where is the engine solenoid located

[jay78]

i wanna know where the engine solenoid is located on my j30s engine and about how? much and i looking in labor to repair

[the converted]

What specific solenoid are you looking for? What is wrong with you car?

[driverdriver]

I believe the part is officially called the fast idle engine solenoid. I don't know the part number.

Check the ECU for codes before replacing. You want to be sure before you change it out. Its a lot of work, but its know to fail over time in the J's engine.

If I remember correctly, the part itself isn't too much, but the labour is expensive. A lot has to be done before you can change it out. I hade mine changed 4-5 years ago. I didn't attempt it myself.

Did your symptoms start with a barely audible clatter prevalent at idle that gets louder over weeks and months and then its constantly there and getting louder whenever the engine is on or under load?

[jay78]

I JUST GOT MY J ABOUT A WEEK AGO BUT ITS DONE THIS EVERY SINCE MY FRIEND AND I HAVE HAD IT. IT SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL. THE SOUNDS COMING FROM UNDER THE LEFT AND RIGHT UPPER PLENUMS. WHERE IS THE FAST IDLE SOLENOID LOCATED?

[jay78]

MY J30 SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL SOMEONE TOLD ME IT WAS THE FAST IDLE SOLENOID WHERE IS THAT LOCATED?

[coolyun_98]

Most likely you are talking about VTC solenoid. They are located at where the noice coming from - the back of the left AND right of the engine.

VTC = variable timing control

The sympton of bad VTC solenoids is that the engine will run rough when your transmission is IN DRIVE (loud tapping). The VTC system of my J was really messed up (both the VTC sprockets and solenoids) because the prevoois owner only got the oil changed every year! I spent BIG BUCKS fixing it up myself. Remember, please please please do change oil every 90 days to prevent damage to those solenoids!

How to change the solenoids? Well, to do it properly, you have to remove intake plenum and camshaft covers. There are two 10mm bolts holding each solenoid to the head. The solenoids are sealed to the head with liquid gasket to prevent oil leak. The solenoids are about $125 a piece.

You MIGHT be able to change them without removing the plenum but you will need really TINNY HANDS to remove those 10mm bolts. ALSO, you will have to make sure that everything will be PROPERLY SEALED after the replacement.

[jay78]

HOW MANY ARE THERE JUST ONE FOR EACH SIDE? ARE THEY UNDER THE VALVE COVERS?

[jay78]

MY ENGINE DOESNT RUN ROUGH IN DRIVE OR ANY OTHER GEAR IT RUNS STRONG AND SMOOTH JUST SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL

[jay78]

CAN YOU SEND A PICT OF THE LOCATION

[driverdriver]

Can you please not post in all caps. Its sounds like your yelling.

[jay78]

User has been permanetly banned from NICO and affiliates.

edited by driverdriver

[coolyun_98]

I totally share your frustration. We NICO members are here to help you. There are two VTC solenoids. One on each side.

If it sounds like a disel engine (no tapping), there is a very strong chance that you have a bad knock sensor.

This is even worse than having bad solenoids as the knock sensor is secured DEEPLY to the engine block, under the lower intake manifold. There is no way to replace it WITHOUT removing the intake plenum.

If I were you, I will start from:1) checking all eletrical connectors, specially the VTC and Knock sensor connectors. These connectors are easily corroded.2) measure the resistance of the solenoids and knock sensor3) get a FSM (factory service manual), it has basic procedures to test for faulty sensors and solenoids.

It takes a lot of patience to work on cars. good lcuk.

[coolyun_98]

Hald of the VTC solenoid is under the valve cover and the other half (the half that has the electrical connection) is outside the valve cover. You will see it if you look at the back of your engine.