- 10/15/2024
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What is idle sensor
The idle sensor, or air control sensor, is a valve that works electronically to control the amount of air that passes through the throttle plate in cars equipped with a fuel injection system, and the aim is to change the engine speed while parked as needed.
The air quantity control process occurs through commands issued by the engine's electronic control unit or computer after it receives data from the sensor by measuring the amount of air that passes through it to the engine side, so that the operation of the engine is smooth and trouble-free.
If something goes wrong in determining or measuring the amount of air entering the engine through the idle sensor, the engine will vibrate while the car is parked and may stop working completely; because air is very important to the combustion process, as it mixes with the fuel and explodes inside the cylinders.
If you want to buy a car free of engine issues and sensor malfunctions, Motorgy offers used cars for sale in Kuwait inspected by experts with a comprehensive inspection report to fully know the condition of the car you want to buy so that you can have peace of mind for a long time after your purchase.
Read more: Different types of car sensors
Failing idle sensor symptoms
There are certain symptoms that indicate an issue with the Idle Sensor or perhaps its complete failure, which are:
Check engine light
All cars have lights inside the dashboard to tell the driver that something is wrong with a certain system, and the idle sensor has a light that indicates a malfunction, which is the check engine light, but this light indicates many issues as well, so if the check engine light appears in front of you, you should check the engine through a special inspection device to find the malfunction in order to fix it.
Engine speed fluctuation
One of the most important symptoms that indicate an issue with the idle sensor is the fluctuation of the engine speed while the car is parked or irregular, and this fluctuation is sometimes light, and you may not feel it, and other times it may be strong, and you will feel it greatly, especially when the sensor is about to be damaged, and you may notice with these symptoms the fluctuation of the tachometer's work as well.
Difficulty starting the engine
A damaged or nearly damaged idle sensor can lead to difficulty in starting the engine, especially in cold weather, especially in the early morning hours, as the damaged sensor will not be able to provide an accurate reading of the amount of air that will enter the accelerator valve and this will lead to a malfunction in the starting process, i.e. the engine may work after several attempts or may not work at all.
Read more: The engine won't start but the battery is new
Engine stalls after starting
If the idle sensor is about to be damaged and works occasionally, you may face the issue of engine stalling after starting, and the engine may stop working either immediately after starting, or sometime after starting, because the sensor will not be able to read the correct amount of air, so the car's computer will give false information that will affect the engine's work.
Poor engine performance
If you notice that your car's engine performance is poor, especially when accelerating, the cause may be a faulty idle sensor, and this symptom is more pronounced when you press the gas pedal quickly to accelerate or when climbing a steep hill.
Engine stalling
Another symptom indicative of a faulty idle sensor is when the engine stops running when the car is stationary, as any malfunction in this sensor will lead to a failure to properly regulate the air, which means that the engine may not have enough air to continue running smoothly.
Read more: Car engine stops while driving
Engine stalling due to overload
If you are driving your car with a faulty air control valve or idle sensor and the air conditioning system is working, or if you are putting an excessive load in your car or when driving on a steep hill, there is a high chance that the engine will stop working due to this extra pressure on it because it doesn't get enough air to keep it running.
Backfire
If your car's engine does not get enough air, the ratio of air to fuel in the engine will be insufficient, and after the combustion process, some fuel may remain inside the cylinders, and this fuel will explode after exiting the cylinder due to the high heat in the exhaust outlets, resulting in a flame coming out of the exhaust behind the car, and this is called reverse combustion.
