Throttle Body Sensor

[wardenator]

Help! I have a 2001 QX4. On the Throttle Body, below the Air Intake Tube, there's a round black sensor. What is this Sensor called? I have clear oil dripping from around this. Do not know what this is, & I thought that all sensors are dry, but this one is wet? Vehicle runs great, just has this leak. Any ideas or suggestions on this would be appreciated.

[Towncivilian]

That would be the idle air control valve. It is not a sensor. See this exploded parts view. It appears there is an O-ring you can try replacing. The IACV just unscrews, it has two Phillips head screws. Unplug the battery before removing its wiring harness connector.

Clear oil? What does its consistency? What does it smell like? Do you have a picture? Try cleaning the area with brake cleaner and see if it reappears.

[wardenator]

Thanks for the great info. Now can I pull that out to replace that O-Ring w/o recalibrating the idle air control valve? It is clear oil, has no smell, has a thickness of engine oil, but is not dark like engine oil.

[Towncivilian]

I'm not sure whether you will need to perform the idle air volume relearn procedure after replacing the O-ring. The factory service manual says to perform the procedure if the IACV-AAC valve, throttle body, or ECM are replaced, or if the idle speed or ignition timing is out of specification. Either way, it's a simple procedure described on page EC-58 of the FSM.

I'm left wondering what exactly this "clear oil" is, though. I don't have any idea regarding what it could be.