High Idling after spraying aerosol

Tiny
AXIS
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 HONDA CIVIC
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 318,750 MILES
I sprayed an aerosol( carburator throttle cleaner) this morning. When I started the engine, idling was high at 1300rpm even when the engine has reached operating temp. When the A/C is on it drops to 1000rpm. Car was fine before all this. I did not touch anything except spraying the throttle. CEL is on. No nearby workshop and they charge a lot for a scan.
There must me another way to trouble shoot this even without a scan tool.
Sunday, August 28th, 2011 AT 7:33 PM

10 Replies

Tiny
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For what reason did you use the carby cleaner for in the first place?
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Monday, August 29th, 2011 AT 2:06 AM
Tiny
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I have read read in some topics to clean the throttle body with a cloth or an aerosol. There was no problem before that.
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Monday, August 29th, 2011 AT 5:53 AM
Tiny
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Today it has become worse. Idling is at 1300 with or without A/C.
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Monday, August 29th, 2011 AT 5:55 AM
Tiny
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Check that you have not disturbed any vacuum hoses, check that the throttle body is closing off, open and re clean and check that the butterfly is closing fully off.
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Monday, August 29th, 2011 AT 6:27 AM
Tiny
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Checked all hoses and sensors connectors/wiring. Unhooked the battery a few minutes. The butterfly closes fully. Can the sensors be damaged by the carb cleaner?
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Monday, August 29th, 2011 AT 1:30 PM
Tiny
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Its weird, the car now is running normally. No more CEL. Just a few hours ago it was idling high and exhaust gas smells of unburned gas. It could happen again in the future, What is the best way to prevent this from happening again? Perhaps there is a sensor failing from time to time and needs to be replaced?
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Monday, August 29th, 2011 AT 9:18 PM
Tiny
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Idle Air Control Valve. Located on the front of the intake Manifold under the air cleaner. It has 2 lines coming out of it. Kind of hard to reach but it is probably your problem. I have had to clean them a few times on different models. Last week a 1997. Get a 10MM socket and remove carefully. Use carb cleaner and clean. When you cleaned the butterfly you probably knocked some carbon loose and it jammed the valve. May need to be replaced but cleaning worked for me.

I am not an expert. This is just my opinion.
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Tuesday, August 30th, 2011 AT 3:00 PM
Tiny
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I cleaned only one side, the one with the magnet. It seems little bit hard to turn. The other side is more difficult to remove. Ill try it later when the problem comes again, tnx
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Wednesday, August 31st, 2011 AT 6:55 PM
Tiny
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CEL came again early this morning. Idling is high and when I try to accelerate, it hesitates at first before it gives power. Fed up with the recurring problems, I removed the throttle body to get to the sensors.I opened the IAC and found a lot of carbon in it. Coolant lines is almost chocked. No more carb cleaner so I used gasoline. After assembly, the IAC is moving well except for a little roughness. Does it need to be lubricated? Now the CEL is gone but the idling speed does not drop to normal immediately, it takes 1 to two seconds delay before it idles normally. I can live with two seconds delay, no problem. Im just concerned if the problem comes again when im on a long drive. Should I get a new IAC or there is a more practical solution to my problem?
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Friday, September 2nd, 2011 AT 7:00 AM
Tiny
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A new IAC should solve the problem, I would look at this option.
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Friday, September 2nd, 2011 AT 7:27 AM

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