Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General Cleaning TB

Alright, I attempted to clean my TB last night as I noticed quite a bit of carbon buildup last time I took my intake off.

So, as per the FAQ section, I took off the whole intake right up to the TB, and started the car. It sputters and dies. Lather, rinse, repeat. The car won't run without the intake at least partially covering the TB, I'm assuming because the MAF doesn't register an accurate reading when it's just sitting there with no air flowing through it, yet there's actually air being fed into the TB.

So how do you get around this? I kind of half-attached the accordian hose back onto the TB and just stuck the nozzle of the TB Cleaner can into the TB, then just went as per usual and manually moved the throttle cable to move the butterfly, but I'm not sure this would do a good enough job, as I really couldn't spray the cleaner all over the TB.

So any tips on how to get the car to actually run without the intake attached?

You cleaned Tboner last night?

Tony, did you approve of this?

I was going to clean my TB the other day, but there is a sticker on it that says not to. What is that all about?

LOL!

When you fill up your gas tank and it stops, don't continue to top off the tank. This can contribute to carbon buildup!

-Andy

I followed these directions on the back of the can of TB cleaner that I used:

If you can't keep the car running then follow this procedure:

Turn car off, remove MAF, spray TB cleaner into the TB for 10 seconds. Then reconnect MAF to the TB. (you don't need to tighten any screws down or anything like that; just make sure all the vacuum hoses and wires are attached to the MAF).

Start the car and run for 60 seconds. Turn car off, and repeat the above steps.

It's a bit tedious, having to detach and reattach the MAF from the TB, but it does work.

Hope this helps.

How does topping up your tank cause carbon build up? I've been doing this for years and if it is wrong, I would like to know ASAP so that I will stop this from happening!

Please let me know.

Thanks,

Stephen

Try disconnecting the MAF's electrical connector. That's what I did when I cleaned my TB, and the engine ran well enough to clean it. It'd throw a MIL if you left it off long enough but if that happens just reset it. My educated guess is that the ECU does something different when it detects a working sensor but no flow versus no sensor at all (in which case, MIL and open loop).

AFAIK, topping off your tank causes your carbon canister to work harder than it was designed to, which might cause premature failure and increased emissions. Personally I click the pump twice and that's it.

The TB is supposedly has a teflon coating inside. It sorta works, but periodic cleaning still helps. Just don't scrub it with a metal pad (like non-stick cookware), and you should be fine.

I don't have the engine running when I clean the throttle body. Have someone inside the car hold the throttle wide open, spray the cleaner onto the surface, gently brush (I use an acid brush from the hardware store, for spreading acid on a surface to solder, looks a bit like an art brush with a metal handle), gently wipe with a soft rag or soft paper towel, repeat as needed. Pay particular attention to the black carbon ring on the throttle bore just inside the throttle plate. Clean both sides of the throttle plate as well as as much of the bore as you can easily reach. Some cleaner will remain in the manifold so the engine will run a bit rough for a moment when you start it. You may need to hold the throttle wide open (to shut off the injectors) to start the flooded engine.

Or do like I did, and take the whole thing off, took me about 1 1/2 hours, but I got it to shine like new

That was my exact thought when I saw this post!!! I knew it was about cleaning the throttle body, but every time I see TB, I think Tony Boner.

=) Christy