Peugeot 306 (1993 - 2001) - 98 1.8 Super high idle from a cold start

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
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Wed 17 Jun 2009 02:48
98 1.8 Super high idle from a cold start - pugnz
Hi all,

I have just purchased a 1998 Peugeot 306 1.8L manual on Sunday and I totally love the car. Stylish, zippy and easy to drive :), I cannot ask for anything more!

However........... the car has a little flaw, where the previous owner failed to tell me about.

When I start the car up on a coldish morning (approx 5-9 degrees) I was pretty shocked to see the engine revving up and then idle at 3000 rpm for 20-30 seconds before dropping down to 2500 rpm and then up to 3000 rpm again for a couple of times before it finally idles at around 1500 rpm.

Once its at 1500 rpm it idles and drives fine without any problems at all.

It is only at the initial cold start up phase where the idle is worryingly high as if the car is going to explode on me while I am in the car.. :(

I didn't get an engine error engine lights come on either.

Did anyone have a similar issue?
Can someone please shed some light on the matter, I am not very clued up about Peugeots therefore any help would be great.

Thanks in advance,
Jennifer

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Wed 17 Jun 2009 17:22
98 1.8 Super high idle from a cold start - rip
start with the cheapest and simple fix - clean the idle control valve, its housing and surrounding areas and refit. i had a xantia with the same problem (not quite 3000rpm!) and cleaning this solved it.
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Wed 17 Jun 2009 23:38
98 1.8 Super high idle from a cold start - pugnz
hi rip thank you for your help, where can i locate the idle control valve on a 306?
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Thu 18 Jun 2009 15:21
98 1.8 Super high idle from a cold start - rip
i had a 1996 xantia with a 1.8 16v engine so it may be the same as yours- if so the stepper motor is located to the left of the air filter box, underneath the large flexible black air pipe which goes to the throttle housing.

You may need to remove a few bits to get to the ICV, which has four small wires going into it and may have magnetti marrelli written on it. Simply undo the two bolts and remove the ICV clean it and all surrounding areas.
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Fri 19 Jun 2009 01:59
98 1.8 Super high idle from a cold start - pugnz
Thank you for your patience and your help, what does the cleaning process entail?

How do I clean it? Do I just take it apart and then clean it with carb cleaner and a tooth brush?

Any pitfalls I should be aware of before taking it apart?

Thanks :)
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