Dirty throttle body

[deathbypar]

I installed my new air intake yesterday an ran across a disturbing discovery. The stock air tube had been folded under where it attaches to the air box. It left about a 1/2 inch hole of unfiltered air coming in behind the filter.

The stealership had mentioned that my throttlebody was dirty and wanted to clean it for $150. At the time I thought they were full of it.

My questions are:

1. Can I clean it myself by taking it off and sraying it down with some type of gumout/carb cleaner?

2. Is there anything else that could have been damaged?

[BUTWEET]

Curious! What were they doing, that they noticed your throttle body was dirty?

[Cam]

Q2. yup, depending on the enviroment you could have. But the reality is that most likely not unless you live in a dust/sand storm area.

Q1, sure can it's easy. There are two ways of doing it. Remove it and clean it or leave it in place and move the throttle blade so you can wipe it down with a rag sprayed with carb cleaner. If you are doing it on the ride, don't just spray the cleaner into the intake. The O-ring used on the manifold is re--useable so no worries about needing anything if you remove the throttle body.

One more thing. If you remove it, still use a rag to wipe it out.

$150.00..............................hot damn, 10 of them a day ain't a bad living and off to the titty bar by noon. I gotta change my trade.

[deathbypar]

Curious! What were they doing, that they noticed your throttle body was dirty?

I asked for 60K checkup, I guess it was part of that.

[deathbypar]

Thanks Cam

[Scoobydoo]

Did I miss something here? Dirt inside your intake and a folded over piece of intake tube? If the dealer noticed you had a dirty intake (for whatever reason), then they are the ones who incorrectly installed your intake pipe. I would return it to them and tell them it is their responsibility to fix it. Also, if there is any dirt in there, then your aircleaner is not doing its job. This could be caused by 1. the intake pipe was never seated properly which should be covered under warranty. or 2. You have not been keeping an air cleaner in there. If it is stock, I would want to know what went wrong. If you've got aftermarket stuff on the intake side, you will probably get a "it's your fault" response.

There is actually a maintenance item called "check to see how much dirt has collected in the intake" ??? But, if they were in there, they should have known there was a problem and shouldn't have put it back that way. I guess this is why my dealers hate me....'cause I point this out to them.

[Cam]

Did I miss something here? Dirt inside your intake and a folded over piece of intake tube? If the dealer noticed you had a dirty intake (for whatever reason), then they are the ones who incorrectly installed your intake pipe. I would return it to them and tell them it is their responsibility to fix it. Also, if there is any dirt in there, then your aircleaner is not doing its job. This could be caused by 1. the intake pipe was never seated properly which should be covered under warranty. or 2. You have not been keeping an air cleaner in there. If it is stock, I would want to know what went wrong. If you've got aftermarket stuff on the intake side, you will probably get a "it's your fault" response.

There is actually a maintenance item called "check to see how much dirt has collected in the intake" ??? But, if they were in there, they should have known there was a problem and shouldn't have put it back that way. I guess this is why my dealers hate me....'cause I point this out to them.

Good points, but there is one little item you didn't address. The PCV feeds back into throttle body and that's were all the build up comes from after the throttle plate. Standard maintenance item. No biggie. Next time you have your intake off, open the plate and look

[Scoobydoo]

Good points, but there is one little item you didn't address. The PCV feeds back into throttle body and that's were all the build up comes from after the throttle plate. Standard maintenance item. No biggie. Next time you have your intake off, open the plate and look

Aaaahhh yes....the PCV valve. I stand corrected. That will certainly create the moisture to create a dirty intake. I assume that it is located after the throttle body. Correct? (just wondering if it would be making the TB dirty as well) Either way, if the dealer had the pipe off, he was the last one to put it on wrong. Which is probably the only time it was done. That should make you feel better than thinking it was like that for 60k miles. It would me.

[1fastsedan]

Are you sure its dirty? I had to use a new service writer to get my tranny TSB done right away and he tried to tell and sell me the same thing at 15K miles while my car was sitting in their driveway. No mechanic had even looked at it.

[BUTWEET]

I asked for 60K checkup, I guess it was part of that.

I was wondering if they set you up for a screw job.
Yes sir, Mr. Smith! Your lack of attention to the faulty muffler bearing, caused enough vibration to knock the intake tube off. This in turn allowed dirt to enter the throttle body! We'll need $150 for labor....$100 for diagnostics.....$75 for quality throttle body cleaner.....$50 for hazardous waste disposal fee and $35 tax. We hope to screw......I mean serve you again!

[aries4life]

Mine has tried to sell me that overpriced service twice now. lol

My throttle body does need a good cleaning - I'll do it myself though.

[bruno]

I was wondering if they set you up for a screw job.
Yes sir, Mr. Smith! Your lack of attention to the faulty muffler bearing, caused enough vibration to knock the intake tube off. This in turn allowed dirt to enter the throttle body! We'll need $150 for labor....$100 for diagnostics.....$75 for quality throttle body cleaner.....$50 for hazardous waste disposal fee and $35 tax. We hope to screw......I mean serve you again!

OMG BW! That is hysterical. You would have made a great, traveling, bogus salesman back in the day of tonics, elixirs, and whatnot!

bruno

[BUTWEET]

OMG BW! That is hysterical. You would have made a great, traveling, bogus salesman back in the day of tonics, elixirs, and whatnot!

bruno

Why thank you! Unfortunetly there's places that pull that kind on crap on people. Elderly and females for example.

[bruno]

Why thank you! Unfortunetly there's places that pull that kind on crap on people. Elderly and females for example.

And your point is???????? Oh yeah, you can drop by any time to
clean my throttle body (don't take that the wrong way either! )

To deathbypar: I hope you received the answers you were seeking!

[1fastsedan]

No offense to old people, women, or men who don't know cars - but I overhead a service writer tell a lady that her Dodge Caliber needed "special synthetic oil" and they would have to get it from the warehouse. She just nodded with a smile and said "Oh, of course."

I really wanted to ask the guy what was so dam* special about it, but I bit my tongue as they (different writer) take really good care of me.