Brake cleaner to cleaner IAC and TB?

[duffbeer911]

Hi all,

I'm having starting issues and some rough running on my '98 3.4L and from everything I read online it sounds like the IAC and/or throttle body may need cleaning. My only issue is that here in Sierra Leone I can't find carb cleaner or any specific cleaner to do this ... the closest I can find is brake cleaner. Do you think it would be fine to use? Thanks for the help

 

[meRockboost]

Yup just spray on a rag and wipe out the tb don't just spray it in there like crazy obviously

 

[KidVermicious]

Be very careful with it. Brake cleaner is a super strong solvent and will screw up sensitive components like MAF and TPS sensors.

 

[duffbeer911]

ok great thanks. I'll remove the TB and IAC and make sure not to get it into anywhere else.

 

[duffbeer911]

ok whoa ... got it all apart and it was dirty in there. Totally clogged up. See attached pics of it before and after a bit of a clean. You can see that there is actually a chunk of metal that has corroded away on both the IAC and the TB ... what do you guys think about this... should replace them both?? Would this kind of dirt/corrosion be contributing to poor starting, poor fuel consumption, lack of power? I tested the IAC with a battery and the little door was still opening and closing ok.
I am missing the plastic tips from the two small metal tubes that run out of the throttle body but not sure if that matters?

Thanks a lot! appreciate the help

 

[baja1]

pretty grungy! I cleaned my IAC by suspending it in a bucket of carb cleaner keeping the plastic just above the surface, came out looking like new! but I suppose if you can't get your hands on a can of carb cleaner you're not gonna find a bucket of chem-tool either!

 

[duffbeer911]

I got it quite clean after a while and have fitted it back on. Just started the engine and seems to be idling a little high ... maybe the idle needs to be adjusted again after cleaning the IAC? I'm sure the little breathing? pin holes in the TB were completely clogged.

Do you think that corrosion is going to effect performance/fuel consumption?

thanks

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

did you cap off those connections on the TB? Could be sucking air in and messing with the AFR.

 

[duffbeer911]

nope! I thought they were meant to be open! What do they do?

 

[TheDurk]

nope! I thought they were meant to be open! What do they do?

They connect to the EGR valve on vehicles that have them, which are only pre-1996 5VZ-FE's, i.e. no 3G 4Runners. They were on early T100's for example. They need to be closed off on OBDII 5VZ-FEs with no EGR. I don't know what happens if they are open, but I suspect it is power-robbing, fuel economy robbing etc.

The FSM does suggest you spray throttle-body cleaner down those holes when you clean the throttle-body, but tells you to replace the caps.

 

[duffbeer911]

ok thanks ... I'll find some caps to block those tubes.

Unfortunately today the vehicle had a couple episodes of hard starting so maybe it isn't the IAC causing the main issues. i think my next things to check are plugs, leads and fuel pump.