Hi all,

I have a 2003 Honda Accord with the 2.4L engine, just had a 20,000 mile checkup, and the honda mechanic told me that there is carbon buildup around the throttle that is preventing a plate from fully closing after I touch the gas... and he said for $90 he could clean it up. I don't know much about engines, but it sounds like a problem for a car with 120k miles, not 20k. He said it was a "poor design" by honda.

Has anyone had this problem? Is it really a poor design? If so, shouldn't honda fix it for free?

Thanks,
Mike

 

There is no reason why that throttle plate shouldn't close all the way, unless you were driving with a really dirty air filter.

Even if what the mechanic says is true, you can get "Throttle Body Cleaner" from Walmart for like 2 dollars, and slowly spray it in the throttle body (with the intake off, of course) and the car running.

$90! Ha!

 

Throttle Body Cleaner and Seafoam. I feel so bad when I use it, cause the engine sounds like crap, especially w/ Seafoam. But it's much better afterwards.

 

I drive a 98 Accord LX and a couple weeks ago my car stalled in the middle of driving. The local shop I brought it to took a full day to finally diagnose that it was carbon buildup on the throttle body and in the vacuum lines. Today the same thing happened my car stalled and I had to get it towed. Does this sound like a problem with carbon buildup on the throttle body again or something else? I'm getting ready to get this Seafoam stuff to if it'll help. You help is appreciated, thanks.



Modified by SDchargers at 10:57 PM 11/4/2005

 

I don't think Seafoam will clean the throttle body unless you use it in ways I'm not familiar with. Just get aerosol throttle body cleaner -- it works wonders and you'll clean a lot of black stuff out.

EDIT: Seafoam is good stuff, though, and worth using just for general benefits.

 

90 bucks is rediculouse to clean a little carbon off your throttle body, diy

 

he is just trying to upsell a t-body cleaning..... you dont need it.

 

I'll do it for $80