I have finaly figured out what three separate mechanics could not. The throttleon my '94 SE would repeatedly get stuck at stop lights or just after merging onto the interstate. When I say stuck I mean that when I would go to press on the gas peddle my foot would be met with resistance. The peddle felt like it was stuck.

1st mech diagnosis: Your throttle body is worn and the plate inside is getting stuck in the fully closed position. He did a minor adjustment for free and said the cars computer should compensate for the change in air flow.

2nd mech diagnosis: Your throttle body is clogged with carbon build-up and you need to do a chemical cleaning. (Payed for that to be done)

3rd mech diagnosis: You had a piece of carbon in there that I cleaned out for free.

Well it was still sticking and I was getting tired of kicking my gas peddle just to get it un-stuck. So I took the tube from the air cleaner off ond looked inside myself. What I saw was a perfectly shiny interior. No carbon build-up. Everything looked perfect except .... ....I noticed that there was a jagged edge on the outside of the throttle body with what looked like half of a threaded hole left. From further investigation I determined that there are supposed to be two "posts/pins/?" protruding from the throttle body. The one on top stops the plate inside the tube in the full open position (when you floor it). The one the bottom (broken one with an apparent thread for an ajdustment screw) stops the plate inside when you let off the gas. With this one broken the plate inside rotates to a completely closed position and becomes wedged inside the throttle body tube because of the tight tolerances.

I am nowhere near being the kind of guy who works on his own car, but I was amazed that I figured out what three professionals missed. I also think it was a mechanic who broke it off. The problem started immediately after I had the injectors replaced. I am assuming that he broke it when he took the manifold off to get to the injectors. Of course he won't fess up. Probably doesn't even know he did it.

Solution: Can anyone suggest where I might get a throttle body for cheaper that the $300 - $400 that the dealer wants. Dealer parts are so expensive (IMHO).

 

junkyard; I've never really heard of this before so it's not a very common problem so you should be fine just getting a "new" tb from a junkyard

 

Hope those pieces fell out and no IN!!!

 

Yes, the two tabs are on the outside of the throttle body. The broken tab is probably laying on the floor of the service garage where my injectors were replaced.