Hey guys,
So over the winter the car went into limp mode momentarily a couple times after the throttle simply didn't respond to pedal input. Worst case scenario was a problem with the throttle mechanism itself, but after a little googling, this is not really a thing on the K engines. So I took the ***umption that maybe there was a little soot build up causing the throttle some issues opening as it should.
I bought this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wynns-1831014-54179-Intake-Cleaner/dp/B0056A1XGO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1518869843&sr=8-2&keywords=throttle+body+cleaner
It's super easy to remove the intake hose, just a couple of hose clamps, spray a liberal amount of cleaner in there and get to work with a rag. Note, it looked ok from the outside, but if you push the throttle body open, the dirt was mostly on the inside. There was ridge of soot around rim of the throttle body that was preventing it closing 100%. Probably only about 0.5mm worth, but if you pushed the throttle completely shut, it needed some encouragement to open again as it got wedged on the soot. I expect this is what caused my limp mode problems in the winter. Anyway, ten minutes spent cleaning and the worst of the soot was gone. There was still some build up that I doubt I'd get off without removing the throttle and soaking over night, but I managed to remove most of it and the throttle could move unhindered after that.
Left it a while to dry out. Took a little while to start up and there were some smelly fumes as it most likely burned off whatever cleaning fluid remained, but my goodness, she purred like a content big cat after this. Starts much nicer, throttle responds much better and the car feels much more alive than it did prior.
So the long and short of it is, if you're well past 100K like I am, take the preventative measure, spend 20 minutes and a tenner on some cleaning fluid and a rag and do your car a favour. Easy job, anyone could do it and it makes an instant and noticeable improvement to how the car feels.
Please Note: the edge of the throttle body is very sharp. I cut my hands in a couple of places, so please be careful.
So over the winter the car went into limp mode momentarily a couple times after the throttle simply didn't respond to pedal input. Worst case scenario was a problem with the throttle mechanism itself, but after a little googling, this is not really a thing on the K engines. So I took the ***umption that maybe there was a little soot build up causing the throttle some issues opening as it should.
I bought this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wynns-1831014-54179-Intake-Cleaner/dp/B0056A1XGO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1518869843&sr=8-2&keywords=throttle+body+cleaner
It's super easy to remove the intake hose, just a couple of hose clamps, spray a liberal amount of cleaner in there and get to work with a rag. Note, it looked ok from the outside, but if you push the throttle body open, the dirt was mostly on the inside. There was ridge of soot around rim of the throttle body that was preventing it closing 100%. Probably only about 0.5mm worth, but if you pushed the throttle completely shut, it needed some encouragement to open again as it got wedged on the soot. I expect this is what caused my limp mode problems in the winter. Anyway, ten minutes spent cleaning and the worst of the soot was gone. There was still some build up that I doubt I'd get off without removing the throttle and soaking over night, but I managed to remove most of it and the throttle could move unhindered after that.
Left it a while to dry out. Took a little while to start up and there were some smelly fumes as it most likely burned off whatever cleaning fluid remained, but my goodness, she purred like a content big cat after this. Starts much nicer, throttle responds much better and the car feels much more alive than it did prior.
So the long and short of it is, if you're well past 100K like I am, take the preventative measure, spend 20 minutes and a tenner on some cleaning fluid and a rag and do your car a favour. Easy job, anyone could do it and it makes an instant and noticeable improvement to how the car feels.
Please Note: the edge of the throttle body is very sharp. I cut my hands in a couple of places, so please be careful.