xsara picasso stepper motor

[shaggy]

hi,i have a xsara picasso 1.6 (53 plate) with idle problems, erratic or 2k ish revs on tickover.earlier post had replies suggesting stepper motor to be cleaned with carb cleaner.removed it today and couldnt move plunger by hand .
siezed? or needs electrical current to move?
also sprayed with cleaner but no difference. couldnt dismantle tho.
do they come to bits or are they sealed?

[wheeler]

removed it today and couldnt move plunger by hand .

You should never try to move the plunger in or out as this can damage the motor.

[shaggy]

i can appreciate that but i think its already faulty.
only other thought is, is there a sensor somewhere which feeds the stepper motor with the info which could be at fault?

[wheeler]

In my experiance these stepper motors very rarely go faulty, 90% of the time a thorough clean of the plunger and the housing it sits in does the trick. I use carb or brake cleaner first then WD-40. you need to get a rag with a screwdriver right into the housing to clean it properly.
If you plug the stepper back in when its removed & turn the ingnition on breifly you will see the plunger moving to prove its not siezed.