IAC cleaner

[FX1]

Can i use brake cleaner for cleaning my IAC or will it damage the seals? or wd40? thanks

[jdiding]

brake clean is just fine

[BODYMAN]

Yeah will be fine. I use carb cleaner myself.

[fastblackmerc]

I use brake clean on the brakes.

I use throttle body cleaner on the throttle body and IAC.

I use MAF cleaner on the MAF.

Why do you suppose there are different cleaners for different parts?

[MOTOWN]

Carb cleaner will work fine! been using it for years with no problems!

[Siege]

I used throttle body cleaner since I had it available.

Cleaning the IAC got me another 3K miles before I needed to replace it with a new one.

I probably won't bother next time and will just buy a replacement.

[FX1]

Thanks guys. I'm picking up some throttle cleaner today. I've got slight hesitation when getting hard on the gas and the idel some time jumps from 1.5-2 when the Ac on while coasting around 50 mph. I hope this might fix it.

[racorcey]

I use brake clean on the brakes.

I use throttle body cleaner on the throttle body and IAC.

I use MAF cleaner on the MAF.

Why do you suppose there are different cleaners for different parts?

There goes Jim again, in the guise of Captain Obvious! :) Actually, Jim is correct - there are different volitile compound levels in each of the cleaners mentioned.

The MAF cleaner has virtually no volitile compounds since the wires inside the MAF sensor can be easily destroyed.

The next lesser volitile compound cleaner is the throttle body cleaner - and even that eats away at the special coating applied to the throttle body plates.

However - a stitch in time saves nine, if it's really necessary. The throttle body cleaner is supposed to remove primarily the carbon build up on the blades - the same problem that occurs in the IAC.

I agree with the other member that, even if you're successful in cleaning out the IAC pintle valve of carbon, likely it just buys you a little time. The IAC motor is what is known as a "stepper" motor, and, while it still conforms to working like a motor, it moves in steps as little as 0.8 degrees. After so many million "steps" over the miles, the motor just wears out, and doesn't respond as quickly as it did when new.

I had to replace mine too....the cleaning only delayed the inevitable.

[jdiding]

i use brake cleaner on everything but the maf sensor since he asked about the iac and since they get nice and gooey from pvc system sludge the brake cleaner works great since it is meant to eat oils and such.

[racorcey]

i use brake cleaner on everything but the maf sensor since he asked about the iac and since they get nice and gooey from pvc system sludge the brake cleaner works great since it is meant to eat oils and such.

I agree that brake cleaner is very good for a lot things - and definately not as volatile as, say, carb cleaner. However, as an electrical engineer who has spent most of his life using many cleaners, especially on automotive electrical parts, it has been my experience that sometimes even cleaners with low amounts of volatile compounds can cause other problems - even though they get the grime out. Hence, Jim's comments above about the different cleaners.

The pintle valve on the IAC is a reasonably well calibrated device, and can handle a certain amount of carbon imbedded in it. However, once cleaned out with a cleaner strong enough to get rid of the carbon, the cleaner can leave "etch" marks which won't allow the pintle valve to function completely properly. Hence, the need for replacement, besides for IAC motor wear.

I know this is probably more than you'd like to know about the subject, and I'm not arguing how you use your favorite cleaner on your car. But you should at least be aware of the problems that can occur.

[RF Overlord]

I've got slight hesitation when getting hard on the gas...I hope this might fix it.Probably won't. The IAC has nothing to do with WOT. Its only purpose is to allow the car to idle at the correct speed regardless of the accessory load and when shifting from neutral to drive (or reverse).