Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General IAC Valve and TB Cleaning Q?

According to the Ford TSP (Technical Service Publication):

Also:

Both of these statements indicate that cleaning the IAC and TB is NOT recommended, yet I have seen a lot of posts to the contrary.

If these statements by Ford are correct, then why is everyone cleaning their parts?

Is it that most people figure that if they need to replace the part anyhow, then they will try to clean it first and see if that helps?

Or are the Ford statements incorrect?

I agree with the IAC valve - I wouldn't clean that - its too sensitive of a part and doesn't really get dirty anyway.

The throttle body plate though is one that I have cleaned. The Teflon coating doesn't do anything to begin with, as the damned thing gets totally coated with carbon and sludge. I also used a cleaner that claimed it didn't damage such coatings. I mean the whole point of the coating is to prevent carbon and sludge build up from sticking. But if its already on there, then the point of the coating is already lost. IMO, a clean throttle body with no Teflon coating is better than a Teflon coated throttle body loaded with carbon and sludge.

true, take a look at the plate on your TB and you'll throw that article out the window...the IAC valve I agree with as well, though I think I need to replace mine anyway, the car mooses if I shift when the secondaries are opening....actually sometimes I can hear it faintly when just driving in gear and the secondaries begin to open...rather annoying