Throttle Body Cleaning

[SRG]

Maybe MX-5 or slartyblarfast could comment on this.....

Ok, I've bought "3M Throttle Plate and Carb Cleaner" from NAPA for under $4. I followed the instructions from PTDoItYourself, "Throttle body cleaning" With my assistant (wife) holding the gas pedal to the floor, to open the plate, I sprayed and wiped the inside of the throttle body, as best I could. I got some black gook out of there.

Is that it? Will the cleaner getting down into the injectors help clean them out? If you paid for a dealer or shop to "clean your injection system" what else would get done? I have occasionally put in STP and Gumout fuel-injector cleaner additives in my tank.

I'm now using the K&N "recharger" kit to clean my AirAid cone air filter element. What about that square of foam rubber that sits inside the bottom of the air canister?(this is a 2002 PT) I'm thinking of using the recharger kit to clean and re-oil it.

Thanks for any help/advice anyone can give.

SRG

[slartyblarfast]

The carbon on the throttle blade is so much the problem as the carbon that builds up on the pintle on the Idle Air control motor. It causes the hard starting,idle hunting and other odd stuff. You have to remove the motor and clean the passage and pintle. Not hard but depends on your mechanical skill. Berrymans B12 is the only stuff I will use to clean it. I've tried others and Berrymans works better than anything I've tried! On severe cases the gunk on the blade can cause problems but that's rare.

[MX-5]

I use the 3M throttle plate cleaner.
That doesn't get anywhere near the injectors or top engine & valves.
I use either the 3M fuel injection cleaning system or the OTC system and then the Seafoam SF-16 top engine cleaner.

OTC for $647 plus chemicals:
http://store.autotoolexpress.com/fuelincleank.html

3M for $811 plus chemicals:
http://store.autotoolexpress.com/3-mmm8840.html

I use both. Each has it's benefits over the other.

[SRG]

MX and Slarty:

Thanks for your replies, I'm still wondering what exactly do you feel the average PTer should have done, as far as the injection system, and how much should he pay for it? Most of us are not going to buy $600 to $800 worth of chemicals and do it ourselves.

SRG

[Stephen R.]

I had the dealer clean the throttle body once before at 30K and the cold idle improved greatly. But it was $100! Now at 55K, she's rough again.

I have the '01 5-speed and am willing to give it a DIY try. Any photos of the particular areas to pay attention to would be helpful.

Also, just like the Turbos have the oil seperator mod, would installing such a device between the PCV and TB be a simple, dependable mod for the NA?

[CarolinaBlue_GT]

quote:Originally posted by slartyblarfast

Ok I'll weigh in on this. As a D/C tech I can tell you that there is some benefit to this but generally only at higher mileage. Yes the dealer is trying to upsell you service. That is the service advisors job. We don't make much money off of warranty alone. Do you need it?Maybe...I do throttle body services all the time.I take the t/b off and remove the Idle air control motor and clean all the passages in there and clean the throttle blades.What can happen is carbon can build up on the pintle of the IAC motor and cause and erratic idle or a rough idle. I have seen cars go 100,000 miles and never need it and cars that go 15,000 miles and be gummed up beyond belief.

My personal opinion is it should be done every 30k miles.It is very simple to do.All you need is a can of Berrymans b-12 and a 10 and 8 millimeter sockets. Takes about 20 minutes for me.If you have a little DIY skill should be no problem. Or you can just have the dealer do it and make the service advisors and the tech's day!

A couple years ago, I used to use the Mopar Combustion Chamber Cleaner to clean the throttle body of my '94 Grand Cherokee. It worked ~very~ well, but it always managed to fog out the entire parking lot of my apartment complex! [:0]

Is this the same spray that a DCX tech would use today on a PT Cruiser if a customer requested the TB cleaning? I wouldn't have any qualms using it (if it's even still available) if it'll work. I'm not too fond of my neighbors anyway

[slartyblarfast]

All I ever use is plain old Berrymans B12 in the aerosol can.It's amazing the crud that it will take off.The only place I have to scrub is the pintle on the IAC and the seat for the pintle.All the rest just sprays off.

[CHROMEDCRUISER]

I've got 14K on my N/A PT. Just had it in a few weeks ago for rough idling. They changed the plugs and wires, and reflashed the computer. The idle is still pretty rough, it usually stays just shy of 1,000 at idle. At start up, it will sometimes fluctuate between 500 and 1,500 RPM. Every great once in a while, the car will just die on me, it's a 5 speed, but when it dies I usually have the clutch in. It's kind of worrysome. What do ya'll think?

[Cal Cruzer]

quote:Originally posted by CHROMEDCRUISER

I've got 14K on my N/A PT. Just had it in a few weeks ago for rough idling. They changed the plugs and wires, and reflashed the computer. The idle is still pretty rough, it usually stays just shy of 1,000 at idle. At start up, it will sometimes fluctuate between 500 and 1,500 RPM. Every great once in a while, the car will just die on me, it's a 5 speed, but when it dies I usually have the clutch in. It's kind of worrysome. What do ya'll think?

Fuel pressure? Idle Control Motor? Needs some diagnostics for sure.