Great forum guys.
I am wondering if the Auxiliary air valve from my '89 80 2.0 (which is failing/ jamming) is compatible with units from any other enqine models. I am from New Zealand and used parts are quite hard to come by for a reasonable price.
Or, has anyone had any luck in fixing them, although my mechanic feels that he unit cannot be disassembled.

Thanks

The units are crimped so if you do open one you will not be able to put it back together. I have played around with some Audi, SAAB, VW, Volvo units and they are mostly the same. However the opening is calibrated so that just the right amount of air passes through to boost the idle speed while cold. This opening is engine specific. The bimetal strip and the coil winding determine how long it takes to close. If the valve is working intermittently I would check the electrical. I have not tried mixing between various makes and models but in theory any one should work because once the engine is fully warmed up it should be closed. In the cold position the idle speed might be off either higher or lower.

Thanks. I'll check the electrical connections and keep my eye open for another.

Technically it possible to clean the Auxiliary valve although I have not had to do it on any of my cars. If you hold the valve with electrical connector pointing up, plug the bottom opening, spray some brake cleaner (used for removing protective film from brake rotors/parts, electrical contact cleaner works just as well) inside the other opening. Gently swash it around and shake it side to side, not up and down. Remove plug and drain the cleaner, repeat if necessary. Don' use any penetrating liquids like WD-40, Liquid Wrench or anything similar that you would have in Kiwi land. These products leave a gummy greasy residue once dry, found this out the hard way.

Some links that might help

http://www.auto-solve.com/mech_inj.htm
http://www.users.bigpond.com/jack_st..._repair_2.html
http://volkswagen.msk.ru/vw_doc/eva2/FU01/ch5.4.2.html

Thanks Offramp