What are the symptoms of a damaged solenoid valve?
2 Answers
The symptoms of a damaged solenoid valve include: unstable engine idle speed and weak acceleration; engine stalling or difficulty starting; short circuit in the engine coil; excessively high fluid temperature; noise when the car is powered on; abnormal sounds during vehicle operation; strong jerking sensation when pressing the accelerator pedal; strong gasoline odor inside the car. The function of a solenoid valve is to use the electromagnetic force generated by electric current flowing through the coil to attract the valve core. It is divided into normally open and normally closed types, typically used to cut off the flow of substances such as oil, water, and gas, and to achieve automatic control in conjunction with electrical equipment like pressure and temperature sensors. Some solutions for solenoid valve damage: Loose or detached solenoid valve wiring connections can prevent the solenoid valve from receiving power. Tightening the connections can resolve this issue. If the solenoid valve coil is burnt out, you can disconnect the solenoid valve's wiring and measure it with a multimeter. If it shows an open circuit, the coil is burnt out. Causes include coil dampness leading to poor insulation and magnetic leakage, resulting in excessive current that burns out the coil. Therefore, it is important to prevent rainwater from entering the solenoid valve. Additionally, overly stiff springs, excessive counterforce, or insufficient coil turns leading to inadequate magnetic force can also cause the coil to burn out. For emergency handling, the manual button on the coil can be switched from the normal "0" position to the "1" position to open the valve. Solenoid valve jamming. The clearance between the solenoid valve's spool sleeve and the valve core is very small (less than 0.008 mm), and it is usually assembled as a single piece. It can easily jam if mechanical impurities are introduced or if there is insufficient lubricant. A temporary solution is to insert a wire through the small hole at the head to push it back. The fundamental solution is to disassemble the solenoid valve, remove the valve core and sleeve, and clean them with CCI4 to ensure smooth movement of the valve core within the sleeve. During disassembly, pay attention to the assembly order of the components and the position of external wiring to ensure correct reassembly and wiring. Also, check if the oil mist spray hole is clogged and if there is sufficient lubricant. Air leakage. Air leakage can cause insufficient air pressure, making it difficult to open or close the forced valve. This is usually due to damaged sealing gaskets or worn spools causing cross-leakage between cavities. When handling solenoid valve faults in a switching system, choose an appropriate time to address the issue when the solenoid valve is de-energized. If the issue cannot be resolved within one switching interval, pause the switching system to handle it properly.
I've been repairing cars for years, and the most common symptoms of a faulty solenoid valve are the valve not moving or responding sluggishly. This can cause the engine to suddenly shake like it's dancing, and when accelerating, it feels like stepping on cotton with no power. While driving, you might also experience delayed gear shifts or strange noises, like the clattering sound of metal rubbing, which is really unsettling. What's even scarier is that if there's air or oil leakage, you'll see oil stains on the ground, and electrical issues might blow a fuse, causing lights to go out or the AC to stop working. Once, I repaired a car where the valve body was stuck, causing fuel consumption to skyrocket by 20%. If left unrepaired for too long, it can even damage the entire transmission. My advice is to have a technician check the wiring and seals during regular maintenance—don't wait for a major problem to regret it. Safety first, after all.
