Golf Mk4 1.6 SR Throttle Body Cleaning

[randall977]

Some friends of mine have a 1998 Mk4 Golf with a 1.6 SR engine, it kept stalling, so to help them out I cleaned the throttle body. After I had removed and cleaned it (with WD40 and a soft unabrasive cloth) the stalling stopped and all was well....apart from the revs creep up to 1500rpm while idling (after about 30 seconds it normally settles at 800rpm). I know WD40 isn't ideal and I did get the fault code reset after.

I don't totally understand why these throttle bodies play up but I assume that cleaning them stops air getting through when idling? My local specialist said I had probably ruined the throttle body because I had probably marked the surface? This doesn't sound right and I didn't mark the surface anyhow. There was however still a tiny bit of carbon around the edges of the throttle flap - could this be the problem?

Obviously I feel slightly guilty and I thought I might try cleaning it again - should I bother?

[Huweth]

Could be something as simple as any residual WD40 being burned off causing the revs to rise. We've all used WD40 to start older cars haven't we! I doubt it though. It could be that the WD40 has lubricated the flap too much and now it gets drawn ever so slightly open until the car re-adjusts the idle? How long has it been since you cleaned the throttle body?

[kev]

hello, the throttle body needs to be reset, if you disconnect it should be reset using computer equ. i would'nt feel bad. they do give throbble, just bad luck

[randall977]

Hi, the throttle body has been reset but the revs still creep up - they do come back down after about 30 seconds of their own accord. Thanks for the advice - think I will remove it again and give it a more thorough clean.