where to find a Idle Solenoid

B14, B172, B19/200, D16 engine, ignition, cooling, fuel & exhaust system, gearbox, variomatic, final drive... | Tuning: engine swaps, welded diff, clutch upgrades...
NO parts requests here, please use our V3M BUY & SELL corner
Post Reply
1.4 Volvo 34o
Posts: 16
Joined: 27 Apr 2007 05:24 pm

where to find a Idle Solenoid

Post by 1.4 Volvo 34o » 23 Jul 2011 03:02 pm

Hi I’m looking for a new or working Idle Solenoid for my 1988 Volvo 340 1.4, after taking it to a Volvo garage to be check out after an on and off problem. I was told that I needed a New Idle Solenoid.

The problem with it is every now and then it will not idle, so when I stop at the light I'll have to start the car back up. Other times when I slow down I’ll have to jump the clutch to get it going again. It doesn’t happen all the time either so at first I thought it was a blockage in the fuel line, but even after a few fuel system cleaners it was still there. I then had my father a mechanic look it over and said it was sucking in too much air and probably need another carburettor. Not having the money for that I put it in a Volvo specialists garage since my father hadn't the time to take the car apart because of family matters.

Thank you for any helpfully information on this matter.

340pw
1988 1.4 Volvo 340 5dr

User avatar
jon-ovlov
Posts: 1291
Joined: 30 Jul 2010 09:45 pm
Location: Bristol/Birmingham

Re: where to find a Idle Solenoid

Post by jon-ovlov » 24 Jul 2011 07:11 pm

Hi mate. I had this problem, where it would cut out and not idle. My connection from the solenoid to the renix unit was quite crusty, so I repaired that and everything was peachy. Is the connection in good nick?

Otherwise, its a weber carb, so there must be a weber carb specialist somewhere that can help you out with parts. If all else fails you can have my idle solenoid, as I have done an engine swap on mine, so no longer need the carb/idle solenoid. Asw for the carb issue, have you adjusted the mixture screws? That could help the lean mixture issue.

Let me know how you get on. Hope you get it sorted.
Image
Speedy88 wrote: Leave choke on, idling obnoxiously until neighbours peer out windows at the noisy exhaust
Give neighbours thumbs up
Rev engine to 7K
Exit street sideways
Win at life.

morgan105
Posts: 282
Joined: 30 Dec 2004 07:34 pm
Location: Wirral, UK

Re: where to find a Idle Solenoid

Post by morgan105 » 25 Jul 2011 12:12 am

Have you taken the idle solenoid out and checked to see if it is working? If not take it out of the carb and you will see the brass coloured jet on the end of it, twist this off and you will then see the needle inside. Rest the outer casing on the carb to get a earth, wire still connected and get a helper to switch the ignition on while you watch the needle, only till the dash lights come on DON'T turn the engine over. Needle should move back, if it does it is working. If it is working take the little brass jet and blow compressed air through the holes, the main one that gets clogged is the tiny hole on the tip. Once yo have done this you can put it back together and try it.

If the needle does not move it is broken or you have no 12v feed to it. If broken the easiest method is to cut the needle off and then put the jet back in place. Easier and cheaper then sourcing a new one unless you are lucky which it sounds like you may just be thanks to jon-ovlov. Does'nt cause any problems by cutting it although some may say it will cause run-on when switching off but I have not encountered it since cutting the one on one of the family cars and that was done 7 years ago. Just cleaned the jet on the end of the idle solenoid on that car last week and all back to normal.

1.4 Volvo 34o
Posts: 16
Joined: 27 Apr 2007 05:24 pm

Re: where to find a Idle Solenoid

Post by 1.4 Volvo 34o » 26 Jul 2011 12:47 am

It is definitely the solenoid, so I’ll try to get the one off of jon-ovlov before trying fiddling with it. Thanks for the advice though, it's been a good car to me so I’d like to keep it as long as possible.
340pw
1988 1.4 Volvo 340 5dr

Justin
Posts: 366
Joined: 31 Jul 2008 12:18 pm
Location: Plymouth

Re: where to find a Idle Solenoid

Post by Justin » 30 Jan 2013 05:03 pm

Im having the same problem. Im gonna go down the "cutting off the needle" route before trying to source a new idle solenoid. I guess thats done by using wire cutters?...
1988 340 1.4 DL

(I suffer with O.C.D. which makes me obsessed with fine detail)

(Diagrams or photos are far more helpful to me when it comes to cars)

User avatar
Chris_C
*** V3M DONOR ***
Posts: 9600
Joined: 18 Jun 2004 11:53 pm
Location: South Coast, UK

Re: where to find a Idle Solenoid

Post by Chris_C » 30 Jan 2013 05:51 pm

Don't Justin, the amount of effort you are putting in it'd be a shame to bodge that. The solenoid is there for a reason!
'89(G) 340 GLE B172k
'03 S60 D5 SE, '91 (J) MX5, 1954 Cyclemaster
Ex:
'89(F) 340 GL F7R (ex B172k) - Fake -> SBKV 300 Runner Up 08, 12; '91(H) 340 GL B14.4E - Kar; '88(F) 360 GLT B200E - Jet -> BKV 300 Runner Up 09; '89(G) 360 GLT B200E - Beast

Justin
Posts: 366
Joined: 31 Jul 2008 12:18 pm
Location: Plymouth

Re: where to find a Idle Solenoid

Post by Justin » 31 Jan 2013 11:58 am

But morgan105 seems to think it's ok to cut the needle! What does this exactly do anyway? Let more fuel through possibly?...
1988 340 1.4 DL

(I suffer with O.C.D. which makes me obsessed with fine detail)

(Diagrams or photos are far more helpful to me when it comes to cars)

morgan105
Posts: 282
Joined: 30 Dec 2004 07:34 pm
Location: Wirral, UK

Re: where to find a Idle Solenoid

Post by morgan105 » 31 Jan 2013 01:34 pm

It's there to help shut the fuel off when you switch the car off and stop it dieseling (carry on running for a few seconds after switch off), I've now done it on the 2 340's we have and don't have any problems with run on after the ignition is switched off.

I did it the first time when the solenoid went bad and I could'nt get hold of a solenoid at the time and a carb specialist said just cut the needle off. When the 2nd car had the same symptom it was a feed fault to the solenoid and as the car was needed it was quicker to just cut the needle at the time and not trace why there was no power to it. I meant to sort it out but as the car is running fine I just have'nt bothered and have never had a problem since.

Make sure you are getting a live feed to the solenoid, if there is no click then the solenoid is bad. You can replace it when you can get one but to get you going you can just cut the needle off that is under the brass jet. Remove the jet off the end of the solenoid (twists off) and then you can cut the needle piston off, cutters may work but a small hacksaw makes it easier as it is quite tough. Cut it back to the start of the housing where the threads start. File any rough edge so the jet fits back in ok, clean the jet holes out and refit.

pettaw
*** V3M DONOR ***
Posts: 1673
Joined: 15 Aug 2004 07:39 pm
Location: London, UK

Re: where to find a Idle Solenoid

Post by pettaw » 31 Jan 2013 01:44 pm

They are available, see http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... 95#p173295

DO NOT CUT THE NEEDLE, sorry for shouting, but its Mickey Mouse mechanics and will result in dieseling/running on, difficulty starting from hot due to flooding and excessive fuel consumption because the idle jet closes off on overrun above 1400 RPM as a fuel saving measure, so any cost savings made by not buying the correct part will easily be offset in the extra juice you're wasting, not to mention you will have very interesting noises shutting the engine off/restarting it on a hot day.

macplaxton
Posts: 3283
Joined: 09 Feb 2008 02:29 am

Re: where to find a Idle Solenoid

Post by macplaxton » 31 Jan 2013 03:03 pm

pettaw wrote:DO NOT CUT THE NEEDLE, sorry for shouting, but its Mickey Mouse mechanics
^^^^ DO NOT CUT THE NEEDLE


Just in case you didn't hear :D It's a pure bodge way of doing things.
pettaw wrote:the idle jet closes off on overrun above 1400 RPM as a fuel saving measure
I'll add that this particular bit only applies to MY87 onwards cars (and is 1600rpm for a B14.4E).
72 DAF 44 Estate 78 Volvo 343DL Black BeautyImageImage
82 Volvo 343DL CVTImageImage 88 Volvo 340DL Diesel

morgan105
Posts: 282
Joined: 30 Dec 2004 07:34 pm
Location: Wirral, UK

Re: where to find a Idle Solenoid

Post by morgan105 » 31 Jan 2013 03:19 pm

Until this post was revived I'd forgotten that I'd done this and they still need replacing :oops: as the cars have been running fine. From the 2 cars that have it i've not had any of the problems or excess fuel consumption you mention from having the needle cut off and they are in constant use all week and in all weathers.

I'm not saying it's the correct thing to do on a permanent basis but it will get you out of a hole if you need the car. Replacement is always the best as that is how it was designed. I would'nt recommend cutting a solenoid that is working unless absolutely necessary to get you out of a hole until a repair could be carried out properly as it will be a live feed problem and not the solenoid, as was the case on the wife's car. But if the solenoid is bad, as was on sisters car, and you don't have one to hand and the car is needed there would be no harm to cut it as it will get you going again until you can get a replacement.

To make it more clear to those that like to shout, it is not meant as a permanent fix ONLY a means of making it work until a proper repair can be carried out by way of obtaining the correct part or finding why it was not working. We have all done some "get by" fixes until we could get it done properly if the car is needed.

Now have to order a couple and put them in.

Justin
Posts: 366
Joined: 31 Jul 2008 12:18 pm
Location: Plymouth

Re: where to find a Idle Solenoid

Post by Justin » 31 Jan 2013 04:19 pm

Too late, I've already cut the needle/plunger!! My cars now running fine with no run-over after turning off ignition. It just goes to show that it was the idle solenoid all along. I will replace it though within the next few weeks with another one from a scrappy...

Will also test the connection tomorrow to see if Im getting a live feed...
1988 340 1.4 DL

(I suffer with O.C.D. which makes me obsessed with fine detail)

(Diagrams or photos are far more helpful to me when it comes to cars)

Justin
Posts: 366
Joined: 31 Jul 2008 12:18 pm
Location: Plymouth

Re: where to find a Idle Solenoid

Post by Justin » 31 Jan 2013 06:35 pm

2nd update later today: I should never have cut off the needle as my car is now running like an absolute pig, my revs are high when accelerating and as soon as I stop accelerating my car cuts out. Off to the scrappy tomorrow...

Checked the feed wire earlier aswell with just the ignition turned on and its getting 12volts, but in short equal pulses which I guess is normal?
1988 340 1.4 DL

(I suffer with O.C.D. which makes me obsessed with fine detail)

(Diagrams or photos are far more helpful to me when it comes to cars)

User avatar
volvodspec
Posts: 1921
Joined: 06 Dec 2008 09:35 pm
Location: Netherlands.
Contact:

Re: where to find a Idle Solenoid

Post by volvodspec » 31 Jan 2013 07:39 pm

it's very simple, if the solenoid is broken you cut off the needle. you can't repair the solenoid's coil so its a perfect temporary remedy. it's a much better option than starting to adjust the mixture and butterfly valve to get the car running again.. offcourse a working solenoid is the best remedy to fix it but this will get you around. make sure that you swap the jet over if you have a new solenoid, they are in different sizes and calibrated in factory.

if the car then starts dieseling / difficult hot start or whatever you need to check you're mixture settings, as it's off. as morgan105 said you shouldn't experience such problems

the above 1400rpm cutoff thingy is an option and not present on every 340. it only switches the solenoid off if you have your foot completely off the throttle and the engine does more than 1600rpm.

Justin
Posts: 366
Joined: 31 Jul 2008 12:18 pm
Location: Plymouth

Re: where to find a Idle Solenoid

Post by Justin » 31 Jan 2013 07:49 pm

volvodspec wrote:if the car then starts dieseling / difficult hot start or whatever you need to check you're mixture settings, as it's off. as morgan105 said you shouldn't experience such problems

the above 1400rpm cutoff thingy is an option and not present on every 340. it only switches the solenoid off if you have your foot completely off the throttle and the engine does more than 1600rpm.
That's exactly what its doing at the moment during a hot start. I just hope a 2nd hand one will work? Fingers crossed...
1988 340 1.4 DL

(I suffer with O.C.D. which makes me obsessed with fine detail)

(Diagrams or photos are far more helpful to me when it comes to cars)

Post Reply