Adjusting cold idle - how to do?

[Sanity Clause]

Step 1:

Make sure that the hot water is circulating through the AAV via the 2 rubber hoses.

If you disconnect the 2 hoses from the AAV, and then connect a piece of clear plastic tubing between them, you'll be able to see if water is circulating ok. You'll be able to feel when it's hot.

If everything appears to be OK, then go to step 2. Otherwise, read on....





The 2 pipes at the bottom of the photo above, are the ones that these hoses connect to. The top one is part of the thermostat housing and is the hot water supply.

If you find that water is not circulating properly, you could have a blockage in the pipe which runs from the heater.





That's the thinner one of the 2 pipes in the above pic. Water is pumped down the large pipe to the heater. The thinner one returns the water to the AAV.
This particular one was blocked with solid black gunge. Probably due to not using the correct coolant mix (or maybe just plain water?).

Here's what it looks like in situ...




If that is the problem, you'll need to take off the inlet manifold before you can unbolt it.
Once you've got the pipes off, see if water runs through them. If not, clean them out with a very long screwdriver or something similar!


Step 2:

If you find that hot water is circulating properly, and your tickover still doesn't drop, test the AAV. Remove the throttle body, and unbolt the AAV.





Carefully pour some hot water into the pipe.
If it's working ok, you should see the thermostat close (through the elongated hole on the left, in the above pic).





Here's the part number, if you need a new one.


Hope this helps,
Steve