Throttle Body Cleaning Disaster

[brianl703]

Originally Posted By: rationull


Can't you just disconnect the battery?


Yea, I could. On the other hand I could just clear the code after I'm done.

Quote:
How do you move the throttle plate to clean it with the engine running without setting a code? I assume moving it directly w/ your hand would cause a code -- do you have somebody work the gas pedal for you or is there some trick?


I've tried moving it by hand with the engine running. It didn't want to budge. It seems like it's geared way down and has lots of torque. I don't think I'd want my finger anywhere near it when it was closing.

As far as moving the throttle plate to clean it, when the engine is running it will do it for me--as I spray the cleaner in there the idle drops and then it opens the throttle wider to increase the idle. You have to be be careful not to spray too much in too fast, otherwise the engine will stall. If you do this often enough there should never be enough buildup that you have to use a toothbrush or something to clean it off.

 

[another Todd]

Amsoil sell a crafty rubber straw retainer that is a large diameter rubber type ring which goes around the can, then has a rubber arm with a tiny hole in it for the straw. If the straw blows off it is retained by the rubber and doesn't go anywhere, plus you never lose the straw. If you want the straw off the nozzle you just pull it off and let it hang. These little goodies are worth double the price or more.

 

[rationull]

Originally Posted By: brianl703

Yea, I could. On the other hand I could just clear the code after I'm done.

...

As far as moving the throttle plate to clean it, when the engine is running it will do it for me--as I spray the cleaner in there the idle drops and then it opens the throttle wider to increase the idle.



Fair enough about clearing the code. I'd probably do it that way too to avoid losing radio presets and having to reset the clock.

Drat, I was hoping you had some super secret way to work the throttle without screwing anything up. My Civic's got 35k miles on it now and I've been thinking I should clean out the throttle body but it's going to be a major PITA given the throttle body is actually under the cowl. [censored] cab forward design.

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

So is there a good way of cleaning the throttle body of a car that is throttle by wire? I've read that some people with the same car as mine have done it and their cars threw a CEL right afterwards.

I was thinking of trying to clean the tb on my dad's van sometime which is sticking a little bit. It has a cable throttle. If too much cleaner was sprayed in and the car is hard to start what is the process in getting it started?

 

[Merkava_4]

I'm thinking the straw will eventually work it's way down the intake runner and into the combustion chamber - getting caught between the valve and the valve seat - causing catastrophic and cataclysmic damage.

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
So is there a good way of cleaning the throttle body of a car that is throttle by wire?


Take it off!

 

[brianl703]

Originally Posted By: rationull
My Civic's got 35k miles on it now and I've been thinking I should clean out the throttle body but it's going to be a major PITA given the throttle body is actually under the cowl. [censored] cab forward design.


The throttle body on my Saab is in front of the engine and actually faces up, not sideways. Nice design.

 

[brianl703]

Quote:
So is there a good way of cleaning the throttle body of a car that is throttle by wire?


I think the way I do it is fine. I'd be surprised if other DBW cars set a code if you manually move the throttle with the key off, and if they do then just clear it.

You could also check to see if they'll move the throttle when you push on the gas pedal with the key on, engine off. My Saab does, so if I had a helper or a 2x4 of the appropriate length to wedge between the seat and the gas pedal I could work on it with the throttle open.


Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
If too much cleaner was sprayed in and the car is hard to start what is the process in getting it started?


Floor the gas pedal while cranking the engine.

 

[eljefino]

To properly clean a saturn throttle blade and probably many others one really has to get the backside of the blade... which is where PCV vapors condense when the car is shutdown.

On saturns I roll a paper towel into a cigar-shaped long thin thing, wet it, and go in for the TB. Sometimes my finger slips and the blade snaps closed but it hasn't fully guillotined a towel yet. Also I hose off the top/backside of the blade w/o papper towel and let it snap down, this shakes stuff off the back that I mop up off the bottom. Repeat until clean... then a final paper towel.

The only teflon TBs I've ever seen warning about proper cleaners are on Fords btw. Not saying there aren't other picky makes but GM does fine with brake cleaner. I do start the car and run it afterward so any odd chemistry is blown out the tailpipe.

 

[DoubleDee]

To clean a throttle body.

Disconnect the battery
remove throttle body
clean throttle body
re-install throttle body
connect battery.

The PCM/ control module needs to be reset for the cleaned throttle body. If a code is thrown, it should clear itself after a few cycles/drives down the road, or 1 - 3 days

 

[brianl703]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Not saying there aren't other picky makes but GM does fine with brake cleaner.


Be very careful about that, some brake cleaner is chlorinated and will produce phosgene gas when burned. Searching google for brake cleaner and phosgene gas turns up lots of MSDS sheets that say the same thing.

Phosgene gas is nerve gas.

 

[swalve]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Not saying there aren't other picky makes but GM does fine with brake cleaner. I do start the car and run it afterward so any odd chemistry is blown out the tailpipe.


I wouldn't suggest using brake cleaner. I used it once in a pinch, and when I started the engine, it smelled like I had made some kind of nerve gas.

 

[wiswind]

Well.....in short....it sounds like you simply "flooded" the engine with the carb cleaner....and this would have happened regardless of what brand you used.
I have even had some issue with drivability after spraying into the throttle body on my windstar with the engine running....but I am guessing that it has to do with the intake manifold runner system that FORD uses on the Windstar and other vehicles.

It takes some time to clear the system out......and it sounds like all if fine now.......and I would recommend doing the job with the engine running in the future to avoid the same experience.

One thing that I did not see mentioned....and I would recommend that you do is to replace the motor oil....as some of the cleaner may have gotten down into the crankcase during the flooding situation.
Nothing special....just a normal oil and filter change as you normally do.

It is a good idea to plan the throttle body cleaning job to take place just before you plan on changing the motor oil anyhow.

 

[PT1]

I remove TB's to clean them usually at 100k. During regular maintenence I will spray with TB cleaner that is safe for sensors only (the can is marked). I never use the "straw" anymore..because I have a straw story and it's not pretty.

 

[PT1]

BTW, did you guys hear about that woman in the Bay Area who was killed when a small plastic straw was shot from the tailpipe of a passing car and imbedded in her forehead? SF Police are seeking the identity of a man driving a 1996 Saturn in connection with this incident.

 

[1sttruck]

I would have secured some duct tape sticky side out on a stiff piece of coat hanger as a first attempt to get it out. Nex twould have been some brass tubing attached to a vacuum with some duct tape.

 

[[RT] ProjUltraZ]

lol PT1, i've done this many times w/ the straw, what a nightmare to have it come off. i think the key is i never remove the straw from the first time i use any can, store em like that too. therefore the straw is inserted without any solvents, etc on day 1.

 

[Mr Nice]

Just take the time to remove the TB and just wipe off all the grime with a clean rag. No need for any sprays.

Mori,
Great advice about the homemade gasket.

 

[Audi Junkie]

lol@ "liquid straw".

 

[oilyriser]

finally put his straw in a hole...