amrit

I noticed that when I start the car on mornings or when I start the car after it's been parked for a while, maybe for about 3hrs or more, the gas pedal sticks. It's like it's really stiff but when the car warms up enough, it's ok and normal.

Could this be the choke? That's what my mechanic told me and that I should change it. What's the choke really?

pass the peas

Sticky gas pedal is more likely from a dirty throttle valve (throttle plate). I'm not even sure if the protege has an actual choke, but the throttle valve is similar to a choke, maybe that's what your mechanic meant. You can clean it with a toothbrush and spray cleaner. Carb cleaner can damage the throttle plate, so use a cleaner specifically for throttle plates.

Anarchistchiken

We have fuel injected cars. FI=no choke. A choke is a device that adds more fuel to a carberateur to help it start up and get up to operating temp. Get some carb cleaner from a local auto parts store and spray your throttle body down and see if that helps.

amrit

Ok I understand what you guys are sayin' and it makes sense. But what exactly is the throttle body?? What does it look like and where is it located?

pass the peas

I borrowed your engine bay photo from your car domain:
The arrow points to the throttle body.

Loosen the clamp on the end of the hose so you can see inside the end of the throttle body.
There will be a big round plate that swivels back and forth right in the end. That's the throttle valve. It's probably covered with black carbon build up.
The manufacturers claim that it's got a special coating on it that the carb cleaner can damage, and suggest a cleaner specifically for throttle plates, but if you want to take your chances with carb cleaner, go for it! (edit: I personally do not use carb cleaner)

Spray the opening and the plate liberally with cleaner, open and close the valve, and you can scrub with a soft bristle toothbrush. spray it until the plate and the throttle body area around it rinses clean. If you start your car right after, it will probably rev like crazy, so you may want to wait until the cleaner evaporates.
Good luck!

amrit

Hey thanks alot pass the peas!

All I need now is a cleaner for the throttle plates and I'm ready to go cleaning!
Thanks again!
This probably saved me like $20TT if I had gone to the mechanic.

Anarchistchiken

I just want to make absolutely sure that you know this mean "rinses clean" with the cleaner, not water! If you spray anything more than a fine mist of water in the TB, you will have problems.

Anyway, let us know how it works out.

amrit

Ok thanks for the heads up Anarchistchiken.

Now I don't need to take off the throttle body right? I could just spray it with a cleaner and it'll be good?
Because I did some reading and I found out that if I take the throttle body off, I'll need to drain my coolant.

amrit

Is it safe to do this cleaning when the engine is warm or should I wait until it's cooled off really good, like first thing in the morning before I start it up?

pass the peas

For safety's sake, I would wait until the engine cools a bit. It doesn't have to be overnight cool, but you don't want to start a fire. You don't have to take the throttle body off, just the air inlet hose.

amrit

Ok thanks, but i think I'll do this on a Saturday before I go anywhere. That reminds me, I have to buy the cleaner first!

amrit

What exactly do you use? I went to an autoshop this morning and they had a cleaner for both carberateurs and FI. I think the brand was amsol, can't remember.
But I asked the guy if they had anything specifically for the throttle plates and he said not really and that I should ask my mechanic what he uses.

pass the peas

I use 3M throttle plate cleaner, but if the amsoil says it's for FI, you're fine.

amrit

Even if it's for both carbereutors and fi? I'm just really concerned about damaging the coating on the throttle plate. I know it won't be a major damage and that I'll just have to clean it more regular than before but I just don't want to remove the coating with a carb cleaner knowin' that I can avoid that.

amrit

I ordered the 3m throttle plate cleaner, just waitin' to get it now because this is gettin annoyin'! Everytime I pull off, I feel the car being pulled back and I can actually feel the car running sluglishly. Before it wasn't like that. On the note of this, those things that you can use in your gas before you full up, do those things really work or are they just a gimmick for ppl to spend money? Because I heard that it doesn't make sense to add those things to your gas before you full up. Is this true?