I took off my cai yesterday and noticed how dirty it was so my question is could that be the cause on y my car idles rough

 

Could be. Could have caused a little dirt to get on the maf sensor or build up on the throttle body

 

If it is a oilly residue on the TB that's caused by the PCV system on the car.
And you should clean the TB, disconnect the battery let it sit for a half hour and I bet it will run a lot better!
To keep that from happening again get a air/oil seperator for your car!

 

Very well could be the cause of the rough idle. I would clean both the throttle body and the MAF and see how it goes from there.

 

Yes being dirty can cause a idle to be not so smooth. Remove the throttle body to clean it instead of trying to clean it while it on the car. When was the last time you changed the fuel filter. How many miles are on your car?

 

Another 'yes' on the throttle body, and be sure when you take it off, also take off the negative battery cable to allow the computer to go back to 'I don't know anything' mode, because if you clean the throttle body without resetting the computer, then the car is going to run EVEN WORSE than it does now.

Trust me. I know these things.

Be sure to use *throttle body* cleaner, and NOT carburetor (only) cleaner. If it doesn't say 'Throttle body' then you DO NOT use it.

You can also clean your MAF sensor while you're at it, but again, use MAF sensor cleaner, NOT anything else.

I do my throttle body every 25K, and the MAF about every 50K. I don't much like doing the MAF 'cause it seems oddly delicate to 'play' with.

For what that's worth. It'll be night and day, do it!

 

The car has 140xxx miles on it and I've been using throttle body cleaner carborater cleaner combo cleaner that u get at autozone

 

I also changed the fuel filter before winter hit.

 

So I clean the whole throttle body today and the car will reave up to 1 the to 1 1/2 the back and forth does anyone else no wat the matter can be