Everyone should clean their throttle body
#26
#28
The 20 mile drive to work today was soooooo nice. I'm baffled that simply cleaning this thing made such a noticable difference. Doesn't seem like the "octane booster seat of the pants BS" difference. Its legitimately a smoother and faster responding throttle.
I don't remember if there was any kind of coating on the plate or the tube. But I wouldn't recommend going at it with a brillo pad or anything like that just so you don't mess it up. I just used some paper towels and alcohol based cleaners. Came out all nice.
I don't remember if there was any kind of coating on the plate or the tube. But I wouldn't recommend going at it with a brillo pad or anything like that just so you don't mess it up. I just used some paper towels and alcohol based cleaners. Came out all nice.
#29
#30
I don't even know what possessed me to even look. I was bored. Simply pulling the tube off and hosing it down from the outside is not adequate and forces the crap and cleaner deeper into the intake. You are only half-*** cleaning half of the throttle body doing that and your wasting your time. However the IAC is good thing to clean too. I already did that a few months ago so I didn't bother yesterday.
Matt's guide to cleaning the throttle body in 10 easy steps:
(1) Loosen hose clamp where the intake hose meets the throttle body. Unplug the MAG electrical connector and the crank case vent from the intake hose.
(2) Pull the intake hose off the throttle body and unlatch it from the air cleaner box. Put it off to the side out of the way. Look in the throttle body, you will see it caked full of black dirt and oily residue. Its nasty, don't wear nice clothing.
(3) Unplug the wire from the throttle position sensor on the side of the throttle body. Loosen and remove the two philips head screws holding it on. Place it aside.
(4) The throttle cable is pretty obvious on how to unhook it from the throttle body. Lift and slide off to the side like a bicycle brake caliper. If you have cruise control, you just pull back on the connection and it will snap off (yes, it snaps back on too). Disconnect both of them.
(5) The throttle body is held onto the intake manifold with (4) 5/16" bolts. Loosen, remove and don't lose the bolts. The throttle body will come off in your hands. Don't drop it.
(6) Now that you have it off the truck it is time to clean it. The most logical cleaning solution is throttle body cleaner (duh). I didn't have any so I just used an ether based spray can of starter fluid. Do not smoke, toke, grind metal, or launch fireworks while using any of these cleaners.
(7) Spray it in and let it soak, dump it out. Do the same on the other side. Spray some more and work the throttle plate open and closed. Spray some more and use some paper towels or shop rags to wipe it out. You'll probably need to do a lot of spraying and wiping.
(8) The tricky part is cleaning the throttle plate. You have to hold it open. With the throttle plate held open, clean the plate, the edges of the plate, and the throttle body around where the plate closes. It can be really caked full of crap around there since it is choke point for the air flow. It is pain in the *** to do while holding it open. Wedge it on something or have someone hold it for you.
(9) Spray some more around the exterior linkage and clean that up nice.
(10) Make sure the whole thing is clean, dry and free of loose crap, bits of towel, torn skin, or dried blood.
Work backwards from step (5) to reassemble. Make sure you plug all the stuff back in and reattach that crankcase vent. Start the engine. If it will not start, runs like crap, or throws a rod through the hood, then you obviously can't follow simple directions and ya done f*$ked up. I take no responsibility, award you no points, and may god have mercy on your soul.
If it does work, go inside and pour yourself a nice cold glass of spiked ice tea.
Matt's guide to cleaning the throttle body in 10 easy steps:
(1) Loosen hose clamp where the intake hose meets the throttle body. Unplug the MAG electrical connector and the crank case vent from the intake hose.
(2) Pull the intake hose off the throttle body and unlatch it from the air cleaner box. Put it off to the side out of the way. Look in the throttle body, you will see it caked full of black dirt and oily residue. Its nasty, don't wear nice clothing.
(3) Unplug the wire from the throttle position sensor on the side of the throttle body. Loosen and remove the two philips head screws holding it on. Place it aside.
(4) The throttle cable is pretty obvious on how to unhook it from the throttle body. Lift and slide off to the side like a bicycle brake caliper. If you have cruise control, you just pull back on the connection and it will snap off (yes, it snaps back on too). Disconnect both of them.
(5) The throttle body is held onto the intake manifold with (4) 5/16" bolts. Loosen, remove and don't lose the bolts. The throttle body will come off in your hands. Don't drop it.
(6) Now that you have it off the truck it is time to clean it. The most logical cleaning solution is throttle body cleaner (duh). I didn't have any so I just used an ether based spray can of starter fluid. Do not smoke, toke, grind metal, or launch fireworks while using any of these cleaners.
(7) Spray it in and let it soak, dump it out. Do the same on the other side. Spray some more and work the throttle plate open and closed. Spray some more and use some paper towels or shop rags to wipe it out. You'll probably need to do a lot of spraying and wiping.
(8) The tricky part is cleaning the throttle plate. You have to hold it open. With the throttle plate held open, clean the plate, the edges of the plate, and the throttle body around where the plate closes. It can be really caked full of crap around there since it is choke point for the air flow. It is pain in the *** to do while holding it open. Wedge it on something or have someone hold it for you.
(9) Spray some more around the exterior linkage and clean that up nice.
(10) Make sure the whole thing is clean, dry and free of loose crap, bits of towel, torn skin, or dried blood.
Work backwards from step (5) to reassemble. Make sure you plug all the stuff back in and reattach that crankcase vent. Start the engine. If it will not start, runs like crap, or throws a rod through the hood, then you obviously can't follow simple directions and ya done f*$ked up. I take no responsibility, award you no points, and may god have mercy on your soul.
If it does work, go inside and pour yourself a nice cold glass of spiked ice tea.
Last edited by FireRanger; 07-15-2009 at 09:06 AM.
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#39
I did this today at 94,000km. It was a lot easier then I thought. I didn't need the instructions it was simple enough once I was looking at the motor. It wasn't very dirty but I cleaned it anyway, same with the IAC, and to my suprise it made a big difference. It idles a lot smoother and the throttle responce is dead on now. It use to be nothing.. nothing... Vroom. Now its an instant VRrrrRrOoooOoo0000Mmmm!!! lol
Last edited by russian; 07-15-2009 at 05:29 PM.
#42
Cleaning the TB while on the truck is not a good idea IMO, any extra gunk released from the surface but not picked up my a towel or whatever will be sucked into the engine, thus negating all "cleaning" done. More of a relocation of crap and possibly explosive cleaning juice.
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#49
I was about to adjust my throttle but almost completely forgot that its all computer driven - so it is where it is on anything computer controlled.. need a tuner to adjust the idle now *sigh*
#50
Its a good thing I saw this thread I'm getting ready for a tear down to the lower intake for cleaning painting and stopping the leaks.(my head gaskets were done within 10k but dad wasn't in the mood to clean it up.
what I wonder is if cleaning the throttle body makes that much of a difference what about the upper and lower intake...and how would I clean it out?
what I wonder is if cleaning the throttle body makes that much of a difference what about the upper and lower intake...and how would I clean it out?