Idle air control system
What P0505 means
Your car's computer set P0505: Idle air control system. It belongs to the speed, idle and auxiliary inputs group of codes. It is a generic code, so it means the same thing on every make. The check engine light usually comes on once the fault has been seen on two drives in a row. Until then it shows up as a pending code.
Can I keep driving? Usually safe to drive for now, but get it checked soon. Left alone it can lower fuel economy, fail an emissions test or lead to a bigger repair.
Common causes
- Dirty throttle body or idle air control valve
- Vacuum leak
- Failed idle air control valve
Fix the cheapest, most likely cause first. Clearing the code without a repair only turns the light off until the fault comes back.
Check it yourself
Watch RPM at idle with the A/C off and on.
Torque Deck reads P0505 with a cheap Bluetooth OBD2 adapter. It also shows the freeze frame (engine conditions at the moment the code set) and the live data you need to narrow it down.
Parts
Parts most often replaced for P0505: idle air control valve. Confirm the cause first, and match the part to your exact engine.
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Related codes
This page explains what the code usually means. It is not a diagnosis of your car. When in doubt, ask a mechanic.