Poor throttle response

Tiny
FBZ22
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 2.2L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 148,000 MILES
Doing routine maintenance when I decided to clean throttle body. Sprayed carburetor cleaner into throttle body to remove gunk. Now car runs worse than ever. Hesitates and sputters. No codes. What is up?
Wednesday, February 28th, 2018 AT 1:58 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,873 POSTS
Two things to look for. Most likely the chemical damaged the delicate sensing element. That can affect its readings. There is a wide range of signal voltages that can be developed by a mass air flow sensor. That voltage has to go outside that acceptable range to be detected as a problem and a fault code to set, but the engine computer will accept any reading that is within the acceptable range, and use it for fuel metering calculations, even if those readings are wrong.

The second issue has to do with the fresh air tube. Check that there are no loose hose clamps or other leaks between the MAF sensor and the throttle body. If any air sneaks in that does not go through the sensor, it will not get included in the fuel calculations.
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Wednesday, February 28th, 2018 AT 6:22 PM
Tiny
FBZ22
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I have done some research and cant find a MAS. There is an idle control sensor IAC, manifold pressure sensor MAP, and a throttle position sensor TPS. In reality it acts like a vacuum leak, but I do not know.
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Wednesday, February 28th, 2018 AT 6:45 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,463 POSTS
If you sprayed regular carburetor cleaner into it you may have shot some into the TPS, I have seen that damage the resistor in them. It may have damaged the seal in the IAC as well.
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+1
Wednesday, February 28th, 2018 AT 7:04 PM
Tiny
FBZ22
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  • 6 POSTS
It sounds like that is a good place to start, to replace both the TPS and IAC.
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Wednesday, February 28th, 2018 AT 8:05 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,873 POSTS
Sorry that I read "mass air flow sensor" where you typed, "throttle body". That is the second time I did that this month. Once more and I am going to have to have a talk with myself.
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Wednesday, February 28th, 2018 AT 8:59 PM

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