Question about ford IMRC

#1

I have a ford with a 3.8L engine. There is a vacuume controlled butterfly
valve on the intake manifold that opens and closes based on engine RPM.
The system is called Intake Manifold Runner Contorl (IMRC). Its supposed
to give better torque and smoothness by adjusting the characteristics of the
intake manifold. Mine seems to have a leak in the rubber manifold, so it no
longer works.

I haven't noticed any difference in the performance of the engine, but it
does turn on the check engine light with an error code 1537 & 1538 ( bank
1&2 stuck open ).

Ford wants $350+ just for the part!

Will the engine still pass and ODB2 emission test with this code?
Is there any way to "fool" the computer to not give the error code?

#2

Sure, rig the sender to send the proper mili-volt signal to the
microprocessor to indicate it is in normal position and not stuck open. My
guess would be between nine to eleven mili-volts, or perhaps it is as easy
as sending anything BUT 1 or 5 volts

"lugnut" <lugnut (AT) roadkill (DOT) net> wrote

Quote:

On Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:01:36 -0500, "Jack" <QITS (AT) yahoo (DOT) net
wrote:

I have a ford with a 3.8L engine. There is a vacuume controlled butterfly
valve on the intake manifold that opens and closes based on engine RPM.
The system is called Intake Manifold Runner Contorl (IMRC). Its supposed
to give better torque and smoothness by adjusting the characteristics of
the
intake manifold. Mine seems to have a leak in the rubber manifold, so it
no
longer works.

I haven't noticed any difference in the performance of the engine, but it
does turn on the check engine light with an error code 1537 & 1538 ( bank
1&2 stuck open ).

Ford wants $350+ just for the part!

Will the engine still pass and ODB2 emission test with this code?
Is there any way to "fool" the computer to not give the error code?

The short answer to your test question is probably not. In
test areas with which I am familiar, the emissions test is
nothing more than reading the ECM for fault codes. Some
have additional testing. Any fault code or if the light is
on, it will not pass. Also, you are not likely able to
"reset" the ECM to clear the fault codes and pass. This is
because the vehicle has to go through a number of
operational cycles for the ECM relearn the vehicles
operating parameters to set the required readiness flags.
The original fault code(s) will most likely be re-generated
during this time.

If you are handy with the needed tools, you may be able to
get an aftermatket manifold at a much lower price then the
dealer.

Lugnut

#3

That might work but on my S-10 when I wanted to disconnect the EGR to
see if it was causing problems I discovered that at seemingly random
intervals the ECM sent the "wrong" signal to the EGR to see if that
would momentarily change the rpm. If no change occurred it set a
fault code. I found this info somewhere in the service manual. This
ford may do the same to test for operation and if it doesn't move and
cause an rpm change it would set a fault. Just a possibility.

On Sun, 25 Oct 2009 09:41:26 -0500, "Mike Hunter"
<Mikehunt2@lycos,com> wrote:

Quote:

Sure, rig the sender to send the proper mili-volt signal to the
microprocessor to indicate it is in normal position and not stuck open. My
guess would be between nine to eleven mili-volts, or perhaps it is as easy
as sending anything BUT 1 or 5 volts

"lugnut" <lugnut (AT) roadkill (DOT) net> wrote in message
news:irl8e5p0srnpmp61aj0jbts9mihkekge40 (AT) 4ax (DOT) com...
On Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:01:36 -0500, "Jack" <QITS (AT) yahoo (DOT) net
wrote:

I have a ford with a 3.8L engine. There is a vacuume controlled butterfly
valve on the intake manifold that opens and closes based on engine RPM.
The system is called Intake Manifold Runner Contorl (IMRC). Its supposed
to give better torque and smoothness by adjusting the characteristics of
the
intake manifold. Mine seems to have a leak in the rubber manifold, so it
no
longer works.

I haven't noticed any difference in the performance of the engine, but it
does turn on the check engine light with an error code 1537 & 1538 ( bank
1&2 stuck open ).

Ford wants $350+ just for the part!

Will the engine still pass and ODB2 emission test with this code?
Is there any way to "fool" the computer to not give the error code?

The short answer to your test question is probably not. In
test areas with which I am familiar, the emissions test is
nothing more than reading the ECM for fault codes. Some
have additional testing. Any fault code or if the light is
on, it will not pass. Also, you are not likely able to
"reset" the ECM to clear the fault codes and pass. This is
because the vehicle has to go through a number of
operational cycles for the ECM relearn the vehicles
operating parameters to set the required readiness flags.
The original fault code(s) will most likely be re-generated
during this time.

If you are handy with the needed tools, you may be able to
get an aftermatket manifold at a much lower price then the
dealer.

Lugnut

#4

Quote:

Sure, rig the sender to send the proper mili-volt signal to the
microprocessor to indicate it is in normal position and not stuck open.
My
guess would be between nine to eleven mili-volts, or perhaps it is as easy
as sending anything BUT 1 or 5 volts

I did some playing around with the IMRC valves. The system only complains
when the valve is in the stuck in the "open" or default position ( held by
the spring ) generating the check engine light & 1537 code.

The valve should be closed at idle and in low rpm when vacuume is applied
to it. I wired the valve closed and the code went away. The second IMRC
seems to work fine when I plug the hose going to the bad IMRC. It seems to
idle a bit smoother. Not sure how much higher rpm power I am losing, but I
haven't noticed any difference.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Question about ford IMRC

Ford Vehicles Discussions About Ford Cars (alt.autos.ford)

Question about ford IMRC - 10-24-2009 , 08:01 PM

Re: Question about ford IMRC - 10-25-2009 , 10:41 AM

Re: Question about ford IMRC - 10-25-2009 , 11:17 AM

Re: Question about ford IMRC - 10-27-2009 , 11:05 PM