'05 SLE Throttle Issue

jrwsound

My 2005 SLE has developed an issue that I am wondering if anyone would be so kind as to address.

Upon starting the car and putting it into gear, the gas pedal seems stuck or tight. I have to press it a little more firmly to break it free which caused the car to jolt forward. After this, it isn't an issue again until I shut the car off and restart it later. It does this every time from cold startup.

Any ideas of what might be causing this and how to correct it? Thanks!!

imidazol97

You've got oil vapor crud coated onto the throttle body area. When the car cools, the shrinkage causes the throttle plate to be a tight fit and you get drag from the carbonlike goop. Hot and the dimensions change or the goop gets soft.

Take off the air cleaner box. Remove the honeycomb grill over the end of the metal throttle body by removing the snap ring around it. Then with two paper clips for hooks pull the honey comb out. Have the throttle plate blocked open with a rock or foot on the accelerator pedal. Use a cloth and wooden stick to clean the inside by spraying solvent for air intakes onto the cloth and swabing.

I've tried a toothbrush. The plastic brush pieces came loose. So I follow the recommended wooden implement.

The real cleaning is to take the whole throttle body off the car, which is 3 screws holding it to the intake manifold. Needs new gasket when done. Best left to shop unless you are a 4 out of 5 on wrench scale.

For cleaning on the car, After cleaning throttle body. Take out the MAF and clean with spray gently on the two fine resistors. Then take out idle air control solenoid and clean the opening and with a cloth clean the pintle on the thing.

Should put life back the car now.

The goop comes from when the car is shut off the oil vapors in the crankcase are in the upper intake manifold and deposit as things cool. There is a tube from the PCV valve to the upper that carries the oil and goop to burn it off with the intake air.

ballstatefan05

I have a 05 SE and mine was doing the same thing. My mechanic sprayed some cleaner on the throttle plate and it fixed it. who knows for how long, but its been a couple months and it is still good to go.

jrwsound

Thanks to you both for these ideas! I'll give the spray a try to hopefully buy myself some time for the more detailed fix. Thanks again! :-)