I have a high mileage '04 so I tend to experience things prior to other '04 owners. Thought I would share my recent experience. I was experiencing rough idling at red light stops. RPM was around 500 - 550. Occasionally the RPM would jump to 700 or so. Also experienced slight hesitation on take off within a minute or two of a cold start. I took the car in to the dealership and they found that it was a dirty throttle body (carbon build-up). The service manager said he did not feel it was anything I had done (particular gas brand, etc.) but just one of those things. He said he had not seen a dirty throttle body on that new of a car before. Guess I am just lucky! Anyway, all is good now. Car idles at 750 RPM.

Now if I can replace those damn Avon tires and get Acura Customer Relations to call me back about my blown air compressor...

 

Is cleaning the throttle body something you could have done yourself?

 

Are you running a CAI?

Got any pics of the dirty TB?

 

No way that I would try and tackle that. I have read on here where some have done this but there are some pitfalls.

The service manager only charged me $115 including tax. He said it was a two hour job and the normal price would be in the neighborhood of $180. He has really been helpful and I think he sympathizes with my A/C plight.

 

no and no...sorry!

 

I remember in older cars cleaning a throttle boddy basically just had you running the car with the hose to the airbox removed and spraying TB cleaner in while the car was reved. I wonder with newer cars with more sensors in the air intake tract if this may not be the best idea. If you had to take the TB off you'd need to deal with the coolant lines and leaking fluid.

 

PS I would speculate that the majority of throttle body buildup is due to recirulated exhaust gas via the PCV valve. That's exactly why JTSO installed his oil catch can so he could easily get rid of it prior to clogging up the intake manifold.