In the past I have usually cleaned the throttle body and replaced the flame trap once per year (whether it needed it or not). Now it seems that the requirement is 1 every 6 months due to the car not starting. Is this normal?

I have also been noticing that there are 2 small hole in the bottom of the throttle body that get plugged. Are there any throttle bodies that put these holes in the top?

r.

No it's not normal. What kind of oil are you using?

I looked at my trap once (at 50K miles) and it was perfectly clean. At 73K now and still perfect.

No one mentions this as a huge benefit of synthetic oil.
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Paul's Amsoil and other lubricants

I am half suspecting that the oil trap is crudded up - I just don't want to take everything off unless I absolutly know what the problem is.

Hi ya,

Get ride of the flame trap it is no longer needed! There was a technical bulletin many moons ago about removing it. I now just clean the area up every oil change and the throttle body too.

If you are having cranking problems ensure your cables have no corrosion on them. Clean them up with a wire brush, put a new rotor and cap on if its got more than 30k miles on it does wounders for start up.

mark
uk best kept 800 series 1998 thru 2003
http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=998&thumb=1&si=markas
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Mark in Leeds/England

the b230 engine's throttle body on 240/740's have the small 2 holes on the top and easily accessible to unplug with small wire.

I usually clean the flame trap in my 240/740 every 6 mos, as a preventative measure, since its a 5-10 min deal.
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'88 240, '92 740, '98 v70 GLT John in Tampa Bay