EeeSkwa

So I recently removed a Throttle Body Extender from the previous owner on my 2001 XJ Sport...

1.) I went in and cleaned the entire TB out really well (took 2 cans of cleaner, ha!)
2.) I changed out all 3 major sensors for NEW ones (IAC, TPS, and MAP)
3.) Reinstalled the TB with a new gasket (+ a tiny bit of grey RTV around the mounting holes/bolts), back into the stock location (i.e. I deleted the throttle body extender)
4.) I did keep the aftermarket AFE cold air intake...standard conical filter with pipes/couplings to the top of the Throttle Body
5.) hooked all three cables back up after install, TV cable, cruise control, and throttle cable, I re-set the TV cable by pushing the little button down pushing the tab thingy back and the going back into the cab and stepping on the gas pedal.
6.) unhooked positive and negative battery cables and held together for 30-60 seconds to re-set the ECU values (I think you're supposed to do this)

After everything was reinstalled, I started her back up and the engine is roaring at 3k rpm. I'm very much an amateur mechanic here, so appreciate any troubleshooting you guys can provide. What did I do wrong here or any steps I need to go back and check?

EeeSkwa

Cold Air Intake shot

New Sensors

What the cables currently look like

EeeSkwa

sidenote: My throttle cable feels VERY loose and the accelerator pedal doesn't feel right. hoping its just the cables and nothing sensor or ecu related. I uninstalled and re-installed the TPS and touched the battery terminals together for 60 seconds again, and still idling at around 3,300 rpm. Maybe I need to go back and check the throttle body gasket is installed correctly?

OK_XJ

When mine had a similar issue at idle on my 98 it was my IAC. I was able to diagnose it by blocking part of the opening in the throttle body with my finger where it goes to the IAC. Just look into the top of the throttle body and you can see the slot in the side that goes to the IAC, if covering part of that with your finger slows the idle, then the IAC is your problem. You can reinstall your old one if it was functioning before to verify.

If that is not the issue look for some other place where air is getting in, like the throttle body gasket or any vacuum lines that may have been knocked off while you were working.

EeeSkwa

@OK_XJ thanks for the feedback. I tried that and no dice.... but then I fixed it. Turns out, my cruise control cable was WAYYYYYYY too tight and causing the high idle. just unhooked it and it's good to go. Idling at 700-800 rpm now. Weird, but I'll have to look into fixing that.

boxburn

Glad it was a simple fix.

EeeSkwa

My simple fix turned into another problem which turned into another simple fix. I find this happening more and more as I work on tuning up my XJ... Apparently when you delete a throttle body spacer, there at throttle body linkage spacers, too. Little cylindrical towers that raise the height of the linkage to match the raised height of the throttle body spacer and compensate for the tv cable, cruise control cable, and regular throttle cable tension. I couldn't figure out why my all 3 of my cables felt off, even after doing the standard tv cable adjustment by pushing in the plastic tab...anyways, extremely easy fix but frustrating and took some time to find out. Another reason why not to ever install a throttle body spacer

NorthernerXJ

Glad you fixed it! I came here to suggest you check the cable tension, sometimes when reinstalling we all have a chance of messing up tensions/original position of a cable or bolt haha.

EeeSkwa

yup, just deleted the extra little linkage "towers" to get the cables all back into the original/stock spot. Stupid throttle body spacers...pretty sure they are the worst idea ever on XJs.

NorthernerXJ

Agreed. No need to use them or touch that area of the damn engine!