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I asked the service manager yesterday when I took my Baja in for it's airbag replacement about this intermittent bucking issue I encounter from time to time that I have mentioned in the past. This happens with my foot barely on the accelerator. Usually around 2700 rpms in 3rd gear. The weird thing is this also happens worse after topping off the fuel tank.  Which seems totally unrelated.

 

But because the ECU is not flashing any codes, they said it maybe hard to track down and a throttle body cleaning would be the first thing they would do.

 

I told him I thought about doing this but read using the wrong cleaner might damage some of the sensors.

 

He said they take a pair of forceps and gauze (for lack of a better term) soaked with an alcohol based solution and wipe the throttle body with the throttle open instead of using a spray cleaner. They wanted an hour service work to do this which I could do myself.

 

Any other recommendations on what I could do cleaning any other sensors mounted into the air cleaner or throttle body? 

 

What could I use that wouldn't damage any of these sensors?

 

I figured using rubbing alcohol or lacquer thinner would be safe to wipe the inside of the throttle body. Should I wipe any of the other sensors? There is one mounted in the air cleaner box adjacent to the PVC hose coming off the valve cover on the passenger side. I'm guessing that sensor might be the ambient air temperature sensor and could be easily gunked with blow-by being so close to it. The one mounted in the throttle body is probably the manifold pressure sensor?

 

 

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I used a specific  aerosol spray foam  cleaner on / inside  throttle body also sprayed into PCV valve (also cleaned) hole in inlet manifold with engine running to clean upper cylinders etc -   can't remember  which brand   - have read people here use use "seafoam"

Apart from doing basics like replacing spark plugs, air filter etc  it could a vacuum hose  issue and like you said a sensor playing up.

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Not only have I recently done my BAJA TB but have done countless over the past 30 years using aerosol based carb cleaner. Never an issue. Alcohol is not going to cut the carbon buildup that is commonly found in TB's. I personally use a very soft toothbrush, use a screwdriver handle or wooden dowl to hold the butterfly open, then using the carb cleaner and the brush gently do the job. I guess a piece of gauze could also be used. Ive owned several vehicles where we personally put well over 400k on them, and clean all my tb's about every 60k, never any issues, never any damage to tb or any sensors. You may want to also consider a bottle of STP fuel system cleaner in your next full tank of gas, many also mention Marvel Mystery or Seafoam.. Personally always good luck with the STP. The PVC valve may also have a bit of carbon buildup that might cause erratic running but in the case of that one would just replace. The sensor that is mounted into the Breather housing did not appear to have any sort of anything that could be cleaned on my Baja, probably some sort of IAT ( Intake air temp)

 

Use nitrile or similar type gloves when using carb cleaner, that stuff is on many a carcinogen list.

Edited by mkc1962
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