Has anyone used Ballistol to clean IACV?

[bgoodwill]

My '92 240 has a cold start problem. I think it's an IACV or air regulator issue because it helps to depress the accelerator to start it. I was going to take the IACV off and clean it but I can't even find the first staple to disconnect the thing, much less get in there and get it off the car. So I tried to "ghetto" clean it by spraying carb cleaner through the air line, but no change. Then I read online about Ballistol, which is being touted as a wonder worker. Has anybody used this? Can you safely spray it into the air line like the carb cleaner?

[danshaz82]

not sure that would really do much. only way to get it that clean is to take it off and clean it out.
it is kind of trickey to get in there, especially if you still have the EGR on there. but its definitely doable. nothing too intimidating.
heres some help in getting if off and cleaning it
iacv-aac-cleaning-and-testing-tutorial-t251133.html
if you need more info, just google ka24de IACV cleaning/removal.

[bgoodwill]

Okay, thanks for the advice.
And I did read that tutorial earlier and thought it sounded like something I could do, but when I looked at my car, I couldn't even find the staple to take the blue electrical connector loose. Maybe if I get that figured out the rest will come easier.

[danshaz82]

if its what im thinking of, it is kind of tricky cause of that little metal staple looking clip thing. i always hate taking those off.
it might even be easier to just take the iacv off with the connector still plugged in, cause that way youll be able to move it around to get a better angle on it.

[bgoodwill]

I think I'll try that. The tutorial says disconnect it first, but I just read a different thread I found through Goggle search that said to take the bolts out first, then you can get to the connectors more easily. It truly can't be all the hard, right? lol So I'll keep at it.
Thanks again for your help.

[mechanicalmoron]

I can personally attest to spraying carb cleaner in the hose not working. Like, at all.

I'm afraid to even try monkeying with it, I can't see or reach back there well enough to think I could deal with any complication that arose.

However, as to the type of hose clamp that's just a ring of spring steel, just use a pair of pliers to squeeze the tabs together, slide it up the hose a few inches, and let it rest there while you work. Easy.

[bgoodwill]

It's not the hose clamp that's the problem (well, maybe that will be a problem, too, if I get that far....). There's supposed to be some kind of little staple thing on the 2 electrical connections that have to be removed in order to pull those connectors apart. I can see the blue connector (barely) but I can't see any staple or any other way to get the connector to release. The tutorial says to release that blue connector before I take out the bolts but maybe if I remove the bolts first instead, I'll get enough wiggle room to see the connector better. I guess the worst that can happen is I pull the bolts, still can't get the electrical pieces to come loose and just put the bolts back in to take it to someone who knows what they're doing.

[mechanicalmoron]

Ahh right, I know the type then, like on the mafs.

Now that you mention it, I think I remember being able to see that on my iacv. Maybe yours is missing the staple part?