Rougher idle after ICV cleaning
 

I cleaned my ICV last week, and instantly I noticed a nice improvement in the car's 'breathing'. But then after a day or two, the idle seems a little rougher than before I cleaned it. While idling rough, the car rocks slightly from side to side. It'll do this every 20 or so seconds, until the car has been driven a few miles and the engine is thoroughly warmed up. It also hesitates slightly when starting from a standstill . . used to do that only with the A/C on, but now it does it more often.

I'm gonna change out the O2 sensor next week, see if that does something. I guess that would be the next step. But other than that, anyone have any other ideas, thoughts, or suggestions??

Did you clean out your TB as well? Using a toothbrush works well. If oxidation builds up in the throttle plate your car can feel pretty unstable.

make sure the ICV valve is put at the same exact angle asyou removed it, because sometimes if you twist it a little(ewll not a littl, 90 degrees) its starts doing stuff like that

Hmm good idea using the toothbrush, thanks.

I thought about that today too . . guess I should have done it while I had everything apart :doh I'll give that a cleaning, see how it goes. Thanks.

you can clean it, but it wont matter because if you say after the car warms up its fine, then its not your throttle body, however it has to be your ICV because the ICV isnt really used when the car is warm, and what i meant by that is after you put the ICV valve in, 2 days later from the bumps on the road it might have changed its position a little bit because when it is sideways it does have a dramatic effect on the idle

I cleaned out my TB once or twice, one time the car idled funny afterwards, but the carbon build up and cleaning product just had to be burnt away.

when last did you replace the fuel filter?

I need to get my toothbrush out...all this cleaning...I've yet to do..

On E36's the ICV is held in place by a rubber collar, and it can't move or twist because the intake manifold hose is rigid. Unless you swapped that hose for an aftermarket one, that sucker ain't movin'.

I've read the same thing in the case of ICV's; that it sometimes gets worse before it gets better. Maybe that's all it is. It was doing a little better yesterday, so we'll see if it keeps improving.

Another good suggestion . . I haven't yet since I bought the car back in March. Been concentrating on the suspension & cooling up till recently. I'll change that along with the O2 sensor while I'm under the car. Then I'll clean up the TB & install new spark plugs. Then I'll see where I am from there. The problem isn't severe at all, I just wanna try and take care of it before the winter comes.

that rubber thing, its supposed to hold it in so it doesnt twist, i was just telling you to make sure it was and it didnt slip out

Just to report back, it's been a few days now, and the rough idling has subsided. The car is running much nicer now, I guess it just had to burn off some residual deposits :)