When I first bought my 'Stang I always had
problems with the idle. No matter what I did it always went up and down, up and
down, up....uh, you get the point. After performing a full tune up, which included
changing the spark plugs, plug wires, fuel filter, air filter (k&n), cap, rotor, and
setting the timing and tps voltage I was disappointed to find that the car still had a
lousy idle. So what's next? Try changing the idle air bypass solenoid (IAB)? I
was about to, until I noticed that the throttle plate in the Throttle body was so dirty
that you could barely see the edges of the plate. I guess the guy who owned it
before me never cleaned it. I guess I found the problem..... So I went to the parts
store and got a can of carb/throttle body cleaner and got to work. After I was done
the stang had a better idle than most Honda's I've driven.
Here's how it's done |
Before you do anything you will want to start
the car up and let it get to operating temperature so the dirt in the throttle body will
come loose.
The first thing to do is to take the rubber intake hose off by loosening the clamp that
holds it to the throttle body. All you need, to do this is a regular flat-head screw
driver. |
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Next you have to pull the hose off, and push
it out of the way so you have some room. If you want to make things easier on yourself,
then you might want to take the hose totally off by loosening the clamp that holds the
hose to the mass air sensor. Also make sure you place a rag or paper towel under the
throttle body so the cleaner doesn't go everywhere.
Then take the throttle body/carb cleaner and spray away. Hold the throttle plate
open and spray it all around inside the throttle body. |
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| After you are done put everything back
together and check to make sure you didn't disconnect any vacuum lines by mistake when you
pushed the intake hose out of the way. I did ;)~ |
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| Now for the IAB motor. First you have to
disconnect the wires going to the IAB. Then remove the two 8mm screws that hold the
motor to the throttle body. When you take it off make sure you don't lose the gasket
that goes between the two. |
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To clean the IAB (commonly reffered to as the IAC) just spray the cleaner in
the two holes. You can let it soak for a while then spray more in it.
While you're at it spray some cleaner in the the two holes on the throttle body
too.
That's all there is to it, now put everything back together and start her up. It
probably won't start right up as it usually does, so don't get nervous. Finally let
the car run for a few minutes and your done. |
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