2.5L ('98-'01) Intermittent throttle. Can't drive it....Issue now rectified.

[Dirtman]

Glad you fixed it but just to clarify something here, throttle body/intake cleaner is NOT the same as MAF cleaner and should not be used as a substitute.

 

[DCman]

Glad you fixed it but just to clarify something here, throttle body/intake cleaner is NOT the same as MAF cleaner and should not be used as a substitute.

That's not what the guy at NAPA said, but I'll capitulate to your knowledge.
What's the difference between the two?

 

[Dirtman]

MAF cleaner is extremely mild and designed with one purpose, to not leave any residue of any kind whatsoever behind. Any trace of chemical residue left on the heated MAF wire can cause it to burn up.

Throttle body cleaner is much harsher and designed to simply clean crud. It's not as harsh as old fashion carb cleaner since it needs to be safe for plastic and teflon coatings but its still too harsh for a MAF sensor and will leave residue behind.

 

[DCman]

hmmm, my can of TBI cleaner acts and smells just like carb cleaner.
Learned something new, I guess.
I'll remember that next time. Thanks.

 

[franklin2]

Another comment on messing with these engine systems. The computer has the ability to "learn" and compensate for some sensors being off a little bit. It may have been way out with the old MAF sensor. And then you put the new one in and it's slowly figuring out what happened and trying to compenate for that change. So you may find it takes a couple of drive cycles and it runs better and better each time.