P1510 trouble code is showing up. Cleaned the idle control valve but it won’t start.

Recently my car stopped on me put it on the code reader p1510 comes up idle control valve clean it with carbon cleaner placed it back in the car put everything in the right place try to start the car only getting a crank but no start tell me what could be the problem do I need a new idle control valve

My car has 186540 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
The idle air control valve monitors the air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the engine. This valve is controlled by the vehicle’s computer which will adjust idle speed based upon other measurements such as engine temperature, intake air temperature and electrical system load or voltage. If this valve does not have the correct voltage to it, it will also not work properly.

When you accelerate, the engine RPM increases, and as you let off the gas, the RPM slowly returns to the normal idling speed. This is all done by the idle air control valve. When the engine RPM drops below the normal range of 750-800 RPM (for most cars), this may indicate a dirty or faulty idle air control valve. In cases where this valve is dirty or failing, your vehicle may stall instead of slowing to an idle after the release of the throttle.

To avoid any unnecessary repairs, I would recommend having a certified expert, like one from YourMechanic, come to your location to diagnose your no start issue and service your idle air control valve as necessary.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :

the car won`t start: in extreme cases, the iac valve may cause too much or too little air from entering the engine when you turn the ignition, resulting in engine that cranks but doesn`t start.
What happens if idle air control valve is stuck open? If your car`s idle air control valve is stuck open, it will cause the engine to idle at a higher than normal rpm. This can lead to decreased fuel economy and increased wear and tear on the engine. In some cases, it can also cause the engine to stall.
When the idle air control valve fails, it inhibits the flow of air through the engine. When the car can`t receive air, it leads to engine stalling. The severity of this symptom can range from occasional stalling at first, to stalling immediately after ignition.
Bad Sensors

Sensors that fail to send information to the computer may cause the engine to run less efficiently, and they can sometimes be the cause of an engine that won`t start. One common culprit for this problem is the crankshaft position sensor, which measures the position and speed of the crankshaft.

The IAC valve is controlled by an input signal from the ECU as required by the engine management system, the duration and frequency of the ECU input signal determines how long and how far the IAC valve opens, hence the amount of air that is allowed to bypass the throttle plate.
To check whether the idle air control valve is functioning properly, start the engine and let it run for about 10 to 15 minutes. If the valve is functioning correctly, the engine will sound good and the idle will be steady versus too high, too low, or inconsistent.
If your vehicle has the 4-liter V-6, the problem may be a faulty idle air control valve. Whenever you start the engine, the throttle is closed so the valve meters the proper amount of air for combustion. If it allows too much or too little, the result is hard starting and often rough idle.
Engine Stalling

Even when your throttle body`s blade closes entirely, some air has to get through to the intake manifold. Otherwise, your engine would stall. This air flows through a special tunnel known as the idle air bypass. This bypass provides just enough air to keep your engine running while your car is idle.

Illuminated Check Engine Light

If the module detects a problem with the way the IAC is behaving, it will turn on the check engine light and store a corresponding diagnostic trouble code (DTC) in its memory.

An idle air control valve, also called an idle air sensor control motor, is an electrically operated valve that controls the amount of air that bypasses the throttle plate in cars with a fuel injection system [source: Autozone]. This causes the idling speed of the engine to change as needed.
There are three major causes for a stalled engine: A lack of fuel, a lack of air flow and improper ignition. Running out of fuel is one of the most common causes of engine stalling, but dirty fuel injectors or a plugged fuel filter can also be the culprit. Your engine needs air to run properly as well.
Removing the idle air control valve can therefore have a negative impact on engine performance. In some cases, it may even cause permanent damage to the engine. As such, it is generally not recommended to remove the idle air control valve unless absolutely necessary.
The MAF can become clogged with excessive carbon build-up from the combustion cycle, or sometimes by road grime. If it is too dirty, it will be unable to correctly measure the air fuel ratio, and cause your car to not start or exhibit other unusual symptoms.
Car Will Not Start: Over time, as the camshaft position sensor fails, the signal it sends to the engine control module weakens. When the engine no longer receives the signal, you will not be able to start your car.
P0511 is a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) for “Idle Air Control Circuit”. This can happen for multiple reasons and a mechanic needs to diagnose the specific cause for this code to be triggered in your situation.
What is the Idle Stop Solenoid all about? Most older vehicles are equipped with a device called an idle stop solenoid that works to close off the throttle when the key is turned off. It prevents engine idle from continuing once the fuel and air stop being delivered to the engine.
Materials Needed For Cleaning The IACV

To clean the valve, you will need a carbon cleaning product specifically designed for cleaning IACV`s. Examples include the 3M Intake System Cleaner Kit, the CRC Throttle Body and Air Intake Cleaner, and the ATP Complete Intake System Cleaner.

The idle air control valve is programmed to regulate and maintain the engine idle speed at a constant rate. If the valve fails or has any issues it can cause the idle speed to be thrown off. This may result in an unusually high or low idle speed, or in some cases a surging idle speed that repeatedly climbs and falls.
If the heat riser is stuck in the closed position it will cause excessive heat under the carburetor and boil the fuel causing flooding and hard starting when the engine is hot. 3. When there is excessive fuel pressure. Excessive fuel pump pressure can be caused by a defective or worn out fuel pump.
If the cranking of the engine is sluggish, like your vehicle is harder to start on cold mornings, it starts inconsistently, or there`s no sound and interior lights when you try to start, suspect a failing battery, a loose or corroded connection or electrical draw.
The idle speed should feel consistent without skipping or slipping. In most of today`s cars, an idle speed of 600 to 1000 RPMs is average. If your car is idling rough, though, it won`t feel smooth. The RPMs will jump up and down, for example, or they`ll fall below 600 RPM (or whatever is typical for your vehicle).
Cleaning the throttle body properly will help improve the idle, acceleration, fuel efficiency, and any potential issues with stalling. Your car will drive smoother and more efficiently and you will be saving money on fuel so it is definitely worth the investment of time and energy into cleaning the throttle body.
A flow control valve is adjusted to control flow rate independent of pressure, while a throttle valve adjusts to control pressure independently of flow. In the semiconductor industry, flow control is used upstream of the process zone while a throttle downstream controls the pressure in that zone.
Find the opening to your idle air control valve. With the throttle body exposed, you should be able to see a tiny hole—this is where you`ll want to focus your cleaning efforts! Clean the hole with throttle body cleaner. You can purchase cleaner from any auto shop.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

P1510 trouble code is showing up. Cleaned the idle control valve but it won’t start.
ANSWER : The idle air control valve monitors the air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the engine. This valve is controlled by the vehicle’s computer which will adjust idle speed based upon other measurements such as engine temperature, intake air temperature and electrical system load or voltage. If this valve does not have the correct voltage to it, it will also not work properly.

When you accelerate, the engine RPM increases, and as you let off the gas, the RPM slowly returns to the normal idling speed. This is all done by the idle air control valve. When the engine RPM drops below the normal range of 750-800 RPM (for most cars), this may indicate a dirty or faulty idle air control valve. In cases where this valve is dirty or failing, your vehicle may stall instead of slowing to an idle after the release of the throttle.

To avoid any unnecessary repairs, I would recommend having a certified expert, like one from YourMechanic, come to your location to diagnose your no start issue and service your idle air control valve as necessary.

Read Full Q/A … : P1510 trouble code is showing up. Cleaned the idle control valve but it won’t start.

High idling, jumping while idling, idle air control valve code
ANSWER : Hi there. This can be caused by the issues that you mentioned or a number of other things. You need to make sure all of the connectors are making good contact. I would then need to know what codes are in the computer to know if this is a circuit issue or not. Most of the time, it is not the circuit but instead a vacuum leak.

If there is a vacuum leak, then the vehicle will act like this and the computer cannot control the idle. Most of the time it is a bad hose or an EGR valve that is stuck open. That is the most common cause for this. I typically remove the EGR to check it to feel the diaphragm on the bottom of it to see if it is moving correctly. If you need to have this repaired, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to diagnose and repair your car’s idling issue.

Read Full Q/A … : P1510 trouble code is showing up. Cleaned the idle control valve but it won’t start.

Trouble Starting, and sometimes doesn’t start at all – Dies at idle from time to time.
ANSWER : Hello. Cleaning the throttle body and idle valve may have been needed, but the intermittent starting and dying symptom can be the camshaft and crankshaft sensors. These are the codes P0335 and P0340. The code P0446 can be from the purge control solenoid malfunction but would recommend the other sensors repaired first. The code P0171 is the system running lean and can be from a vacuum leak or from the dirty throttle body and idle valve sticking (you may have fixed this code). If you want to have this problem scoped out more thoroughly, a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your home or office to diagnose the starting issue and pinpoint what needs repair.

Read Full Q/A … : P1510 trouble code is showing up. Cleaned the idle control valve but it won’t start.

The car idles rough and is shooting out codes p0017, p0016.
ANSWER : Hello. This is a common problem with the variable valve timing solenoid on this engine. I have changed quite a few of these due to failure. I always start by checking the codes and testing the solenoids and the connectors as some of the time the connectors fail and have poor connections. There have been a few times that I have seen these codes due to low oil or the wrong oil and from the camshaft actuators failing, but most of the time it is due to the solenoids. If you are planning on having this fixed, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to diagnose and repair the rough idling issue for you.

Read Full Q/A … : P1510 trouble code is showing up. Cleaned the idle control valve but it won’t start.

Vehicle won’t start, once it’s jump started it only stays running until you turn it off, then it work start again without jumping.
ANSWER : Hi there. There could be two problems here. It is possible that your battery is bad and will not take a charge from your alternator while driving. In that case every time you shut your car off you will not have enough juice to start it again. Inspect your battery – it should have at least 12.5 to 13 volts to start your car, if it doesn’t you will need to replace the battery. The second problem could be that your alternator is bad and not charging your battery, in this case you will need to replace your alternator. Both the battery and the alternator can be tested in your car. If you would like to have the car checked for you, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to diagnose the starting problem and proceed with repairs.

Read Full Q/A … : P1510 trouble code is showing up. Cleaned the idle control valve but it won’t start.

Fuel pump engages. Batery good, alternator good volts, jump start helps when wont start. Temp does not matter. Intermittent?
ANSWER : Hello. Thank you for writing in. There are several reasons your vehicle may only start when jump starting. The first and most common is a build up of resistance that is causing you to need a boost of voltage to get the engine started. This may be due to poor battery cables, a bad ground connection, a poor starter solenoid, and a couple of other issues. The first thing you want to do is perform a visual inspection of the starting system. Make sure there is no corrosion build up in the battery cables. You can also check the resistance across these wires and make sure you have a solid connection between components. You then want to make sure the starter solenoid is doing its job. It is responsible for taking the small amount of electricity sent by the ignition and turning it into a huge electrical charge that is strong enough to push over the engine with the help of some gear ratios in its favor. Do some more testing, and stick to the basics before assuming its something seriously complicated.

Read Full Q/A … : P1510 trouble code is showing up. Cleaned the idle control valve but it won’t start.

car won’t start and keeps showing error code P0129.
ANSWER : With a reoccurring code such as this, after replacing the sensor, it is time to test the wiring harness and connector at the sensor. The orange wire should have 5V. This would be the 5 volt reference. The black and light blue wire is the ground and the dark green and red wire is the MAP sensor signal the is returned to the PCM through the sensor. This code indicates the voltage from the MAP sensor to the PCM is greater than 4.9 volts or less than 2.28 volts. When this occurs, there is usually a short to ground or a short to power. You will need to check the voltage on the dk grn/red wire to know which it is.

A problem like this will often affect all or more than one sensor with that uses the 5V reference. If you find the 5V reference is high or low, it is often necessary to disconnect each sensor that uses the 5V reference while monitoring the reference signal. When the signal changes back to 5v and not above 4.9 or below 2.28 volts, you have found the bad sensor.

If once you have checked all of this you have not found the source of the short to ground or power, it is time to suspect the PCM. You will want to check the 5v reference, grounds and power pins directly at the PCM by back probing at the PCM connector.

This can be quite an undertaking to diagnose such a problem. If you lucky, you will find a wire that is broken or something along those lines. If you should require further assistance with this, I recommend the following inspection; Car is not starting inspection.

Good luck!

Read Full Q/A … : P1510 trouble code is showing up. Cleaned the idle control valve but it won’t start.

The car is having trouble starting up ,70 percent of the time it starts right up. the other 30 percent, it randomly won’t start its
ANSWER : Hey there thanks for writing in about your 1998 Honda Accord. This could be a few things. A faulty ignition switch, a failing crank sensor, or possibly other faulty sensors could be the cause. To have this taken care of, consider having a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, come to your car’s location to diagnose and repair the hard start issue.

Read Full Q/A … : P1510 trouble code is showing up. Cleaned the idle control valve but it won’t start.

Eric smoalih

I am a certified master technician with the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), and I have been working as an auto mechanic for over 15 years. I am passionate about my work, and I take great pride in helping people keep their cars running smoothly.