Know Your Parts: IAC Valve

 

You may or may not be familiar with the working of an idle air control valve, but just in case, here's what it is, where you can find it, and how you can tell if yours is going bad.

An Idle Air Control Valve, or IAC Valve for short, is controlled by the car’s computer, and uses a solenoid to control a valve that controls the air flow into the air’s intake by bypassing the throttle body through an alternately routed air tube coming from your main inlet air tube attached to your air filter at one end, and your throttle body at the other.  For reference, it is attached to your Mazda's throttle body.

So, why are we mentioning this to you?  Sometimes an IAC Valve can have an effect on your vehicle’s performance.  If your vehicle idles funny, or perhaps even stalls, it could be due to a faulty IAC Valve.  Most commonly, IAC Valves simply get dirty, but every now and then the solenoid can stop working, causing severe idle problems.

If you think you might have an issue with your IAC Valve on your Mazda, or think yours needs replacing, feel free to send us a message.  We’ll be happy to help!

What Are Oxygen Sensors?

Oxygen sensors (O2 sensors, alternatively) measure...you guessed it, oxygen.  More specifically, they measure the oxygen content in the gas or exhaust.  They are plunged into your exhaust both before and after your catalytic converter(s). The reason oxygen sensors are so important is that they help your car's computer determine the correct amount of fuel necessary for your car to idle and run properly.  When your oxygen sensors are engaged, your fuel system is said to be in Closed Loop, which simplifies to meaning the amount of fuel being put in is determined by the amount of oxygen being pushed out.

So, what can go wrong when your O2 sensors aren't functioning properly?  For starters, you car can stall out.  To get into Closed Loop, your engine (specifically your engine coolant) needs to be at normal temperature.  Usually though, O2 sensors break down over time, so before you might stall out completely, you'll notice very erratic idling behavior.  Another possibility is low fuel efficiency, as your car will attempt to operate in Open Loop more (meaning the air to fuel ratio is determined by the air coming into the air intake).

Depending on your vehicle, oxygen sensors usually need replacing around 60,000 to 90,000 miles, but this can vary greatly.  If you're unsure about the status of your O2 sensors, bring your Mazda into Parks Mazda at your convenience and we'll take a look at them for you!