What is with used Mustang GT (4.6) prices?

[Throckmorton]

 

[Throckmorton]

I disconnected the battery for 45 minutes but didn't get a chance to recalibrate. The idle seems fine now. I'll do the actual recalibration once I clean the throttle body but that's weird that just resetting the computer helped.

 

[Throckmorton]

Is there any way to tell if the car has a non-stock tune? The PO put on Magnaflow mufflers which makes me think it's the kind of person who might tune it... But the intake is stock. Maybe I should just GET a tuner and do an 87 octane tune that maximizes highway mpg etc.

http://www.brenspeed.com/05-08-mustang-custom-tuning-sct-x3.html

 

[Throckmorton]

Going to clean my TB tomorrow so I was looking up whether I can just use isopropyl. Somebody on a forum said it would dry out the rubber... I was skeptical so I looked up what's in TB cleaner. Mostly acetone, which I'm pretty sure will damage rubber much more than alcohol (FYI) http://www.crcindustries.com/faxdocs/msds/5078.pdf

 

[Zenmervolt]

Going to clean my TB tomorrow so I was looking up whether I can just use isopropyl. Somebody on a forum said it would dry out the rubber... I was skeptical so I looked up what's in TB cleaner. Mostly acetone, which I'm pretty sure will damage rubber much more than alcohol (FYI) http://www.crcindustries.com/faxdocs/msds/5078.pdf

Throttle body cleaner is for cleaning the throttle body with the throttle body removed from the car. Properly removed and stripped down, there should be no plastic or rubber to worry about.

ZV

 

[phucheneh]

Throttle body cleaner is for cleaning the throttle body with the throttle body removed from the car. Properly removed and stripped down, there should be no plastic or rubber to worry about.

ZV

He's got an '06; it's gonna be throttle by wire. He can yell at you if he tries to take the throttle module apart.

I've cleaned plenty of electronic throttles with brake clean, TBQH.

It's just all in using sane amounts of cleaner for the application. Which is to say, very little. Dampen a rag, wipe the carbon away. Repeat until clean.

 

[Throckmorton]

He's got an '06; it's gonna be throttle by wire. He can yell at you if he tries to take the throttle module apart.

I've cleaned plenty of electronic throttles with brake clean, TBQH.

It's just all in using sane amounts of cleaner for the application. Which is to say, very little. Dampen a rag, wipe the carbon away. Repeat until clean.

Why brake cleaner? That stuff has chemicals that release chlorine when it gets hot I believe. I like to use the least toxic option whenever possible

 

[Throckmorton]

I went to the mechanic and got my 6 quarts of Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5W-30 put in for $12! Apparently that is one of only 2 true synthetic oils sold in the USA (Amsoil sells the other). I thought about getting my ramps from my brother's house on the other side of Houston and doing it myself, but then I saw where the filter is... much harder to get to than the BMW which has it right up front.

So far the engine has not blown up with 5W-30... Most likely placebo effect but I think it's quieter.

 

[Zenmervolt]

He's got an '06; it's gonna be throttle by wire. He can yell at you if he tries to take the throttle module apart.

I had an '06 too.

Just pull off the airbox and then it's four bolts and an electrical connector to get the throttle body off the intake manifold. Dead simple.

Video (not me, but an '06 Mustang GT): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vMaHcYQ91E

ZV

 

[Throckmorton]

I had an '06 too.

Just pull off the airbox and then it's four bolts and an electrical connector to get the throttle body off the intake manifold. Dead simple.

Video (not me, but an '06 Mustang GT): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vMaHcYQ91E

ZV

Yeah but I still wouldn't want to use chemicals that damage plastic and are very toxic, unless isopropyl turns out not to be strong enough.

 

[phucheneh]

I had an '06 too.

Just pull off the airbox and then it's four bolts and an electrical connector to get the throttle body off the intake manifold. Dead simple.

Video (not me, but an '06 Mustang GT): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vMaHcYQ91E

ZV

Oh, yeah, removal of the assembly is pretty much a must. I thought you were talking about pulling the TPS out of it.

Throck, I tend to use brake clean on everything because it dissolves all the stuff you typically need it to: any kind of oil, carbon, grease/grime in general...

And it dries clean. I dunno what the technical difference between 'carb/choke' cleaner and 'brake parts' cleaner is, but the former leaves a film. Also, I was simply saying that I used brake clean; not really recommending it. More just making a point that I don't really think it's the type of solvent used that kills throttles; it's the cleaning technique.

Using tiny amount of brake cleaner on a rag is far less likely to cause issues than just hosing it down with 'electronics safe' throttle cleaner. You should not have to worry about electronics (or plastic) because all you're doing is rubbing a rag in the aluminum bore and on the throttle plate itself. The only place for cleaner to get into anything is through the bore that the throttle shaft runs through. That's why I say use a rag that is damp, not soaked. If applying pressure to said rag makes liquid run everywhere, it's too wet.

 

[leper84]

Never seen throttle body cleaner cause any issues ever unless some brain trust tries to clean a maf with it. Great stuff for finding vacuum/intake leaks too.

This works better for cleaning than a rag, good reason to buy a new one for yourself-

 

[phucheneh]

...is that your picture?

Brushes don't hold onto their liquid like a rag does. Then add to that the fact that everything is going to run towards that hole right above the electronics...bad illustration, IMO.

Keep the throttle shaft horizontal during cleaning.

 

[leper84]

...is that your picture?

Brushes don't hold onto their liquid like a rag does. Then add to that the fact that everything is going to run towards that hole right above the electronics...bad illustration, IMO.

Keep the throttle shaft horizontal during cleaning.

Thats google images, but I don't see whats wrong with it.

Its pretty easy. Spray throttle cleaner, clean with brush, spray throttle cleaner, clean with brush. The brush helps get into the tight spots and if the carbon is really cooked on there. The throttle cleaner will not hurt the electronics. Not unless you let it soak for hours and even then I'd be skeptical with modern electronics. It should take a grand total of 5 minutes to clean it out and start the engine. You don't even really need to un-bolt the throttle. Not. Rocket. Science.

 

[phucheneh]

Not. Rocket. Science.

Yet you're not getting it.

You do not spray cleaner into the throttle. Or, well...you can, if you really want to.

But don't advise other people to do it. Cleaner goes on rag. Rag cleans throttle. Not. Rocket. Science.

 

[leper84]

Yet you're not getting it.

You do not spray cleaner into the throttle. Or, well...you can, if you really want to.

But don't advise other people to do it. Cleaner goes on rag. Rag cleans throttle. Not. Rocket. Science.

So exactly what will happen if you spray it in the throttle? What horrible thing will happen?

Guess what, techs across the country, across the world are dumping cans of cleaner straight into throttlebodies every single day, without a single consequence. As long as you know how to re-learn the throttle afterwards, nothing bad is going to happen. There is no reason so be so OCD about it.

Reminds me of bobistheoilguy forums.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Oh, yeah, removal of the assembly is pretty much a must. I thought you were talking about pulling the TPS out of it.

Yeah. I say just shroud the plastic connectors with a cloth and you're good to spray like he did. I'd really only be worried about the cleaner sitting in the rubber intake boot or something like that.

ZV

 

[phucheneh]

Guess what, techs across the country, across the world are dumping cans of cleaner straight into throttlebodies every single day, without a single consequence.

No, they're not. Quit spreading dumbass misinformation.

 

[leper84]

No, they're not. Quit spreading dumbass misinformation.

Find me a single example of throttle body cleaner conclusively burning out a sensor or hydro-locking a motor. Just one.

I have not once, never, ever, ever, ever seen one single tech- from a C tech making 15/hr to a L1 diagnostic genius making $38/hr- not one single one ever, ever, ever remove a throttle body to clean it. Not one single time has it ever caused an issue. Maybe where you work is some magical freakin fairytale land where you can waste all the time you want and still get fed 60 hours a week- but in the real world how you do it is not how its done.

Is how you do it wrong? No. Is it really necessary? Hell no.

 

[Throckmorton]

Find me a single example of throttle body cleaner conclusively burning out a sensor or hydro-locking a motor. Just one.

I have not once, never, ever, ever, ever seen one single tech- from a C tech making 15/hr to a L1 diagnostic genius making $38/hr- not one single one ever, ever, ever remove a throttle body to clean it. Not one single time has it ever caused an issue. Maybe where you work is some magical freakin fairytale land where you can waste all the time you want and still get fed 60 hours a week- but in the real world how you do it is not how its done.

Is how you do it wrong? No. Is it really necessary? Hell no.

Well I haven't gotten around to it, but it seems really easy to remove on the Mustang. Just 4 bolts and it's off

 

[phucheneh]

Find me a single example of throttle body cleaner conclusively burning out a sensor or hydro-locking a motor. Just one.

I have not once, never, ever, ever, ever seen one single tech- from a C tech making 15/hr to a L1 diagnostic genius making $38/hr- not one single one ever, ever, ever remove a throttle body to clean it. Not one single time has it ever caused an issue. Maybe where you work is some magical freakin fairytale land where you can waste all the time you want and still get fed 60 hours a week- but in the real world how you do it is not how its done.

Is how you do it wrong? No. Is it really necessary? Hell no.

You. Are. Clueless.

I've never seen an actual mechanic attempt to clean a throttle by hosing it down while it was on the car. Not once, never, ever, ever, ever.

And if you'd like to know about throttles dying during cleaning, call this little company called 'Volvo.' Or Magneti Marelli.

Not that it hasn't happened with every make out there.

Also, LOL, who brought up 'hydrolocking'?

edit to add: Let's think about it this way. When you're making an argument for something based on 'I've never personally witnessed...' and the other side is 'I have personally witnessed...'

The issue becomes kind of moot. Because your argument is logically absurd. Your best defense at this point would involve you immersing your throttle body in liquid, the immediately putting it back on the car, plugging it in, and seeing what happens. And no, 'but I'm not immersing it when I spray cleaner in it!' is not a valid defense, either. A small amount of liquid shorting the right bits together will equal throttle death. To cover all possible scenarios...immerse.

Hey, one time I dropped a turned-on phone into a bucket of water and it survived. Therefore all phones are immune to water.

 

[Zenmervolt]

And if you'd like to know about throttles dying during cleaning, call this little company called 'Volvo.' Or Magneti Marelli.

I agree with you about not spraying throttle body cleaner blindly into the intake (I've seen it dissolve plastic parts too), but if you're talking about the Magneti Marelli electronic throttle modules in the '99-'01 S70 series cars, those things would fail if you looked at them funny. They were a defective design and while improper cleaning may have exacerbated things, in those cases it was always a matter of when the part would fail, not if.

ZV

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Here is how I've cleaned mine before (2008 Mustang) when I was having some idle issues once. Take the air intake tube off where it meets the throttle body..

1. Get an old shop rag that's not stupid dirty and soak it down real good with carb/choke cleaner.

2. "Gently" press open the butteryfly's - it's stepper motor driven so you can damage things if you get too rough.. Just use some common sense here and you'll be fine.

3. Rub your dampened rag around the openings where the buildup is and wipe down the front and rear of the butterflies.

4. Re-assemble air intake tube

(p.s.. I never removed my TB)

Then...

Get yourself an oil separator (catch can) and plumb it into the PCV system between the Driver's side valve cover and the Air Intake tube to cut down all the nasty blow-by these engines like to churn up.
(Might I suggest a Stefs #5128 )

Dishes = DONE!

 

[Throckmorton]

I just cleaned mine with shop towels and isopropyl. I removed it completely. There wasn't much carbon... just a thin film. There is still some left behind because isopropyl doesn't dissolve it well, but I don't think it was causing any problems. The butterflies could move easily even when it was completely dirty.

The hardest part was getting the electrical connectors off. You have to pull the red sliders back and then press down on the clips uncovered by the red sliders.

 

[Throckmorton]

I just tried to replace one of my foglight bulbs and failed. You have to remove a plastic shroud held on by 6 plastic body fasteners. Well you can't remove them without breaking them. Seriously? A routine task like replacing foglight bulbs requires replacement of disposable fasteners? So I have to go to a parts store and buy these stupid things before I can change a damn bulb? I guess that's the difference between German and American cars. Big jobs are easier on American cars but simple jobs are difficult on American ones, unless I guess you replace parts with expensive billet aluminum aftermarket pieces made by some guy named Chip Shelby or whatever.