Idle Valve options

2 Wired Valves (FIdle wire)

These valves are wired between an ignition switched 12V and the Megasquirt Idle Valve wire in the loom. (The
MS EC switches ground to ma!e them wor!." Ma!e sure the 12v is switched o## when the megasquirt is o##.
Man$ looms contain a %rotection diode& leave it there.
Some valves will have a s%ring return mechanism to shut them& others have a s%ring to o%en them& so the dut$
c$cle at high and low tem%s de%ends i# the MS EC has to drive it o%en against the s%ring or shut against the
s%ring.
I# the EC has to shut the valve down against the s%ring to reduce air going through it as tem% increases then the
dut$ c$cle will need to increase with tem%& so the value at low tem% will be around ' and the dut$ at higher tem%
will be 1'' or so. The o%%osite i# the MS EC has to #orce the valve o%en against the s%ring to increase air #low.
3 Wired valves (FIdle wire) e.g. (osch Valve '2)' 1*' +'+
Three wired valves can also be made to wor! via the IdleValve out%ut #rom an MS1 or an MS2 (,ote that all
E-traE.I.co.u! EC/s are modi#ied during the build %rocess so the$ can drive a valve& standard EC/s can not
drive them directl$0" The centre %in o# the valve goes to an ignition switched 112V& one o# the other 2 %ins will
hold the valve shut when its connected to ground ('V". This %in needs to go to earth via a resistor (2'3*'4hms
+'5"& the other %in goes to the Idle valve out%ut in the wiring loom #rom the MS EC.
4n a 2 wired valve there are e##ectivel$ 2 windings that #ight against each other& one o%ens the other closes it. So
we %ut a resistor in line to ground with one winding& this shuts (or o%ens it de%ending on what winding $ou use" the
valve& so its li!e having a s%ring holding it one wa$. The MS EC then #orces it either shut or o%en& it can do this
as the resistor in the other winding limits how much it can #orce it one wa$.




4 Wired Valves (IAC1A-2B) Stepper Motors
I# $ou have a * wired valve then its a ste%%er motor& these can ,4T be controlled with MS13E-tra& but can be
controlled b$ MS2 and MS2 ECs. I# $ou want to use the ste%%er out%uts on the MS2 EC as a %rogrammable
out%ut or (oost or ,4S& etc& then $ou ma$ lose the ste%%er #unction as there is a limited amount o# out%ut %ins that
can be used. See 6E7E #or more details on the out%ut %ads available.
I# $ou use a ste%%er out%ut #or an o%tion then $ou can still #it a suitable 2 or 2 wired valve #rom an older vehicle
and use the .Idle out%ut. This is the route most %eo%le ta!e #or MS1 an$how. (See above"

Oter Idle Valves
There are valves that need no control other than a 12V su%%l$ when the ignition is on. These heat u% a bi3metalic
stri% that rotates a %late inside the valve and shuts the air down as the engine heats u%& these are !nown as E-tra 8ir
Valves. The$ are becoming rare and hard to get hold o#& the$ were #itted to various engines& li!e the .la%%er t$%e
7V) E.I/s. The Idle S%eed has to be controlled with the throttle sto% when using these t$%e o# valves& as the valve
is onl$ used to add air when the engine is cold.
6ere is a (osch e-am%le9

MS1-!"tra Idle Valve Settin#s

Base settin#s $or a %os& valve in War'(p Onl) 'ode*
The above settings show that the base #requenc$ #or the valve is 2''& the Idle dut$ at the lower tem%erature (322C"
is set to 11+& so the valve will be driven with a dut$ c$cle o# 11+:2'' ma!ing it o%en (allowing more air in" at
322C. 8s the tem%erature increases it will linearl$ decrease to ':2'' (;ero"& this will be at ++C and above. To tune
this sim%l$ get the engine u% to tem%erature and alter the %%er Tem% Idle <ut$ until the engine is at the wanted
s%eed. ,e-t time it is cold change the <ut$ at the lower tem% setting and or change the .ast Idle (lower" Tem%
setting to get the engine to the desired s%eed during warmu%.

MS2-!"tra and MS3 Idle Valve Settin#s
Al#orit'
War'(p Onl) 'odes* (These modes are #or o%en loo% control& the$ do not tr$ to control the engine
s%eed using the r%m as a re#erence& it is sim%l$ an o%en loo% mode to increase engine s%eed during the warmu%
%eriod using the coolant tem%erature. 4nce the engine is warm the$ can be set to allow a #i-ed amount o# air
through to control the idle r%m."
2 or 3 wired valves*
On+O$$ Valve .or an on:o## #ast idle valve (these are rare and onl$ #ound on old vehicles"& $ou can
also set $our Fast Idle Threshold i# $ou have installed a #ast idle solenoid. Enter a coolant
tem%erature to turn on the #ast idle solenoid. 8 t$%ical value is ='> C. The .ast Idle valve will be
activated below this tem%erature (='>C" and turned o## above ='>C. The .ast idle Threshold is
inde%endent o# an$ warm3u% enrichment. .ast idle valves generall$ have one or two wires& the FIdle
out%ut wire is used #or these (?in 2' in the loom"
,WM War'(p9 This is #or the 2 or 2 wired valves as #ound on .ord/s& Vau-halls& V5s #rom the
earl$ )'s and onwards. Man$ com%anies used a (osch valve. These use the FIdle out%ut wire in the
loom (?in 2'".
4 wired Idle valves*
Idle Air Controller (IAC)9 I# $ou have a ste%%er motor I8C& $ou can set ten intermediate ste%s
based on the coolant tem%erature to allow a decreasing amount o# @e-tra air@ as the engine warms
u%. These are set under /Idle Steps/ in MegaTune. Ste%%er motor I8Cs usuall$ have #our wires& use
the * wires IAC1A - IAC2B See 6E7E #or a wiring diagram
IAC Stepper Movin# Onl)9 ?owers the ste%%er onl$ when changes in %intle %osition are requested.
This is the most common t$%e& it holds its %osition i# not %owered& and is di##icult to turn b$ hand.
IAC Stepper Alwa)s On9 ?owers the ste%%er at all times. 7equired i# $our ste%%er /#ree wheels/
when $ou s%in its %intle un3%owered with $our hand.
1- Min(te IAC9 This o%erates the I8C ste%%er motor as /alwa$s on/ #or 1+ minutes& then switches to
/moving onl$/. This can be use#ul in some situations in which the ste%%er moves unreliabl$ i# moving
onl$ at the lower voltages o# cran!ing and warming u%& etc.

Closed .oop 'odes* (These modes use the engine 7?M& T?S& M8? and Coolant tem%erature as
#eedbac! to control the engine s%eed in a closed loo% mode"
2 or 3 wired valves*
,WM Closed .oop* This mode is #or a 2 or 2 wired ?M5 idle valve.
IAC Closed .oop Movin# Onl)* This mode onl$ %owers the ste%%er onl$ when changes
in %intle %osition are requested. This is the most common t$%e& it holds its %osition i# not
%owered& and is di##icult to turn b$ hand
IAC Closed .oop Alwa)s On* ?owers the ste%%er at all times. 7equired i# $our ste%%er
/#ree wheels/ when $ou s%in its %intle un3%owered with $our hand.
To select the a%%ro%riate /Idle Control/Algorithm/ #or ste%%er motor control in Tuner Studio $ou ma$ need
to do some testing. In some cases setting the ste%%er motor to @I8C Ste%%er 8lwa$s 4n@ will cause the I8C
to get hot. 6owever setting it to @I8C Ste%%er Moving 4nl$@& might cause a %roblem with idle s%eed
changing #rom one start to another i# the ste%%er moves #reel$.
Aou can test i# $our I8C is suitable #or /alwa$s on/ b$ leaving $our ste%%er %owered on the bench #or 1+
min or so. I# it doesn/t #eel too hot to $ou& then set it to @8lwa$s 4n@. 8%%arentl$ this is what BM does. (ut
i# $ou want to be sa#e the$ should test it on the bench #or 1+ min or so& or monitor it closel$ in the car while
not moving #or at least 1+ minutes& chec!ing the I8C tem%erature #requentl$ with $our #ingers. It ma$ get
warm& but it shouldn/t burn $our #ingers Cust touching it.
Stepper ,osition relative to Step /('%er

Closed .oop Idle 0,M 1ar#ets* This is the Idle 7?M the closed loo% code aims #or at di##erent coolant
tem%s. 8t low coolant tem%s the engine will need to run at a higher 7?M than when its u% to o%erational
tem%erature.

Coolant Based Cran2in# steps* This is to allow more air in when the engine is cold to aid starting. Tuning
this will be trial and error& the settings below are #rom an 7V)

Values shown are from an RV8

Idle Control*
Values shown are from an RV8
1i'e Step Si3e ('s)9 ((oth Modes" I8C ste%%er motor nominal time between ste%s (i.e.& 2.+ milliseconds
gives %ulse #requenc$ o# *'' 6D". I# $our ste%%er doesn/t move ver$ well this could be increased to hel%.
Initial 1i'e Step Si3e ('S)* (,on38lwa$s on modes" This is the dela$ the EC will wait #rom turning the
ste%%er motor out%uts bac! on to actuall$ driving the motor.
Mini'(' Step Si3e* ((oth Modes) The code calculates how much movement is needed de%ending on the
actual 7?M or Coolant tem%. Setting this to 1 means it will ma!e lots o# tin$ ste%s which ma$ not ma!e an$
di##erence due to the actual movement generated b$ the motor. 8 setting o# * 3 E is a good starting %oint #or
this& meaning it will need to calculate a larger movement (see a bigger discre%enc$ between target %oints"
be#ore it drives the motor.
Start Val(e* ((oth Modes) The number o# ste%s a%%lied to shut the valve at %ower u%. (ecause the valve
could be an$where on %ower u%& the EC drives it to its home %osition& so an$ ste%s #rom this %oint are
#rom a !nown %osition (Closed". To #ind this value $ou need to see the Test Mode ?age. This value should
be Cust above the amount o# ste%s the valve needs to go #rom o%en to closed& so i# its #ull$ o%en on %ower u%
it will reach #ull$ closed. (2''32+' is a usual value"
Cran2-to-0(n 1aper 1i'e9 (4%en Foo% Modes" This is the time over which the cran!ing %osition o# the
idle (either the ste%%er ste%s or the ?5MG" is moved to match the table value (see diagram below". 6igher
values give a higher idle #or longer %eriods& which can im%rove starting %er#ormance.
4)steresis (5)9 (4%en Foo% Modes" This in%ut can be used to avoid continuous motor motion (and wear"
#or small coolant tem%erature changes. Changes to the motor are onl$ made when new coolant tem%erature
H coolant tem%erature on the last move& or& new coolant tem%erature I (coolant tem%erature on the last
move 3 6$steresis tem%erature". 5hat this does is allow constant motor motion while the coolant
tem%erature is rising& but when it %ea!s& there will be no #urther motion unless things cool bac! down 3
which is unli!el$.
1i'e Based A$ter Start (e"tended war'-(p)9 (Open .oop Modes) Aou should ,4T use the Time (ased
8#ter Start (e-tended warmu%" o%tion unless $ou #ind $ou need it& and ver$ #ew will. <isable it b$ setting
the /cold tem%erature to a value lower than $ou will see in winter. Then this #eature will not be used unless
the coolant tem%erature at startu% (EC #irst %owered on" is below the #igure $ou enter. This #eature is used
toward the end o# the warmu% sequence when the coolant tem%erature is close to its #inal o%erating
tem%erature. In this case& #ast idle will normall$ come o##& but S4ME cars (ver$ #ew" ma$ need e-tended
#ast idle. 8n e-am%le is a car that uses heav$ weight oil& which is nowhere near at o%erating tem% when the
coolant gets there& %lus a hot cam with not enough idle torque to overcome the oil drag.
This #eature is im%lemented b$ in%utting a /Cold ?osition/ that is the ste% %osition at start o# e-tended
warmu%& t$%icall$ about )'G o# the #inal& #ull$ closed ste% %osition. The I8C behaves normall$ until the
ste% %osition commanded #rom the table Cust e-ceeds this Cold %osition value (either ?5M or ste%%er".
.rom that %oint on& the ste%s are ta%ered in so as to reach the last ste% value in the table over the /cold ta%er
time/ %eriod. (see the diagram". This slows the reduction in idle air as the engine continues to warm u%
(increasing the idle s%eed #or longer than the coolant tem%erature alone would do".
Cold 1e'perat(re (5) 9 (Open .oop Modes) This de#ines the initial coolant tem%erature below
which the a#terstart ta%er will be e-tended& based on the Cold ?osition and Cold Ta%er Time. It
should be set #airl$ cold& generall$ not more than 31'C.
Cold ,osition (steps)9 (Open .oop Modes) The Idle ?5M values at which time based a#terstart
ta%ering is initiated. ,ote that this value must be higher than the lowest value in $our I8C ?5M
table& or $ou can get strange o%erating results.
Cold 1aper 1i'e (se&)9 (Open .oop Modes) This is the number o# seconds that MegaSquirtJ
ta!es to move #rom the /cold %osition/ to the %osition indicated in the I8C ste% table #or the current
coolant tem%erature.
,I6 Control (Closed .oop Modes)
,I6 (,roportianal Inte#ral 6erivitive) is a control method widel$ used in industr$ to control s$stems in a closed
loo% setu%. It starts b$ calculating an error between its current %osition and the target %osition& in this case 7?M.
There are 2 %arts to the control s$stem9
, (?ro%ortianal Bain"9 <etermins the reaction to the current error calculated.
I (Integral Bain"9 <etermins the reaction based on %revious calculations.
6 (<erivitive Bain"9 8lters the reaction based on how much the error has changed.
So a ,I6 setu% weighs these reactions together and gives a calculated out%ut #or the di##erence in engine s%eed.
Values shown are from an RV8
Min 6(t)+Steps $or ,I69 This is the lowest value (least amount o# air let through" that the
code will run to when in closed loo% mode. Ideall$ this should be set to a value Cust under
where the ste%%er needs to be to get to $our ideal idle r%m. So when the engine is idling at
the correct s%eed& chec! the I8C Ste%%er %osition in Tuner Studio (set a gauge #or it". I# it
idles around =+ish then set this setting to Cust under that& e.g. E+. I# $ou #ind the engine
stalls in closed loo% due to the idle valve shutting too #ar then increase this a little.
0,M Wit Valve Closed* Set this to the 7?M that the engine runs at with the valve in the
%osition $ou have entered #or the Idle Valve Closed Steps (see below).
0,M wit Valve Open* Set this to the 7?M that the engine runs at with the valve closed.
(8ltering these 2 s%eed settings can e##ect the sensitivit$ o# the closed loo%. Ma!ing the
overall range bigger decreases sensitivit$& ma!ing the range smaller increases it"
,I6 6ela)* <ela$ the EC waits #or all conditions to enter closed loo% to be satis#ied
be#ore entering closed loo%. 132S is usuall$ best here.
Cran2 to 0(n 1aper* The EC %ositions the idle valve at a #i-ed %osition during cran!ing
(See the I8C Cran!ing Table". 4nce the engine starts the I8C will need to ta!e u% the
closed loo% %osition& this is the dela$ to allow #or a smooth transition #rom cran!ing
%osition to closed loo% %osition.
,I6 0a'p to 1ar#et 1i'e9 This is how long the code will ta!e #or it to reach the target
7?M once in closed loo%. Farger times here can allow $ou to increase the ? o# the ?I<
control. 8 value o# 232S wor!s well here.
,I6 Controller Interval9 6ow o#ten the code #or closed loo% runs& )'31''mS is a good
starting %oint.
,roportianal 7ain9 This is best !e%t reasonabl$ low to sto% hunting. See the descri%tion
#or ?I< Control above.
Inte#ral 7ain* This is the gain based on %revious calculations& tr$ to !ee% this over 1''G.
See the descri%tion #or ?I< Control above.
6erivative 7ain* This is the gain based on how much the error has changed& Dero is a good
setting here. See the descri%tion #or ?I< Control above.
,I6 .o&2o(t 0,Mdot 1resold* This should be set Cust above the rate o# change that the
7?M would naturall$ move at and around idle. I# the rate o# change goes above this settng
it is assumed the engine needs to come out o# closed loo% mode. This value can be #ound b$
loo!ing through datalogs and #inding roughl$ what 7?Mdot $ou have Cust be#ore $ou enter
closed loo% and around idle during closed loo%. Set this Cust above the ma- 7?Mdot $ou
#ind& t$%icall$ +'31+'. I# $ou #ind the closed loo% dro%s out without touching the throttle&
tr$ increasing this a little.
,I6 lo&2o(t Ma" 6e&el .oad* This should be set so that the EC doesn/t go into closed
loo% mode during overrun (engine in gear during decel". <uring overrun the throttle will be
at Dero and the EC could assume the engine is idling too high and there#ore close the idle
valve (to reduce the amount o# air and bring the engine s%eed down". 5hen the clutch is
then %ressed in& the engine will no longer be turning through the car/s inertia and the idle
valve could be closed causing the engine to stall. This setting is to sto% the closed loo%
starting to wor! during overrun. To #ind the ideal value& #ind the K?a value o# the M8? at
idle and set this to + K?a less than the idle M8?& so i# $ou idle at *+K?a set this to *'K?a.

Values shown are from an RV8
Idle Open 6(t)+Steps* This is the value needed to o%en the valve #ull$ (allow ma- air
through it"
Idle Valve Closed 6(t)+Steps* This is the value the code runs the valve to when it goes
out o# closed loo% mode (minimum air #low". To tune this& increase the throttle at idle to
Cust over $our Idle Activation threshold (e.g. T?S 1.+G" so the code no longer runs closed
loo%. The idle valve will then shut to this %osition. I# the engine tries to stall then increase
this value. This hel%s #or ver$ slow driving in tra##ic. (8dCust the RP with valve closed
val!e to Cust below the 7?M $ou #ind this setting gives $ou& see above"
Idle A&tivation 0,M adder* The EC can enter closed loo% mode even when on overrun
i# the engine s%eed is within this Idle 8ctivation 8dder value 1 the target r%m value. So i#
$our idle target is L''7?M and Idle 8ctivation 8dder is 2'' then closed loo% will begin
when the engine s%eed gets to L''12''M11''7?M. Ideall$ this needs to be set #ailr$ low&
+'31+' is t$%ical. (,ote that i# the Idle T?S 8ctivation threshold isn/t satis#ied then it will
,4T enter closed loo%"
Idle A&tivation 1,S tresold9 This is the value te T?S must be below to enter closed
loo%. It is ver$ im%ortant to calibrate the T?S correctl$ and set this to as low a value as $ou
reliabl$ acheive when the throttle is at rest. '.+31.'G
6aspot Adder* The code remembers it/s last good value that it had control o# the engine
s%eed. This value is added to the last good value #or its starting %oint ne-t time the throttle
is li#ted. 8 value o# +31+ is a good starting %oint& this hel%s to get the valve close to where it
should be when entering closed loo%.
Closed 6ela)* The EC closes the air valve a#ter leaving the o%en loo% mode (once T?S
rises"& this is the dela$ #or that to ha%%en (see Idle Valve Closed "!t#".
www8!"tra!FI8&o8(2