Air intakeGeneric OBD-II codeUrgency: Monitor
Code P0507: idle speed too high
What code P0507 means
The ECU has detected that the actual idle speed is consistently above the target it calculated itself, with a tolerance that AutoDTCs puts at around 200 rpm.[1]
It means the engine is getting more air, fuel or throttle opening than the ECU expects, not that the ECU is asking for a high idle. Normal warm idle speeds are around 600 to 900 rpm, according to the sources.[1][3]
It is a generic code, valid on any make.[2]
Original definition (SAE J2012): Idle Air Control System RPM Higher Than Expected[1][2]
Causes of P0507
From most to least likely, according to the sources.
- 1Vacuum leak or unmetered air entering after the throttle: cracked intake hose, PCV or brake servo hose, or manifold gasket.[1][3]
- 2Throttle body dirty or sticking from carbon build-up, or idle air control (IAC) valve stuck open.[1][2][3]
- 3Dirty mass airflow (MAF) sensor or incorrect coolant temperature signal.[2][3]
- 4EVAP purge valve stuck open, letting vapours into the intake.[1]
- 5Faulty throttle or pedal position sensor, or a badly adjusted throttle.[1][2]
Symptoms
- Engine warning light on.[1][2][3]Engine warning light: faults that cause it
- High or unstable idle, with revs rising and falling.[1][2][3]Vibrations: faults that cause it
- Higher fuel consumption.[3]Uses more fuel: faults that cause it
- Jerking when engaging D or R with a raised idle, and harsh downshifts.[1][3]Judder when pulling away: faults that cause it
How to diagnose P0507
In order: from the most likely and cheapest to check to the most expensive.
- 1Use the diagnostic tool to check that the idle really is higher than the target and when it happens: cold, warm or with the air conditioning on.[1]
- 2Look for unmetered air leaks with a smoke test on the intake: hoses, PCV, brake servo, gaskets and EGR.[1][3]
- 3Clean the throttle body and the IAC valve, and carry out the throttle relearn with the tool if it is electronic.[1][3]
- 4Check that the MAF sensor and the coolant temperature read correct values; with the purge valve commanded closed, see whether the idle drops.[1][3]
- 5Check the throttle or pedal position sensor before suspecting the ECU.[1][2]
Can I keep driving with P0507?
Monitor
According to the sources it will not leave you stranded, but a high idle raises consumption and can punish the automatic gearbox when engaging; get it repaired soon.[1][3]
Documented faults related to P0507
Known faults of specific engines and cars, with their repair cost, the affected years and their sources.
Carbon build-up in the intake: the most serious faults by engine and car
- Medium severityFrequency: Very frequent2.0 TSI / TFSICarbon build-up on the intake valvesBecause the fuel is injected directly into the cylinder, no petrol washes over the intake valves, so oil residue and soot build up and, over the years, restrict airflow and affect engine response.
- Medium severityFrequency: Common1.6 HDiLeaks at the injector washers and carbon build-up in the cylinder headIt is common for the copper washers of the 1.6 HDi injectors to stop sealing: the engine blows gases, carbon forms around the injector and soot gets into the oil. It is cheap to repair, but if left it contaminates the oil and is one of the causes of turbo failure.Repair (garage): €110–€310
- Medium severityFrequency: Common1.0 T-GDICarbon build-up on the intake valves and coking of the injectorsThe direct injection on the 1.0 T-GDI does not wash the intake valves with fuel, so over the kilometres carbon builds up on them and on the injectors. It causes loss of power, jerking and higher fuel consumption; it is fixed by cleaning the manifold and valves, without damaging the engine.
- Medium severityFrequency: Common1.6 GDI / T-GDICarbon build-up on the intake valvesBeing pure direct injection, with no port injectors to wash the valves, the 1.6 GDI and T-GDI build up intake carbon with mileage: unstable idle, jerking or loss of power. A design trait of all direct injection, not a manufacturing fault.
Engine sensors: the most serious faults by engine and car
- High severityFrequency: Occasional2.0 DTI and 2.2 DTIVP44 injection pump and air mass meter failureGerman Wikipedia documents recurring failures of the Bosch VP44 injection pump and the air mass meter in the early years of this engine. An owner testimony for this engine describes the pump being replaced at 192,500 km, at a cost the owner calls «prohibitive».
- Medium severityFrequency: Common2.0 TDIClogged particulate filter or faulty pressure sensorThe 2.0 TDI's particulate filter clogs if the car mostly makes short journeys, because it never gets to regenerate; sometimes the fault is just the differential pressure sensor. Cleaning it costs around €200 and replacing it, €800 to €3,000.Repair (garage): €800–€3,000
- Medium severityFrequency: Common1.4 and 1.6 8vCrankshaft position sensor failure (TDC sensor)The crankshaft position sensor (capteur PMH, or TDC sensor) appears repeatedly in the reliability sources for the Clio II, the Kangoo I and the Dacia Logan I with this engine, with hard cold starting or stalling as the main symptoms. It is a cheap part, but the failure can leave you stranded.
- Medium severityFrequency: Common1.4 and 1.6 16vCrankshaft position sensor failureThe crankshaft position sensor (capteur PMH) appears repeatedly in the reliability sources for almost every generation with this engine, with hard cold starting, stalling or the car cutting out unexpectedly. It is a cheap part, but the failure can leave you stranded.
Intake flaps (swirl flaps): the most serious faults by engine and car
- Critical severityFrequency: Very frequentBMW M47Intake swirl flap breakage (swirl flaps)Yes: the common rail versions of the M47 (built since 2001) have flaps in the intake manifold that, with diesel soot and heat cycles, can break and be sucked into the cylinder, with a risk of serious damage to the piston, cylinder head and valves.
- Critical severityFrequency: CommonBMW N47Broken intake manifold swirl flapsYes: the N47's intake manifold has plastic swirl flaps that, with diesel soot and the passing years, can crack, come loose and be sucked into the cylinder, with a risk of seriously damaging the piston, cylinder head and valves.
- Critical severityFrequency: CommonBMW M57Broken intake swirl flapsYes: most automatic M57 and M57TU engines (330d, 530d, 535d, 730d, X3 3.0d and so on) have six metal flaps in the intake manifold that can seize, come loose and wreck a cylinder. The E53 X5 3.0d and the manual gearboxes of the first 330d/530d are free of them, according to a specialist workshop.
- Critical severityFrequency: CommonOM642Broken swirl flaps in the intake manifoldYes: the plastic rods of the intake manifold's swirl flaps become brittle and can break at around 100,000-200,000 km. If a loose flap is sucked into a cylinder, it can hit the piston and destroy the engine; this is why removing them preventively is recommended.Repair (garage): €600–€1,200Appears at around 100,000 km
P0507 by make
Documented faults that can trigger P0507 in each make's engines and cars.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive with code P0507?
Yes, according to the sources, but get it repaired soon: a high idle raises consumption, can cause jerking when engaging and wears the automatic gearbox.[1][3]
What is the most common cause?
A vacuum leak after the throttle, according to AutoDTCs and Carista; after that, a dirty throttle body or IAC valve.[1][3]
How much does it cost to fix?
Carista estimates between £50 and £400; CarWiki gives €50 to €200 for a leak and €200 to €500 for replacing the throttle. These are general estimates.[2][3]
What is a throttle relearn?
A procedure using a diagnostic tool that teaches the ECU the throttle's rest position after cleaning it.[1][3]
Will I pass the MOT with code P0507?
If the code has switched on the engine warning light, no: with that light on, the inspection records a serious defect, and on Euro 5 and Euro 6 cars the ITV (Spain's roadworthiness inspection, similar to the MOT) also reads the OBD diagnostic system. Repair the fault before you go; clearing the code just before the inspection does not help either, because it counts as a serious defect.[4]
Not sure what is wrong with your car? Describe what you notice in the symptom diagnosis or see all fault codes.
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- P0507 – AutoDTCsAutoDTCs · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026
- OBD Fehlercode P0507CarWiki.de · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026 · in German
- P0507: OBD2 diagnostic trouble codeCarista · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026
- Desmontando mitos: ¿puede pasar mi coche la ITV con el testigo de «avería motor» encendido?Diariomotor · Motoring press · published 8 March 2021 · consulted 2 October 2026 · in Spanish