throttle body heater issue

[77dino]

I have finally dug in to my spider 2000 to try to find out why I am not getting a spark... When I took off my Air intake line, fluid came out!!! Down into the spark plug area. I had noticed some fluid sitting around my plugs but had thought it was oil seeping up from a bad seal, but I now guess it was radiator fluid from my throttle body heater. Does anyone have any thoughts on a fix for the heater it seems like it is much corroded underneath so it must be weeping fluid? Thanks for any thoughts.
Scott

[rlux4]

Some people have bypassed the heater with no adverse affects. The problem you may have is corrosion may have eaten through the top of the throttle body. I don't see how coolant could bet into the air boot otherwise. If that's the case the coolant would be pulled into the intake when the engine is turning over. That problem would have to be addressed.
Ron

[bradartigue]

I'm struggling with comprehending this one, you took off the big air hose and there was radiator fluid in it, and there is fluid in the spark plug holes? It is feasible that the plenum heater is leaking into the air intake, but the flow would be into the engine and, unless it is a lot of fluid, it would turn to steam. Makes me wonder why you see fluid in the spark plug holes.

At the very least remove the big hose and clean any fluid out of it, then plug the plenum heater by removing the lines and capping them. Determine if it eliminates the fluid you're seeing. If it does then inspect the heater, if there are holes in it then you'll have an air leak. The plenum heater is just about worthless unless it is extremely cold and you're concerned about ice forming around the throttle assembly; you can seal it shut with JB weld or silicone. Just wait for the junk to dry before driving it!

[majicwrench]

I would never just bypass/plug heater. It is NOT just for extreme cold. Extreme cold, there is almost no moisture in air, thus no ice to form The worse situation is a foggy, 30-50 degree F day.
I too am a bit confused (happens a lot) but suspect that what you see in plugs and in boot are two diff things. The fluid in boot is coolant, yes??
Keith

On second reading of your post, why are you looking in boot to fix a no spark?? Make it spark, makeit run.

[bradartigue]

I would never just bypass/plug heater. It is NOT just for extreme cold. Extreme cold, there is almost no moisture in air, thus no ice to form The worse situation is a foggy, 30-50 degree F day..

I'm ignorant here because the heater doesn't really work until the engine is hot, and if the engine is hot then the area around the throttle is hot. Or is just trying to bump up the heat of the incoming air a notch or two? It would seem it does very little given the speed of the incoming air, but perhaps a little is enough.

We don't really any conditions "down here" that justify the device (even the aux air regulator is questionable except the four days it actually gets cold). Certainly I would say your first course of action should be to find a replacement plenum and be done with yours, especially if there is enough corrosion to leak.

[131]

I'm ignorant here because the heater doesn't really work until the engine is hot, and if the engine is hot then the area around the throttle is hot.

The coolant may not be "hot", but within a very short time of starting the engine it will be above freezing point of atmospheric moisture. A few years back I had freezing issues with my 34 ADFA carb, to the point of throttle shafts sticking, outside temperature was about 40 deg F. It was only rectified when I supplied warm air to the air cleaner from the exhaust manifold.

[majicwrench]

131 is correct. The throttle body is about the last place to actually get engine heat, so it needs coolant to warm it up. And icing can happen even with engine at operating temp, up here in the NW corner of Nowhere any day of the year can be 40deg and foggy, so having functional carb/throttle body heat is essential.
I might have to try living somewhere warm, you would learn a lot about cars overheating...
Keith

[alsgro]

Hi, guys. I had the same problem just recently, except my throttle body heater had corroded and developed tiny pin holes in its top and sides. I noticed steam one day while I was trying to parallel park. Opened the hood, and got a nice spray in the forehead!

Anyway, I found a brass coupling in my toolbox and just connected the two hoses that lead to it. The car does take a few more minutes to warm up, but I live in Los Angeles, so it hasn't been much of an issue...

Incidentally, I called IAP to see if they had the part, and they said it hasn't been made since 2002 or so.

[azruss]

my little brass tank would leak and fill a couple of spark plug holes. It wouldnt leak when the car was running and up to temp. when i turned it off and watched it for a half hour, it still wouldnt leak. 3 hours later, no leaky. By morning, spark plug holes filled. Being in the desert, i just changed out the heater tube and took the thing off. No more leaky.

[77dino]

Thanks for the ideas... This sounds like a common issue and I think I will do the same bypass loop mentioned and take it off tomorrow. I live in NC and it does get cold but this is a garaged car and drives on pretty days only. So I guess I will take the risk of not having it. Thanks again and I will report any issues after the work is done!!!
Scott