Adding Idle Control / Cold Start. Anything I Need To Know?

[cbh148]

So the ca18 I recently put in my s13 has had all the intake manifold goodies removed. The previous owner removed all of the idle control, cold start, and air conditioning stuff. I can't seem to get it to idle right (as soon as I have it set, it changes once I get to the first stop sign) and I'm not wild about having to baby it while it warms up (otherwise it would die). I have a parts engine that I pulled all of the components off of.

Is there anything I need to know before I attempt this?



I was cleaning all the stuff and this little spring fell out. Looks like a ballpoint pen spring. Not sure where it came from. Maybe it fell out of this? V V V



Before I start trying to put these on, I was checking to make sure I have all of the plugs. My friend cleaned up my harness to make everything right, but I'm scared he might've removed some plugs or something.

All 3 of these components use the little injector-style plugs. Here's the plugs I could find that are currently not being used.




Also, where the harness goes up to the knock sensor, there's 3 unused plugs there, but none of them are injector-style. One almost kinda looks like a transmission plug. Perhaps one is the boost solenoid (which, of course, I'm not using)?

Thanks guys!!

[float_6969]

I think the spring is associated with the valve in the middle. I forgot what it's called, but it's for the fast idle for the A/C.

As for the plugs, none of those look like they're for the idle control stuff, but I could be wrong. You'll need to look in the FSM on the last few pages that have the big wiring diagram. They'll have all the wire colors listed for the plugs that you're looking for and you can verify that way if they're the right ones or not.

[cbh148]

I think the spring is associated with the valve in the middle. I forgot what it's called, but it's for the fast idle for the A/C.

The FICD? I won't be running A/C anyway, but I probably should see how to put it back in to prevent a leak if it holds the valve closed or something since I have to have the FICD mounted to mount the idle control (AAC).

As for the plugs, none of those look like they're for the idle control stuff, but I could be wrong. You'll need to look in the FSM on the last few pages that have the big wiring diagram. They'll have all the wire colors listed for the plugs that you're looking for and you can verify that way if they're the right ones or not.

I printed out the wiring diagrams from the FSM, but it's just the pictures that show how the harness is laid out. I'm legitimately color-blind so I probably need some assistance.

[TheMAN]

the big square thing with the hoses on the left.... cold start idle thingy... it's a wax based thermostat that closes off once the engine has warmed up... could get worn out over time... replacements easily found at the dealer

small valve in the middle... fast idle control for A/C

the one on the right with the pipe attached... the main idle control valve... that is the one to be most concerned about


as for the connectors... the one at the back by the firewall might be the one for the hot start solenoid in the automatics... it's a vacuum solenoid that switches to atmospheric pressure for hot starts in order to increase fuel pressure (vacuum lines hooked up from intake to the solenoid then to the FPR)

the one by the throttle... isn't the 3 pin one for the throttle sensor?

[cbh148]

the big square thing with the hoses on the left.... cold start idle thingy... it's a wax based thermostat that closes off once the engine has warmed up... could get worn out over time... replacements easily found at the dealer

small valve in the middle... fast idle control for A/C

the one on the right with the pipe attached... the main idle control valve... that is the one to be most concerned about


as for the connectors... the one at the back by the firewall might be the one for the hot start solenoid in the automatics... it's a vacuum solenoid that switches to atmospheric pressure for hot starts in order to increase fuel pressure (vacuum lines hooked up from intake to the solenoid then to the FPR)

the one by the throttle... isn't the 3 pin one for the throttle sensor?

Throttle sensor? I know my throttle position sensor is already hooked up. Maybe I'm missing something?

And I contacted the friend that "cleaned-up" this harness for me, and he thinks he may have deleted the plugs off the harness for idle control/cold start/ac idle-up. (A little background info: this friend had his dad buy him a ca18det swap and he ran it for about a year then spun a bearing, then bailed and swapped in an rb20. I have this very engine now, and several of the things I've had to do involved undoing this friend's work. You should've seen my doodoo painted valve covers. Oh lawd.)

Fack.

I have a spare harness that came off my parts engine that was pretty ghetto. Gonna see if I can find it and clean it up right without removing the plugs I need. Might just get a friend to do it because I am legitimately color-blind so wiring gets me frustrated.

[TheMAN]

why not just buy a brand new harness? less problems... no crumbling 20 years old connectors!

[cbh148]

Sheeeeit, you must be rollin' in the dough.

Wish I had bread like that.

[float_6969]

from what I'm seeing, it looks like the plugs aren't there. As for the wiring, I mean, LITTERALLY the last 3 pages, IIRC.

[cbh148]

Yeah I found that in the FSM a couple days ago and it's convinced me that my harness has had those plugs removed.

Gotta find my other wiring harness.

[float_6969]

ca18det-engine-harness-lower-harnesses- ... 54856.html

[TheMAN]

the thing I couldn't help but ask... what was he thinking when he deleted those plugs???

[cbh148]

the thing I couldn't help but ask... what was he thinking when he deleted those plugs???

Do you mind if I print this page out, with your last post enlarged 30x?

[float_6969]

LOL!

[cbh148]

So google is leading me to believe that the little spring goes to the AAC (idle control). Any idea if it just drops down into that little hole on the plenum side of the AAC?

[float_6969]

It should be holding a valve shut somewhere in there if that's where it goes. I'd take the actuators off of the valves and see if it lookes like it goes in there somewhere.

[cbh148]

Well here's the hole that the spring can drop in pretty easily. I think I was cleaning this thing (the AAC valve) when it fell out.

I just don't see anywhere else to put it. I don't know if it being dropped in there will do anything.

[TheMAN]

well you don't want it to get sucked into the engine either!
better idea to just replace the whole thing

[float_6969]

Don't just drop it in there and hope for the best. I would remove the solenoid (the gold, round thing with the plug on it, and see if it goes in there. I would be willing to bet there is another piece missing or something. If you just drop it in there, you're going to drop a motor.