When I put the throttle body rubber boot on its a tight fit.

Here's what I do to ensure its on properly with no leaks.

I put the boot on tilted at 6 o'clock. The part at 6 o'clock goes on first.

Why?

Because there is a tab at 12 o'clock and you can't twist the boot from side to side to push it on.

 

That's exactly what I eventually figured out. For some reason, starting at 6 o'clock works. I started at 12 o'clock previously. Lesson learned.

 

Here's the continuation of my saga....

I got a stubby flex head socket wrench but every time I stuck my hand down there to tighten the clamp, I'd knock the boot off the throttle housing. I kept doing that for awhile unit I got the fantastic idea to connect the other end that goes to the air filter housing. That helped hold it in place. I tightened the clamp on the throttle side but luckily I felt around underneath to feel the throttle housing groove meaning the hose wasn't seating at the 6 o'clock position.

I kept trying to get it to stay but to no avail.

Then I had the genius idea to loosen the clamp a lot and then the hose slid all the way on. I tightened the clamp nice and snug and took the car out for a test drive. All was well at over 1.5k rpm but sometimes whenever I stop, the car starts dicking around like its learning or trying to settle down. One time it shut off when I was slowing to make a turn.

I am now at the point where sometimes when I stop, all is well but only like 70% of stops. Also, sometimes when I start the car, it settles right in to idle but other times it dicks around more than usual like its trying to figure out who knows what. Since I installed new intake manifold gaskets, maybe its trying to re-learn. Or did I have to clear the learning? The f if I know. Argh.

 

I just remembered on the passenger side when I had the microfilter housing removed, there was a loose hose that I did not know what was for. Seemed like a breather hose or something. If it was that loose, I doubt it was a vacuum hose. Its not one of the hoses visible without removing the cover. I tugged on the visible ones and they are snug. I was wonder if that mystery hose had something to do with the idle issue.

The car seems to run great except for the idle. I have read tons of things it could be but have seen others fix it with simple stuff like Seafoam. Others replaced the MAF and a bunch of other stuff and still did not fix it. Just a reminder, my car was fine until I replaced the starter.

Its starting fine and dandy now but now its got that dang idle problem. Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

If you didn't replace hoses while you did your starter then that's your issues. They always crack. I would suggest you do a smoke test. That's the only way your going to find your issue. If not you're going to be at it for a while trying to find where the leak is.

We can not help you with this just give you a lot of options it could be. But I would suggest looking at what you just did and replace the hoses that ALWAYS cracks while changing the starter

 

The hose that Sean is talking about is in the picture attached. See red arrow.

When I replaced my starter recently, I ordered this 3 pronged hose with the starter.

The hose is difficult to get off and its brittle (so its likely to crack).

 

When I did mine I replaced all breather hoses and crank case vent valve to make sure I didn't have to go through it again. It is definitely a pain to change it all but I'd rather do it while I had everything apart

 

I did not replace a single hose. I only heard from several folks just to replace the 6 intake manifold gaskets which I did.

Chances are I probably unknowingly cracked a brittle hose. I was told the slightest crack is enough to case a problem. So just hose #14? I saw a bunch of other ones besides that one. I did not remove the intake manifold completely, just angled it to the side enough to reach the starter. But still I could have broke a hose. I do not have equipment to do a smoke test.

 

A cigar, straw/hose is all you need for a smoke test (saves you money this way). Maybe some tape. But I would replace the breather hoses (they sale them as a kit).

 

Come the think of it, that #14 hose looks a bit familiar. I feel its the one I saw that broke away from its end connector. I had tried to snap it back in place but it kept falling out (probably because I inadvertently broke it). And me not knowing what the heck it was for, I left it as-is. There are so many hoses, I thought that one was just some breather hose.