Idle Is So Low- Corsa 12v

[deadliner]

hi guys, im new to this forum, just got a corsa 12 on a T, but need help with the idle. when stopped at traffic lights for example, the car dips so low, that it rattles like hell and sounds like its going to stall. also, when starting up the car, the idling is so low, that at times its like you can hear a clonking/ tapping coming from the timing belt area. ive heard it could have something to do with the throttle body?

any help would be appreciated!

many thanks.

[smoothsebsta]

u could possibly have loads of poo in the throttle body mate, take the top hat off and have a look, if its covered in oil and poo that will be the most likely cause, get some cleaner from halfords or whever and give it a spray, will cost you about a 5er, my c20xe is doin the same, idles at about 200rpm lol.

[deadliner]

ill have a look tomorrow thanks for the advise. will let you know if this sorts the problem

thanks!

[Octane2097]

sounds like the age old idle control valve.
take it off give it a clean and should be alright, if it still does it then you may need a new one.

very common problem on them, my 1.0i had the same problem, i never botherd fixing it tho.

[kona1991]

how do you do this? lol

[deadliner]

how do you do this? lol

im guessing you have the same problem aswell? how hard is it to find and clean? also if that doesnt cure it, do you know how much roughly a new idle control valve will be?

sorry for all the questions. thanks a lot for your help!

[kona1991]

yeh i have the same prob.. and i have a 1.0 12v lol.
sometimes aswell as im slowing right down to stop.. the revs drop then it cuts out.. has only happened twice.. but i dont want it to become an occurance.

[deadliner]

that hasnt happened to me yet luckily, it when im in traffic at the lights, it jolts like hell , like its vibrating so much, but then after roughly 10 secs, it picks back up again and tends to get a better. ive looked over the net, it seems a common fault, but im not sure how big the job is, weither it is something i can do or something ive gotta go to the garage for.

[Octane2097]

heres a picture of the throttlebody with the idle valve attached
its usualy coverd by a plastic bit at the back of your engine.



highlighted in red is the idle control stepper motor (or idle control valve) attached on the throttle body
as i dont have this car myself anymore i cant exactly rember how to remove it, i think it was 3 screws in the top and a few thin pipes
have a poke about with it



i know this is a Z16XE engine from an Astra but its same layout, same basic idea.

once removed the throttlebody good clean with WD40 or some Carb Cleaner and refit, failing that buy a new one, about £40 and 20mins to fit.

sorry i dont have any more information, as said i dont have a corsa b anymore, or i would go outside and take mine to bit and write a step by step guide!

good luck!

[Octane2097]

mine was problems trying to start it would just stall, so to solve i started it with my foot on the peadle and revved it up to 6k then let off, and it seemed to idle normaly, till next time the engine was started.

not a fix but might be enought for you to get where your going without it dying evey 5 mins

[AdHeath1989]

Could also be the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Valve. This has hapened to mine a couple of times.

[deadliner]

thanks for going to all the trouble with the picutres, i shall try that and get back to you!

[Octane2097]

good luck!

[MattyB]

Welcome to the 1.0ltr corsa.

Have you managed to fix the problem yet? I tried to send a message a couple of days ago on my phone as i was away but it wouldn't let me send the message to the website.

This is quite a common fault with the 1.0ltr. I've had mine for 4 and a half years now and i have so far had to change, 3-4 idel air control valves, 4 air mass meters, 3-4 lamba sensors, at least one crank and cam shaft sensor and as this still didn't fix the problem i eventually ended up with the ECU being changed. Don't let my probs put you off your fantastic car tho. I've been told i have been very unlucky and must of had a Friday last minute car.!!! (Just my luck)!! lol.

There are a few things you could try. The first is cleaning out the air intake point (butterfly). Above the engine is a roundish looking black pod with three (from what i can member) torx bit bolts in it. Look for it by following the air intake pipe upto the engine. Once this has been removed the part you need to clean sits directly underneath. Try giving the insides of that a wipe first. The butterfly can be stuck open due to all the gunk.

If this doesn't work you could try unplugging the idle air control valve sensor a couple of times to check that the plug isn't faulty (not connecting). THe idle air control valve is again just below this black pod you took off but to the left had side (as you look at the engine). What your looking for is a rectancular box with a small dome on one side of it. You shouldn't need to take the pod thing off this time tho to get to this sensor. If this doesn't work it could be that the sensor itself has gone. To buy these from Vauxhall are expensive (i had my first few sensors done at a garage to strt with and they cost me a fortune!! With the £400 i had to spend to get the heater matrix sorted i've spent around £1000 to try to get it sorted!! )

Anyway you could have a look on ebay. These parts are around £35 if you keep looking on there. If not you could get from from a scrap yard for around £10. (Can't guarentee it works but ask them before you pay for it if you can swap it if it doesn't work!)

You could take your car to Vauxhall for them to dignose the problem but that'll charge you around £35 and theat doesn't always tell you what is actually the problem just that a sensor is not working. (in my case it was a whole car worth of sensors!! )

If you change the idle air control valve and it still doen't fix it, it could be the air mass meter sending either too much or too little air through to the idle. To check this try the steps above (again prices are similar). To find this sensor again look along the air flow pipe. About half way along you should see a junction type piece with a plug connected to it. This is the air mass meter.

Try these things above. Remember tho that it might not just be one thing, that it could be a couple causing the problems. If you need anymore help or pictures let me know. (Would of given pictures but my car is covered in snow this morning!! )

[deadliner]

thanks for the advise , i havent got round to having a look yet, its been too cold and now the snow is here! it would be nice if you could add some pics of where the things are because although you have explained them, im a bit of a thicky when it comes to corsas, chances are i still wouldnt find it lol

il gonna have a look at it all tomorrow lunchtime providing the weather is good.

thanks for all your help.