How to remove and clean the idle control valve (ICV) on 1996 – 2004 Volvo S40 and V40

This is a very simple job that can make your car idle smoother and sort out a few other problems such as occasional hunting and reduce the effect the a/c compressor engaging has on idle speed.

Step 1

Remove the engine cover if your model has one. Mine is a T4 and requires a T30 bit to undo the bolts.
The ICV is at the bottom right of this photo.

Step 2

The unit is bolted on with two further T30 bolts.

After removing those, you will need to disconnect the plug from the stepper motor. This is done by pushing down on the engaging collar as indicated below.

Step 3

I put the motor and valve assembly in a vice to remove the motor. You could do a decent enough job without removing it, but it’s only two screws and gives you another hole to squirt the cleaner into.

Bear in mind I only cleaned mine about 3000 miles ago so it wasn’t very dirty as all, but I still got some muck out anyway. I used carburettor cleaner and some kitchen roll. Try and get as much of the cleaning fluid out as possible before putting it all back together. The plunger pushes down into the valve, so hold it in while you squirt cleaner and use the kitchen roll to get the dirt out.

Hope that helps

The instructions in this tutorial will work in the following models / years:

– 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 Volvo S40 Petrol Engines
– 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 Volvo V40 Petrol Engines