Here is the latest tech bulletin from Ford regarding Throttle Body issues.

TSB 09-24-12

12/14/09

3.0L LOW IDLE/ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY CLEANING PROCEDURE
FORD:
2005-2007 Five Hundred, Freestyle

MERCURY:
2005-2007 Montego

ISSUE
Some 2005-2007 Freestyle, Five Hundred, Taurus and Montego vehicles equipped with the 3.0L engine may set a malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) code P0506 or P0505 or exhibit a low idle. This may be due to sludge buildup in the electronic throttle body (ETB).

ACTION
Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition.

SERVICE PROCEDURE
1. Disconnect the negative cable from the battery.

2. Follow Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-04 to remove the throttle body from the vehicle.


3. Use Motorcraft(R) Choke and Linkage Cleaner, spray the throttle body plate and bore. Using a small, soft, solvent resistant brush clean the edges of the throttle plate and the mating sur[ace of the throttle bore to remove all sludge build up. Reapply Motorcraft® Choke and Linkage Cleaner or equivalent. (Figures 1-2)

4. Clean with a lint-free cloth.

5. Inspect throttle body gasket and replace if damaged.

6. Follow WSM, Section 303-04 to install throttle body.

7. Connect ground cable on battery.

Excellent, thanks! I actually have my FS at my shop getting a code check on the ECm because I was getting a surge and a stall. I am seeing alot of posts that mention that a regular cleaning of the throttle body is the fix.

Hopefully I do not have a bad throttle control or body. Eitherway, this will become part of my my regular home maintence in the future!

Hi - My Ford 2005 Freestyle has 96k miles on it. Had the "failsafe engine mode" message come on Saturday when my car lurched forward and almost ran me in to a jewelry store window. I had the car running w/the air on high while I went inside, put it in reverse and it hopped, put it back in drive and it surged forward. The dealership is telling me the throttle body needs replaced and cannot be cleaned. They said I have to wait 30-60 days for the part and my car is not safe to drive. I asked for a loaner car and the dealership told me to call Ford Customer Service. Ford Customer Service said to call the dealership back (runaround). Not sure what to do now? Is the car safe to drive if I clean the throttle body?

It worth trying to clean the Throttle body and MAS.
It may even solve the problem. If problem persist after cleaning, then it may need replacement!

I replaced my air filter, removed and cleaned the MAF and "scrubbed" the TB clean.

Have not had another surge issue in the last week or so. It was pretty common for us to have it prior to the components being cleaned.

I have a 2006 Limited AWD that started doing this exact thing several weeks ago. After sitting and idling for a while, put it in reverse and it surges like you are stepping on the accelarator then stalls and sets the CVT light (orange wrench). If engine dosen't stall then it runs in "Safemode" until you restart the engine.

Dealer wanted $850.00 + tax to replace throttle body. They offered to clean it for $300. Think I will try to clean it myself. Anybody have pics or comments on a "DIY" job?

I've been trying to include the pictures from the Tech Bulletin in the first post, but the link keeps failing. I don't know how to attach a picture directly in a post. Any ideas?

If you have saved the original picture from the TB, you can attach them with the Upload attachment under the Post a reply window. Browse to your file, then select Add the File, and then from just under the Post a reply window, click:Place Inline.
You should then have your jpg/png under your text, or wherever you have placed your cursor in the post window, like this.



Your are limited to 256kb.

If you haven't a saved image, then right click on the image and save to file. Paint can be used to convert images to jpg or png for uploading.

Thanks LarryGB. I added them to the first post. We'll see if they stay there for more than a day.

And check out my attempt at this project: http://ourfordfreestyle.blogspot.com/20 ... nance.html

Excellent post. The pictures are great. Definitely takes some of the anxiety out of the job when you can see it with such detail.

Thanks so much for the topic!

I just started to facing this problem, we have extreme heat now here in Moscow + smoke all over the place. After recieving 3 ODB codes at my mechaniks ("check engine" lamp ignite after couple of uncommon accelerations on idling) I thought that I will lost another thousand dollars for repair.

Thank you so much again!

In the cleaning of the Throttle Body, is it necessary to remove it
from the vehicle ?

I have cleaned mine a couple of times. I turn on the ignition but do
not start the motor. Then I put a weight on the gas pedal sufficient
to open the throttle valve about half way.

Then I clean both sides of the plate as best able, along with the mating
surfaces. So far, I have done it this way twice with no ill effects that I
am aware of.

Comments please,

Ken H.

For the ease of taking out 4 bolts, albeit torx screws, I would suggest you remove it. The "coking" that goes on behind the butterfly by the EGR, can also affect the symptoms that one might experience. When I removed mine, there was more buildup on the throttle "body" behind, than there was actually on the plate. And with the types of cleaners that you might use, I would be a little leary to just spray them into the intake, as others have suggested. So, removed from the vehicle, and given the ability to now "soak" the inner throat of the body, I would personally recommend the removal for best overall cleaning and performance.

Cleaned the throttle body yesterday -the high RPM effect on idling only getting worse. What I did wrong?

The mechanic cleaned the throttle body, changed the air filter and after all the maintance when I drove out the service station the RPM on idling became 1000, if you are running on a road and pull back your leg from the gas pedal the RPM never goes lower then 1200, even if you apply breaks, and grows to 1200 if you are moving even with 0.5 mile per hour. The RPM falls back to 800 only when you stand still and If you pull back your leg from the brakes it runs up to 1200. When you are braking the RPM goes down slower than it was and never goes lower than 1000-1100 RPM.

Please advise if anyone knows what is it