A quick question about stepper maintenance. Once removed from the car I clean it with meths and an old tooth bruch. Like wise I clean the port on the engine in to which it sits. But, the meths, while removing the carbon deposits will also have de-greased the spring shaft of the stepper.

Is it a good (or bad) idea to drop a spot of oil (wd-40, 3 in 1?) on the shaft of the stepper to aid its travel?

Cheers

You may well know this already - apologies if so - but there is another bit inside the hole where the stepper motor fits that also needs cleaning - have a good look with a torch and you will see another hole as well as the one it seats into.
Jim

Thanks guys, I did clean deep inside the port where the stepper sits. I tend to use cotton buds dipped in meths and continue to wipe around until they start to come out clean. I also use PTFE on the threads after reading about using it last year, but an o-ring seems like a good idea. I did add some grease to the stepper shaft and spring, hopefully this will help as well.

Took the car out for a quick blast and the idle now seems to be nice and stable, compared with the jumping around it was doing this week. I seem to be cleaning the stepper every few months at the moment. I don't think there's a problem, I just think it's a combination of daily use over the past year and over relatively short distances. That coupled with with regular UL petrol to help running costs adds to increased carbon deposits I guess?!