Proud new owner of a 96 440 1.8 GS with a few issues...
 

Hi guys, recently bought my 440 cheap on ebay, its a beauty, the 1.8 monopoint B18u engine.

Love it but it's having a few problems.

The idle is very high, anywhere between 1200 and 2000 and wandering between. Blipping the throttle sometimes drops it, sometimes not. I've got history with it and I know the idle control valve was changed last year but I'm still getting a 223 fault code, I've had a look and the hose that connects from the air filter to (what I'm guessing) is the idle valve has been detached at the block end and has also had holes drilled in it... If I reattach the hose the revs increase to near 3500 then drop back down and roll back up again.

Any of you kind folks offer any advice for a noob?

Sorry for the slow response - only just seen this!

You might have fixed this, of course, by now. But if not...I don't know the B18u engines I am afraid - 480s are my thing - but 223 is the idle control signal...

I suspect that someone drilling holes in the pipework was an attempt to bodge a fix. It can't really be helping!

First things first, try and seal up that pipe - ideally replace it. Then I'd check the throttle position sensor - if it's at all like the 480 ones oil gets in and upsets that signal. Clean it well.

I'd also check the basics like the distributor cap and rotor arm, plus is the throttle valve flap clean?

After that I'd start wondering about the ECU...

Let us know how you get on with this.

David

Hi if you need help with this please let me know.

The B18U used to be funny for this.
Sometimes the switch on the end of the step motor would fail.
there are also to pipes on the back of the inlet manifold that blocked up.
the one going to the MAP sensor would block and cause idle/running problems.

Cheers

Gary