VQ35DE idle air control valve (IACV) housing torque spec

[pieleapulii]

Hi everybody,

I'm trying to replace the IACV housing gasket on my 2002 VQ35DE, and I've scoured the FSM and the internet for a torque spec on the four housing bolts, but can't seem to find anything - maybe it was somewhere that eluded me - so if anyone here can help me with a torque spec, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, and all the best

[Slumpert]

Pretty sure those are screws.. As long as your using a normal SAE screwdriver, as tight as you can before it starts to strip.

If your using a JIS screwdriver, might be able to get it a tad tighter.

[rgk]

No specs in the Haynes manual, which typically means it doesn't really matter. Good 'n' tight will suffice.

[mdmellott]

Just in case I missed something here, regarding your description, I'll throw this out there. Like previously posted by Slumpert and rgk, the IACV has screws that just need to be good-n-tight. There are only 2 screws to mount this valve below the throttle body, not 4 bolts. It has an o-ring, not a gasket, that should be lubricated before installing it. If you are actually talking about the throttle body and its gasket, along with its 4 bolts; those bolts get torqued at 13 to 16 ft-lbs (18 to 22 Nm) but should first be lightly torqued at 84 to 96 in-lbs (9 to 11 Nm) to seat the gasket properly before applying the full torque spec. This may be info you didn't need but like I said, just in case I missed something here, I wanted to throw it out there.

[pieleapulii]

Thanks for the responses! I'm talking about the entire IACV housing, which houses the IACV, is attached to the bottom of the throttle body with four screws, and uses a rectangular-ish gasket. I can't find torque specs for those screws to save my life, so I guess, like Slumpert and rgk say, tighten as much as possible before stripping, and make them good 'n' tight. I like actual torque specs to ensure they're all tightened evenly, though, so that's why I ask - definitely don't want to fry an ECU with this gasket failing, as I've heard horror stories of

[rgk]

You'll be fine. Don't overtighten.

[AlanAZ]

I suggest tightening the screws incrementally in a star pattern (like lug nuts.) There is procedure in the FSM on attaching (in 2 stages) the throttle body to the manifold.

[pieleapulii]

I'm not talking about the throttle body, but it seems there isn't a torque spec for the IACV housing anywhere

[AlanAZ]

The first part was referring to the IACV housing, apologies that it wasn't clearer.

[pieleapulii]

Ahh, gotcha, and no worries - I fully appreciate any and all suggestions - was just hoping for a concrete number

[Buzzman]

Ahh, gotcha, and no worries - I fully appreciate any and all suggestions - was just hoping for a concrete number

I replaced mine a few years ago, and didn't worry about torque specs for this thing. Not a huge deal.
Tighten them evenly, and you're good to go.
Don't over think it.
It's not a cylinder head gasket you're dealing with here.

[pieleapulii]

All done - we'll see how it all holds up - five screws, not four :-)