttle body).

It now idles normally! Haven't taken it out for a test drive yet (transferred the insurance to my 740 wagon, so need to get some temp plates) but just happy that it now idles fine. Productive day overall, fixed the seat heaters and power mirrors (err.. it was the fuse. When I bought the car a little over a year ago, the previous owner said the switches were broken, I believed him.. Live and learn) fixed a few cosmetic bits.. And got it to idle nicely again.

I'm pretty sure it was the idle air control valve. Only thing I did other than cleaning it was disconnecting the battery (to clear the ecu, which could have fixed it as well, but.. doubt it) and checked the air filter. Squeaky clean, after 10.000km - yup, I guess the airbox's thermostat is doing a great job That's something for tomorrow.