# Idle control valve bolt seems to be stripped not sure what to do **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** 330, bmw\ **Created:** [October 29, 2016, 5:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/idle-control-valve-bolt-seems-to-be-stripped-not-sure-what-to-do/96286 "2016-10-29T17:59:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TheMidnightNarwhal](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/themidnightnarwhal/32/5375_2.png) [@TheMidnightNarwhal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheMidnightNarwhal)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 5:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/idle-control-valve-bolt-seems-to-be-stripped-not-sure-what-to-do/96286/1 "2016-10-29T17:59:39Z")
I’m removing my idle control valve to clean it. Everything went well until I’m at the last T40 bolt holding it. I go to insert my T40 bolt it doesn’t seem to go in. So I’m like oh I guess it was switched to a smaller T so I put a T30 and it’s to loose so I’m like aww cmon. Here are 2 pictures (not the best I know) of the bolt in question. Is it actually stripped or it’s some kind of other bolt? I tried a allen but it seems to slip to. If the bolt is stripped, what is my solution? Thanks! ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/3/32ceb5685521dfd7229f8f07bc1b21066efdb8d7.jpg) ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/5/5e56d5b7c891abdcec63232693799115300132ca.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 6:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/idle-control-valve-bolt-seems-to-be-stripped-not-sure-what-to-do/96286/2 "2016-10-29T18:21:50Z")
They’re probably not regular Torx bolt heads. But instead Torx-Plus bolt heads. ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/3/3215e1ca4478100e69c62e4430a77f193af1f843.jpg) Tester ---
**Author:** ![TheMidnightNarwhal](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/themidnightnarwhal/32/5375_2.png) [@TheMidnightNarwhal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheMidnightNarwhal)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 6:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/idle-control-valve-bolt-seems-to-be-stripped-not-sure-what-to-do/96286/3 "2016-10-29T18:32:48Z")
Hmm. The OEM bolts are Torx so I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 7:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/idle-control-valve-bolt-seems-to-be-stripped-not-sure-what-to-do/96286/4 "2016-10-29T19:26:43Z")
Well? If a T40 Torx bit is too big, and a T30 Torx bit is too small, and they don’t make a T35 Torx bit, it must be a TP27 Torx bit. > **[Amazon.com: Lisle 81050 TP27 Torx Plus Bit Socket: Automotive](https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-81050-TP27-Torx-Socket/dp/B009TCACNA)** > > Lisle Tools Creepers 81050 Tp27 Torx Plus Bit Tester ---
**Author:** ![wentwest](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wentwest/32/6073_2.png) [@wentwest](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wentwest)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 8:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/idle-control-valve-bolt-seems-to-be-stripped-not-sure-what-to-do/96286/5 "2016-10-29T20:05:03Z")
The head of that bolt looks awfully dirty and caked with stuff. Why not squirt it with carb cleaner and scrape it out with a pick or a nail? Couldn’t hurt. ---
**Author:** ![TheMidnightNarwhal](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/themidnightnarwhal/32/5375_2.png) [@TheMidnightNarwhal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheMidnightNarwhal)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 8:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/idle-control-valve-bolt-seems-to-be-stripped-not-sure-what-to-do/96286/6 "2016-10-29T20:51:21Z")
Sorry I tried again and the T40 goes it ok. It’s just I didn’t fell any resistance or anything since it was stripped but it goes in. ---
**Author:** ![TheMidnightNarwhal](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/themidnightnarwhal/32/5375_2.png) [@TheMidnightNarwhal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheMidnightNarwhal)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 8:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/idle-control-valve-bolt-seems-to-be-stripped-not-sure-what-to-do/96286/7 "2016-10-29T20:51:46Z")
I cleaned it a bit with no success. I guess I will have to go to a shop and get it out. Hope it’s not expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 8:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/idle-control-valve-bolt-seems-to-be-stripped-not-sure-what-to-do/96286/8 "2016-10-29T20:57:00Z")
You can’t help anyone who contradicts what they said in their original post. > [@TheMidnightNarwhal](#): > > I go to insert my T40 bolt it doesn’t seem to go in. Tester ---
**Author:** ![TheMidnightNarwhal](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/themidnightnarwhal/32/5375_2.png) [@TheMidnightNarwhal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheMidnightNarwhal)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 9:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/idle-control-valve-bolt-seems-to-be-stripped-not-sure-what-to-do/96286/9 "2016-10-29T21:56:05Z")
So because I went again and verified that I was in fact wrong and my torx goes in, you cannot help me? Ok. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 10:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/idle-control-valve-bolt-seems-to-be-stripped-not-sure-what-to-do/96286/10 "2016-10-29T22:06:28Z")
No. I keep looking at the fasteners and they look like Torx-Plus fasteners. Read this. [http://www.f150forum.com/f2/torx-t35-mystery-solved-161243/](http://www.f150forum.com/f2/torx-t35-mystery-solved-161243/) I’ve been repairing vehicles for fifty years. And I understand when rookies come across a fastener they’ve never seen. But that separates the pros from the rookies. Tester ---
**Author:** ![TheMidnightNarwhal](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/themidnightnarwhal/32/5375_2.png) [@TheMidnightNarwhal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheMidnightNarwhal)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 10:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/idle-control-valve-bolt-seems-to-be-stripped-not-sure-what-to-do/96286/11 "2016-10-29T22:20:29Z")
That’s not what others are telling me on a E46 forum. They all say the bolt looks stripped and are indeed a T40. I don’t see why all the other bolts would be T40 and this one would have been replaced with a T plus. It makes no sense. Maybe a stripped T looks like a T plus? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 10:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/idle-control-valve-bolt-seems-to-be-stripped-not-sure-what-to-do/96286/12 "2016-10-29T22:25:56Z")
Any chance of using Vice Grip pliers to remove bolts? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 10:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/idle-control-valve-bolt-seems-to-be-stripped-not-sure-what-to-do/96286/13 "2016-10-29T22:27:03Z")
If that’s what you believe? Then go with it? Tester ---
**Author:** ![TheMidnightNarwhal](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/themidnightnarwhal/32/5375_2.png) [@TheMidnightNarwhal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheMidnightNarwhal)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 10:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/idle-control-valve-bolt-seems-to-be-stripped-not-sure-what-to-do/96286/14 "2016-10-29T22:37:15Z")
Someone else mentioned this to me but I don’t quite understand exactly what to do with them. You mean try to turn the head with the grips? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 10:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/idle-control-valve-bolt-seems-to-be-stripped-not-sure-what-to-do/96286/15 "2016-10-29T22:38:57Z")
Yes. Stupid to need 10 characters. ---
**Author:** ![TheMidnightNarwhal](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/themidnightnarwhal/32/5375_2.png) [@TheMidnightNarwhal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheMidnightNarwhal)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 10:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/idle-control-valve-bolt-seems-to-be-stripped-not-sure-what-to-do/96286/16 "2016-10-29T22:40:09Z")
Ok I’ll try that tomorrow. I’ve been told they are not torqued a lot so maybe it may work. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 10:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/idle-control-valve-bolt-seems-to-be-stripped-not-sure-what-to-do/96286/17 "2016-10-29T22:42:09Z")
Some people love it when they have an excuse to buy some more tools and others will do anything to avoid buying new tools. Or just weld a nut on it but seems simpler to just get a new set of TP bits. May need them again sometime. Go Cubs. If they don’t win it’s a shame . . . ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 11:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/idle-control-valve-bolt-seems-to-be-stripped-not-sure-what-to-do/96286/18 "2016-10-29T23:34:46Z")
IMO it looks like it could very well be a Torx plus . . . using a regular Torx socket might remove the bolt, but internally round it, making it that much more difficult to remove the next time Nevertheless, since it doesn’t seem to budge . . . Use a 3/8" drive impact driver, in conjunction with a hammer and the appropriate sized socket I wouldn’t be at all surprised if that will shock the bolt loose, and after that you’ll be able to remove it BTW . . . why do you want to remove the throttle body entirely, just to clean it I’ve had good luck cleaning numerous throttle bodies, WITHOUT removing them to clean on the bench Another thing . . . on several cars out there, you have to use a pro-level scan tool to tell the pcm to relearn the throttle body after such a cleaning. On some cars you’ll get away without doing this. On some others, if you don’t do this, the idle will be erratic, too high, too low, etc. until you perform this step. On yet some others, the idle will be a mess until you drive the vehicle, under various conditions. But others will never “figure it out” on their own On some of the older Benzes, the throttle body end stops will be relearned every time you turn the ignition to position 2, without starting I’m not sure if BMW is the same way, though I just thought I’d warn you of a possible future problem ---
**Author:** ![TheMidnightNarwhal](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/themidnightnarwhal/32/5375_2.png) [@TheMidnightNarwhal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheMidnightNarwhal)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 11:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/idle-control-valve-bolt-seems-to-be-stripped-not-sure-what-to-do/96286/19 "2016-10-29T23:53:34Z")
> [@db4690](#): > Pretty sure it’s an OEM bolt. How do you clean it if you don’t remove it? There’s a little flapping valve in there and to do a proper clean and wipe down I don’t see how I can do that without removing it. No one mentioned it their DIYs to use some kind of scan tool to reset the idle control valve so should be good. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 11:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/idle-control-valve-bolt-seems-to-be-stripped-not-sure-what-to-do/96286/20 "2016-10-29T23:59:25Z")
Don’t know exactly what to say, except I clean most throttle bodies on the engine, without removing them. I’m not unusual, in that respect Use an old toothbrush, if you feel you can’t get your hand in there. Just an idea I’m sure it is an OEM bolt, but it might still be a Torx plus. I’m no BMW expert, but I am a professional mechanic, and have run across all sorts of interesting hardware. I’m saying it might be Torx plus, based on the picture you provided. Perhaps if you provided another picture, showing what the bolt looks like, AFTER you cleaned out the crud, which you mentioned having done [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/idle-control-valve-bolt-seems-to-be-stripped-not-sure-what-to-do/96286.md?page=2)