can I spray carb cleaner directly into the idle air control valve to clean it or will that fry it? I have the entire throttle body and flame trap apart so I took the IAC valve off as well and it does seem to have some crud in it.

thanks.

 

I did a search for cleaning IAC valves on this forum and on several occasions folks have cleaned it just by these means - simply spraying carb cleaner. Nothing adverse was said about it. I am thinking of doing the same to mine.

 

well, here is what I did:

1. took apart entire intake including taking throttle body off
2. took off IAC valve
3. took apart flame trap
4. took oil separator off and cleaned thoroughly

I cleaned everything extensively with carb cleaner, rags, etc. I also sprayed MAF sensor with specific MAF sensor cleaner. The throttle body had a lot of crud on it, cleaned it up with carb cleaner. The oil separator was absolutely nasty. Unfortunately all I could do was clean it out the best I could with what I had (carb cleaner) because I did not have another oil separator handy (not exactly a part you can get at your local parts store).

Reassembled everything and engine cranked first time, no problem. It sounded like a whole new car and I was extremely proud of myself, proud of my blackened fingernails, it was a manly experience. Man conquered engine, Tim "the Tool Man" Taylor grunt was on!

...but...now I have a check engine light on. Don't know the cause yet, I need to find somewhere to get the codes read.