throttle plate cleaning

[6erstang]

My 96 has a rough idle and it's getting on my nerves when I sit at lights. I went to PepBoys and bought some throttle body cleaner only to realize that my thottle body clearly states not to clean the throttle plate because of a protective coating. The stuff I bought (penzoil) claims that it won't remove protective coatings. Should I go ahead and use it anyway? I'm hesitant becauae i don't have any money right now. Does anyone have any info???

[Rick0636]

Use it. Use an old toothbrush, not the one you use on your teeth please, lol. spray and brush, spray and brush, til it comes clean, should help a lot. Wipe off what excess you can, any you can't will just evaporate or suck through the intake and burn in the engine. Actually I didn't even know they made tbody cleaner, I have always seen it done with spray carb cleaner. Just hold the the throttle open with the air intake removed, no need to remove the throttle body to do this, though I have heard of people that did it that way too.

[dapack69]

It could just be your TPS has carbon it. That'll cause a rough idle as well.

[Rick0636]

Might be I guess, but you can open the throttle plate and look to see it its coated in crud, and that will cause the problem.

[6erstang]

thanks for your help guys. will try. I don't think my TPS has carbon since I'm not experiencing any acceleration problems, but I'll check anyway--