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DTC codes / BMW codes / P1507

P1507 · BMWIdle Speed Control Valve Open Solenoid Control Circuit Signal Low

P1507 on BMW vehicles means the engine control module has detected a low signal on the control circuit for the open solenoid inside the idle speed control valve. The valve regulates bypass air around the throttle plate at idle, and the open solenoid is the winding that increases airflow when the engine needs more idle speed. A low signal indicates the circuit is shorted to ground, the solenoid winding has failed, or the wiring has excessive resistance.

SystemPowertrain
Code typeBMW specific
SeverityMedium
Fix difficultyIntermediate
AreaVehicle speed, idle control and auxiliary inputs

Symptoms you may notice

  • Often no symptoms besides the warning light, especially if the valve defaults to a fixed position.
  • Rough or unstable idle that may hunt up and down or feel like a misfire at a stoplight.
  • Idle speed that stays too low or stalls when you release the throttle or turn on the air conditioning.
  • A slight hesitation or sag when you lift off the throttle and the engine returns to idle.
  • In some cases, a higher-than-normal idle if the valve sticks in the open position after the solenoid fails.
  • A stored P1507 with no drivability complaint at all, particularly after a battery replacement or jump start.

Common causes, most likely first

  1. Failed open solenoid winding inside the idle speed control valve, often from heat and age.
  2. Corroded, chafed, or broken wiring between the idle speed control valve connector and the engine control module.
  3. Oil or coolant contamination in the valve connector causing a short to ground on the control circuit.
  4. A stuck or carbon-fouled valve pintle that overloads the solenoid and damages the winding.
  5. Loose or backed-out pins in the valve connector or the engine control module harness connector.
  6. A short to ground in the harness where it rubs against the intake manifold or engine lifting eye.
  7. Rarely, a driver circuit failure inside the engine control module itself.

How to diagnose and fix it

  1. Clear the code and test-drive to confirm P1507 returns, then check for any related idle control or throttle codes.
  2. Inspect the idle speed control valve connector for corrosion, oil, or loose pins, and clean or repair as needed.
  3. Measure the resistance of the open solenoid winding at the valve terminals and compare to the BMW specification for your engine.
  4. Back-probe the control circuit at the valve and check for a short to ground with the key off and the engine control module disconnected.
  5. Check the harness for chafing or pinched sections along the intake manifold and repair any damaged wire.
  6. If the circuit tests good but the valve does not respond, remove and clean the valve bore and pintle, then retest.
  7. Replace the idle speed control valve if the solenoid is open or shorted, then clear adaptations and verify idle stability.

What the low signal really means on BMW

  • A low signal on this circuit does not always mean the valve is dead; a chafed wire grounding against the intake manifold will set the same code and fool a parts-swapper.
  • BMW idle speed control valves are often replaced unnecessarily when the real fault is a carboned-up throttle plate or a failed intake boot that changes idle airflow and makes the valve work outside its range.
  • After replacing the valve, the engine control module must relearn idle adaptations; skipping this step can leave a rough idle that looks like the new valve is faulty.
  • A weak battery or a jump start can set P1507 as a ghost code on some BMW models because the module logs the circuit glitch during voltage spikes, so check for a low voltage history before condemning the valve.
  • The open solenoid shares a connector with the closed solenoid on many BMW valves, so coolant or oil wicking into the connector can short both circuits and set P1507 together with a companion code.

Can I keep driving with P1507?

You can usually drive the car to a workshop, but avoid long periods of idling in traffic and be ready for the engine to stall when you come to a stop. If the idle is very low or the engine stalls repeatedly, park it and arrange a diagnostic check rather than risk a stall in traffic.

Tools that help

Tools we recommend are in the Auto Veteran shop on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Guidance is general and written for BMW vehicles. Exact tests and values vary by model, so confirm the fault before replacing parts.

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