Got a new IAC valve; looks different than the old one (pics)

[FloridaState]

So I've been having problems with my X cranking excessively before turning over. So I went to Autozone to get a new IAC valve, well the one I got looks a bit different. It doesn't have the black cap that my original one had and it plugs in at a different angle than the other one. The gasket also looks different and so does the flat part on the front (the little grooves are bigger in the new one).
But I put it in and it works, or so I think. And the car starts up a little bit quicker but still takes a few seconds.

Did they give me the wrong one or is this just a different brand's way of making it? It's "Wells" brand and seems to work, but I don't want something on there if it's the wrong one and have it mess something up in the long-run.

Pictures:
You can probably tell, but the one on the right is the old one.

First shows the back

Second shows the inside (note the different sized grooves)

Third is side view

Anyone know if these are one and the same or for two different motors?

 

[97xlt4.0]

I think the new one might be for the 4.0 OHV...I know when I replaced mine last summer I told the guy like 4 times that i wanted one for the SOHC, and luckily they got it right!!

 

[FloridaState]

I think the new one might be for the 4.0 OHV...I know when I replaced mine last summer I told the guy like 4 times that i wanted one for the SOHC, and luckily they got it right!!

Well I have the OHV engine. So unless someone replaced my original one with an SOHC one before I got it, I have no clue.

Maybe I'll take it back and ask them to double check to make sure it's the right one. Like I said, I put it on and everything worked fine, but I noticed how much different it looked and thought possibly they gave me the SOHC one or something. Just because it works right now doesn't mean it will in a few weeks or months, you know?

 

[my pos mounty]

I agree, you might want to go have them double check the part number. It can't hurt.
I am not a fan of getting parts from Autozone, I use them more for oil/chemicals/paint and the like. Do yourself a favor, if it says Duralast, it won't. They tempt you with the "lifetime" warranty, but all that really means is that when (definately not IF) that part fails they will give you a new one. However, when that "new" one also fails, (usually less than a year on every part I ever bought) you are on your own. How many times do you want to replace the same part?

 

[97xlt4.0]

yeah, definitely have them check the part number. I'll look at mine in the morning and see if it resembles either one of those.

And yeah, definitely avoid a Duralast!!! That's what's on mine now, and I now wonder if it is the cause of my ongoing issue(see my other thread)

 

[FloridaState]

I will go ahead and double check with them tomorrow. I just hope they don't give me crap since they said they can't take it back if it's already been installed. But if they gave me the wrong one, then they better take it back or there will be hell to pay.

It's "Wells" brand, not Duralast. I don't know if that's any better. It was only like $41 so I'm not expecting a top-of-the-line one.

 

[FloridaState]

Well I went and got one that looks like mine. Apparently, I had a '98 IAC on there, that or Autozone's computers are messed up.

So I don't know what year IAC I have, but it looks the same as the one that was on there.

Bad thing is, it's a Duralast one.

 

[my pos mounty]

Well, If it solved the problem, then its working. If it came with the "lifetime" warranty, keep your sales slip. You will need it. Better yet, since they use thermal printers and the slips tend to get bleached out over time, you might want to make a copy on regular paper. They ALWAYS gave me a hard time because I didn't have the slip, even though I gave them all the info at the time of sale and it was entered into the computers. They even once told me that it was ok if i didn't have my slip, IF i remembered the date of the sale. If you go there with the attitude that you aren't going to listen to the crap, and have them look up your name, thats what always worked for me.

 

[FloridaState]

Well the first one I got seemed like it was working. I was just worried it was the wrong one and over time it would mess something up. So I have no clue why I have a '98 IAC, or if it's even true. My Explorer was made on 11/96, so I don't see why I'd have something from a '98 unless someone replaced it before and put the wrong one on.

If anyone else has a '97 4.0L OHV, let me know what yours looks like.

And I'm not sure about the warranty thing, I'll look at it later. But they didn't mention anything about lifetime warranty.

 

[my pos mounty]

They sometimes "forget" to mention it, but if your sales slip is something like 24 inches long, you got one.

 

[FloridaState]

They sometimes "forget" to mention it, but if your sales slip is something like 24 inches long, you got one.

Nah, it says two year warranty.

I had to pay $1.08 more when I exchanged the part, though. Now I'm wondering if I should have just kept the first one I got. It didn't have that stupid black cap that a lot of people seem to have problems with, and it wasn't Duralast.

Whatever, what's done is done. lol