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Does the idle on your Kia Soul 2010-2011 surge to 900 rpm, dive to 400, then climb again? Does the engine die every time you brake for a red light? That cycling is called a hunting idle, and it usually points at one small part.

The part is the idle air control valve — a motorized plunger that feeds air around the closed throttle blade. The idle air control valve for the Kia Soul 2010-2011 Sport 2.0L brings back that bypass air. A steady idle comes back with it.

What the valve does when it works

Your throttle blade sits nearly shut at idle. The engine still needs air to keep turning. The valve meters a small bypass stream so the computer can hold one steady speed.

When the plunger sticks or wears, that control breaks. Idle rises, falls or dies, and the check engine light follows. Carbon buildup is the usual cause on a high-mileage car.

Symptoms worth checking

Work down this list before you order anything:

• Idle hunts in a slow loop — roughly 900 rpm down to 400 and back.
• The engine stalls when you brake to a stop, or while parking at idle.
• It stalls with the A/C or headlights on, when electrical load rises.
• A restart needs a little throttle, or several crank attempts.
• The check engine light stores P0505, P0506 or P0507.

Read the code, then pick the fix

Scan before you buy. A cheap code reader turns a guess into a diagnosis.

• P0505 — idle control system: the computer cannot hold its target speed.
• P0506 — idle below target: too little bypass air is getting through.
• P0507 — idle above target: too much bypass air is slipping past.

The same three codes behave the same way on every brand. Our idle air control valve DTC mapping guide covers the same fault on the Mitsubishi Mirage 1997-2000, if you also wrench on older cars.

Match the valve by engine and pin count

The Kia Soul 2010-2011 shipped with two four-cylinder engines. Each one takes a different valve, and the connectors do not interchange.

• 2.0L Beta (G4GC family) → the 35150-02800 valve in this guide, cataloged for the Kia Soul 2010-2011 Sport 2.0L.
• 1.6L Gamma → the 3-pin 35150-2B010 valve, sold as the 3-pin valve for the Kia Soul 2010-2011 1.6L.

Aftermarket listings apply the 2B010 unit to the Hyundai Elantra HD (2008-2012), i20 (2008-2012) and i30 (2008-2012) as well. Databases list 35150-02800 for the Hyundai Getz (2005-2009), i10 (2007-2013), Matrix and Kia Picanto (2004-2011) too. So count the pins and read your engine code first — the check takes one minute and prevents a wrong part.

Both valves, plus throttle bodies, sensors and intake parts for other engines, live in the air and fuel delivery collection.

Clean first, replace if the hunting returns

Carbon on the plunger tip is the cheap case. A worn motor inside the valve is not.

1. Unplug the connector and remove the two holding screws.
2. Spray throttle-body cleaner onto the plunger and its bore.
3. Let it soak, then wipe until no black residue lifts off.
4. Refit the valve, clear the codes, and drive a few trips.

Does the idle still hunt a week later? Then the valve is worn out. Cleaning only delays the decision — replace it.

How to swap the valve: about 30 minutes

1. Work on a cold engine and disconnect the battery negative lead.
2. Unplug the valve connector and back out its two mounting screws.
3. Twist the valve free. Note where the gasket or O-ring sits.
4. Clean the mating face so the new gasket seals flat.
5. Fit the new valve with a fresh gasket and snug the screws evenly.
6. Reconnect the battery, then hold the key on for about 10 seconds with the engine off.
7. Idle the engine for three minutes with no loads, then drive gently.

No scan-tool calibration is needed on this platform. The computer relearns its idle air figure over the next few trips. If the idle still dips after a full day of driving, check the intake boot and vacuum hoses for a leak.

Frequently asked questions