nadoacu

Hi group,
I have a 1999 TL which had a head-on collision about two years ago.
I finally fixed the body and want to fix the mechanical problem.
The symptom: The engine starts OK but about a minute later it starts oscillating - rpm goes high and down and again.

One neighborhood guy who fixes his car said "Idle Air Control Valve" needs to be replaced. The mechanic where the car is at now gave me a estimate of $350 for cleaning and replacing electrical part for "Air Intake Manifold."

I checked the YouTube and saw a few video of cleaning the IAC not manifolds.

What do you think? Any suggestion will be welcomed.

01tl4tl

you need a new IACV= Idle Air control valve, it may only need serious cleaning= but at its age you may as well replace it for about 80$
The 99s had a worse problem than later years of egr passage and port clogging
A DIY job done with IACV replacement, the intake manifold and Throttle Body (containing IACV) come off together, then separate them and use carb cleaner and a wire coat hanger/rod to poke the manifold passage system clean!
We have a diy that's ~2 hours for both jobs at a casual pace
Your tech should have a special tool that snakes the egr passage clean in a minute!
Most of the labor is getting years of exhaust crud cleaned out of that small port and passage
Is your tech a Honda/acura specialist or he works on them sometimes? or learning on yours!

if the neighbor has a torque wrench good at 14 foot pounds, he can help you do this job easily and for less $$

nadoacu

01tl4tl:
Thank you very much for the detailed response.
We are towing the car to a Honda/Acura specialist tomorrow.

01tl4tl

I hate to see you go to the shop but if that's your fastest option, you go in armed with the FACTS about our problem

99s egr clogging is so bad with only 1 port to cylinder- there was a recall to clean it! and install a smooth bore thru that hole. It didn't solve the problem, only reduced the sharp edges soot was getting stuck on. The TL series is the only car I have dealt with that needs a full egr passage cleanout every 75kmiles!

Make sure the tech knows you have been on here getting consultations.
Acurazine is the leading owner-input based source of good info on our cars!
For you- dont waste time and money cleaning iacv- tell then to buy a new IACV and perform the EGR -intake manifold cleaning, we have a diy if they need

01tl4tl

after that's fixed, get 2 cans of Seafoam- walmart has it for 7 bucks!
add 1 can to just under half a tank of gas, drive normally,,or not
After the next tank of fuel is run thru, add the 2nd can to tank at just under half on gauge.
That does a full cleaning of the fuel and combustion systems, the TL will thank you!