Electric throttle: clean it = kill it?

[ACDC]

Hi all
I'm not asking for help this time, only noting a little absurd adventure of mine (for educational purposes of course :D ):
Had a Seat Cordoba 2003 with eng code BBY (petrol engine 16V 1.4l I think) in today. Decided to give it's electric throttle a bit of a cleaning....doesn't matter why.
Before: idle was around 680rpms
After: all hell went loose, idle got very rough. Went through the re-learning process with both VAS5054 and KTS520 numerous times successfully without any change. Idle stayed rough.
After some messing around, swapped out the throttle body, installed another one that wasn't exactly the same part number, and the plastic cover on it's side was a little bit different (later after some searching, turned out it belonged to a polo probably) but it's electric plug was the same, but I had it lying around so I thought I'd give it a try.
The outcome: idle returned to perfect, car revs up when you push the pedal to the metal, and all is like a dream.

I still keep wondering though: how can a simple thing as a throttle body get thrashed with cleaning? (and this isn't the first time I saw this happen :S) Weird...

[teuton]

while cleaning you MUST NOT move the throttle plate by hand, never,never,never!!!!

Otherwise you may screw the actuator.

[Meat-Head]

while cleaning you MUST NOT move the throttle plate by hand, never,never,never!!!!.

Word of the day from almost ALL DK members.

"Whoops, really?"

[smokey08]

I always open them by hand and jamb the end of my lapping in stick in them to keep them open while cleaning. Done hundreds of them and never damaged any AFAIK.

[teuton]

I always open them by hand and jamb the end of my lapping in stick in them to keep them open while cleaning. Done hundreds of them and never damaged any AFAIK.


congrats mate, you' re the lucky one then. Do it on any GM throttle > 2008 and you' ll learn the lesson . :rolleyes:

[smokey08]

I must add that nearly all the ones I have done have been VAG ones.

[cactikid]

done that myself also by hand,did you try removing battery terminals to reset,nissan micra and note have issues if you mess with throttle bodies.

[Ashraf6119]

I always open them by hand and jamb the end of my lapping in stick in them to keep them open while cleaning. Done hundreds of them and never damaged any AFAIK.

I agree with Smokey even I do move throttle plate by hand and never had any problem before...............

It could be you have a voltage problem or, earth problems that's why you could not be able to carry out Throttle Adaptation properly.......Also you need to have your coolant temperature at normal 80* to 90* before you carry out adaptation........

[smirnoff_rules]

never have a problem cleaning . only had one on a polo after clean and replacing air pipe , but wanted a 5 minute drive to reset

[smokey08]

never have a problem cleaning . only had one on a polo after clean and replacing air pipe , but wanted a 5 minute drive to reset

On the polos the EGR valve causes idle problems that alot of people diagnose as the throttle body.

[smirnoff_rules]

On the polos the EGR valve causes idle problems that alot of people diagnose as the throttle body.

well l didnt lol

[borysgo2]

I am always sticking my fingers in throttle - never had any problems.
For those who are afraid about fingers and throttle itself you can clean it with engine running :P

Remove air hose going to throttle, take brake cleaner or similar spray cleaning solution, start engine, rev it up slightly, and spray b.cleaner gently for 1s ......1s........1s.......1s........1s -> job done (5 fingers saved)

[cactikid]

dont think i would risk brake cleaner on flaps as its not for that,i would use stp carb spray cleaner instead.

[ACDC]

while cleaning you MUST NOT move the throttle plate by hand, never,never,never!!!!

Otherwise you may screw the actuator.

Then how do you move it?

[ACDC]

I agree with Smokey even I do move throttle plate by hand and never had any problem before...............

It could be you have a voltage problem or, earth problems that's why you could not be able to carry out Throttle Adaptation properly.......Also you need to have your coolant temperature at normal 80* to 90* before you carry out adaptation........

When I did it with VAS it was written down step by step what was needed to be done. Including engine being warm...and it was :P

[Meat-Head]

dont think i would risk brake cleaner on flaps as its not for that,i would use stp carb spray cleaner instead.

rumor says, carb-a-tooter and brake cleaner, 'same stuff' - carb0a-tooter cleaner has 'oil' in it.

[teuton]

Then how do you move it?
engine running, spraying cleaner ino housing.

[CBR_bl]

Take it out, wash with gasoline brush, spill it with gasoline , and you have clean throttle.
But, i do it with removing plate by hands. If i kill it , i replace it and raise he price.

[omglol]

On the polos the EGR valve causes idle problems that alot of people diagnose as the throttle body.

Which engines precisely do you speak of?