WHERE IS THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE?

The IAC is attached to the throttle body. Here is a guide that will walk you through the repair with diagrams below to show you on your car.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-an-idle-speed-control-motor-iac

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

My daughter's car has trouble staying running in cold temperatures. It starts but if she takes her foot off the gas, it dies. Once it is running, it runs fine.

Our mechanic said it could be that the idle valve or something is sticking in the cold weather. Is that something I can buy at an auto zone and replace myself?

How?

Thanks

yes you can change the IAC valve yourself, and it is able to be boughten at autopart stores all over the place.

to change it unhook the electrical connectors and unscrew it. be sure to clean the gasket mating surfaces and use a new one when reinstalling the IAC.

also i think you should change the coolant temperature sensor before the IAC module, does it idle fine when warm?

Yes, it does idle fine when warm. Thanks for responding so quickly!

since its fine when warm i think you should replace the engine coolant temperature sensor first and go from there.

Thanks, I will try that first.