How Do I Clean The Iat?

1999 Views 15 Replies 7 Participants Last post by green, Apr 14, 2004

trojan

Discussion Starter · Apr 10, 2004

ok my car shakes at idle and the RPM's dive and rise and sometimes it dies, it only does tis sometimes mostly when the car is warm or ive been driving for a while. any way i was reading around and they said if you clean this it can fix the problem. how do i clean it?

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silvapain

· #2 · Apr 10, 2004

Are you sure it's the IAT and not the MAF that they were talking about? To clean the MAF, just get some electrical contact cleaner, and spray the sensor. Make sure it's contact cleaner and NOTHING ELSE. Other cleaners will damage the sensor. This should help. The IAT isn't affected by dust and oil buildup. It just changes resistance with temperature, and oil or dust on it won't change its temperature.

3-fords1000

· #3 · Apr 11, 2004

I got some contact cleaner at Radio Shack for about $8. The computer said my truck was running lean and reading around here I noticed that K&N Filters can cause that due to the oil in the filters getting on the MAF. Fixed in right up.

silvapain

· #4 · Apr 11, 2004

The funny thing is, if you go to the K&N website, they have a page that states that they have tested many late model cars with MAF's and haven't found any issues with their filter oil messing up the MAF sensors.

shoz123

· #5 · Apr 12, 2004

Most people when they clean and reoil their air filters use too much oil. I always let mine sit for 24 hours before I reinstall it and only clean it about once every 2 years.

To clean the IAT you should take it off and just spray cleaner in both nostrils.

silvapain

· #6 · Apr 12, 2004

Originally posted by SHOZ123@Apr 11 2004, 08:25 PM
To clean the IAT you should take it off and just spray cleaner in both nostrils.

What nostrils are you talking about? Are you thinking of the IAC?

shoz123

· #7 · Apr 12, 2004

Yes of course the IAC I got my acronyms mixed up.

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DayOff

· #8 · Apr 12, 2004

QUOTE

To clean the IAT you should take it off and just spray cleaner in both nostrils.[/b]

What kinda cleaner? Same contact cleaner?

KevinMarble

· #9 · Apr 12, 2004

Use any Carb/Throttle cleaner... be sure to thoroughly clean the T-Body & throttle plate real well also. It'll run like crap when you first start it back up, but should smoothe out fairly quickly. BE SURE to have LOTS of VENTILATION!!!! Those fumes from the burning cleaner are KILLER!!!!!!!

Bad stuff! If that doesn't take care of the problem, then you'll have to replace the IAC & gasket. Very common, but it's worth trying to clean first.

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silvapain

· #10 · Apr 13, 2004

DO NOT SPRAY TB CLEANER ON THE THROTTLE PLATE! There is a film on the THrotle Body plate, and if you ruin that film, the car won't idle properly. gently wipe the plate with a paper towel, but that's it.

It is fine to use TB cleaner on the IAC, though.

KevinMarble

· #11 · Apr 13, 2004

THAT'S B.S. !!!!!!!!!!!

I've been a FORD dealership technician for 12 years, & that has NEVER happened to me!!!!!!!!!! I' ve done that EXACT procedure hundreds of times & it ALWAYS works fine! Don't believe everything you've heard... that "coating" is ALOT tougher than you think!!! It'd take some serious acid or something FAR maore caustic than everyday throttle cleaner to ruin it! That said... YOU NEEDN'T use a whole can to do the job! I've done to my own vehicle a few times... NO PROBLEMS!!!

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silvapain

· #12 · Apr 13, 2004

I am going by what your boss, Ford Motor Company, states. It is funny that it's own mechanincs don't even follow it's directives.

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KevinMarble

· #13 · Apr 14, 2004

They also told people to only inflate the tires on their Explorers to 25PSI -Real smart! Wonder what REALLY caused all those tire failures?? Engineers aren't as Omnicient as you may think! Believe what you will, but "directives" don't matter when they don't fix cars! <_<

shoz123

· #14 · Apr 14, 2004

I've used just about everything to clean my TB plate. If it didn't get gummed up you wouldn't have to clean it. Use what you want. You are obviously more concerned than someone who never looks at it and will clean it when necessary.

silvapain

· #15 · Apr 14, 2004

Originally posted by KevinMarble@Apr 13 2004, 09:37 PM
They also told people to only inflate the tires on their Explorers to 25PSI -Real smart! Wonder what REALLY caused all those tire failures?? Engineers aren't as Omnicient as you may think! Believe what you will, but "directives" don't matter when they don't fix cars! <_<

believe me, I know engineers aren't omnicient. I am trying to become one. I was just trying to be funny, I hope I didn't tick you off.

green

· #16 · Apr 14, 2004

Originally posted by silvapain@Apr 13 2004, 07:22 AM
DO NOT SPRAY TB CLEANER ON THE THROTTLE PLATE! There is a film on the THrotle Body plate, and if you ruin that film, the car won't idle properly. gently wipe the plate with a paper towel, but that's it.

It is fine to use TB cleaner on the IAC, though.

I cleaned my throttle body with Air intake cleaner the brand I think was CRC I know it was something with three letters, and the can was mostly red. If you look at directions on the can it states that its safe for use on throttle bodies with coating or will not harm teflon coating or something to that effect.

don't use old school carb cleaner

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