Clean your throttle body

[udonoogen]

how could i screw up something so easy? i dunno! i must have mucked something up because after i reassembled everything, my key won't turn in the ignition. i looked inside my engine and it appears everything is back together properly... is there something i missed? why is my key not turning?

must get to work tomorrow ... so input would be appreciated!

EDIT: google did the trick ... i popped the cover off the little gear lock on the top of the shifter, shifted to reverse, moved my steering wheel a bit and then the lock released ... weird. but now its working!

[Nyyankees3511]

Hey guys i just took a look at my throttle body and man its like all slimey black. Im scared to let that crap get in my engine should i wipe it down first? Or just do as said here?

[bassthrive]

Hey guys i just took a look at my throttle body and man its like all slimey black. Im scared to let that crap get in my engine should i wipe it down first? Or just do as said here?

Just spray it down and soak up as much slime as you can. Having some run through the engine will not hurt, though it may make the car a little less willing to easily turn over when you are done.

[Nyyankees3511]

Ok i just finished the car wouldnt start at first and it gave a funny smell. The only part we had to clean was after the butterfly right? My idle is higher too its one bar below 1000 is that normal?

[bassthrive]

smell, a little smoke and hard starting is normal. idle will level off.

clean all around the inside of the TB including the front and back of the butterfly valve. the toothbrush will come in handy for reaching past the TB into the upper intake plenum. you can also remove the ACIS for excellent access to a majority of the plenum unreachable via the throttle body. its a simple 4 bolt and 1 vac hose removal on the passenger side of the engine intake assembly. though not mentioned in the original tutorial, it is a noteworthy addition. the plenum gets quite nasty.

[boneezy]

just did mine sunday, really a night and day diffrence.. my car pulls so much harder now. i even raced a buddy of mine from a roll (explained in race section) and tore him up.. my midrange pulls so muhc harder and my intake raelly sings. definitely worth the effort

[Akfahad]

i know this post is old, but just wanted to say i just did mine and it really is like night and day. Sprayed that stuff all over, in and out...it looks ten times better. A little hard of a start, but it's to be expected.

[crispone]

Interesting thread.... just happened upon it today since it popped back up.

I noticed several things "missing" based on my various mechanical tinkerings over the years, and in the event someone might benefit from it, or is finding this thread for the first time themselves, I would be remiss not to mention the following:

- GOOD IDEA TO "WIPE" HEAVY DEPOSITS WITH CLEANER SOAKED CLOTH BEFORE SPRAYING IT ALL "THROUGH" THE THROTTLE BODY.

- IT IS OFTEN POSSIBLE TO PERFORM THIS WITH A CAREFULLY PLACED CLEANER NOZZLE "SLIPPED" INTO A BOOT SLEAVE AND SPRAYED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE RUNNING/REVVING THE ENGINE (SO IT BURNS OFF UPON ENTRY INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER) --> MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE ON ALL MODELS/CARS, ETC.... (GENERAL RULE)

- IF YOU SPRAY "LARGE" AMOUNTS INTO THE THROTTLE BODY WHEN CLEANING, THIS HIGHLY ABRASIVE CLEANING SOLUTION WILL RUN DOWN AROUND YOUR RINGS AND INTO YOUR OIL, DEGRADING IT PREMATURELY

- SEE POINT ABOVE --> YOU SHOULD FLUSH YOUR OIL AFTER SUCH A CLEANING IF POSSIBLE. INTRODUCING A SOLVENT INTO YOUR LUBRICANT IS NEVER A GOOD IDEA FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME.

- GOOD IDEA TO DO THIS BEFORE PLUG CHANGE IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING IT.....

Well, didn't mean to YELL.... just had caps on and left it.... sorry!

BTW, this type of cleaning procedure is a snap.... everyone should do it periodically, like, every 30,000 miles AT LEAST! It will prevent build-up and reduce throttle butterfly "sticking" and obviate the need to spray GOBS of cleaner and forcing TONS of crud into the engine.....

just some thots....

- crisp

[NeFaRiOuS_SLE]

Yeah it isn't possible to do it while running; I had a blond moment and left the boot sleeve out and couldn't start the car... But it was 1AM and I was too tired to tell.

[NotfastNotfurious]

thanks for the tip, I will try it out tomorrow

[SolAraB]

very easy and simple to do this....i used stp amazin stuff everything came right off..i was installin t/b spacer at same time and had a little ttrouble.....i couldnt take out bottom two bolts so i just tightened top two and reinstalled everything...bad idea.....i started car and rpms jumped to 3000 and then it just turned off. it did this twice so i took out spacer and put everything back the way it was and the car worked fine except now i have check engine light on.

[rec]

anyone have step by step pics ?

[02RedSoul]

Hey I've been trying to get my hands on some throttle body cleaner and the only thing I've found is Valvoline Synpower Carb, Choke, and Throttle Body Cleaner. The first few posts said dont user Carb cleaner but I want to know if any one has used this type and is it fine for me to use? And if not, what exact brand and name did you use?

[bassthrive]

Hey I've been trying to get my hands on some throttle body cleaner and the only thing I've found is Valvoline Synpower Carb, Choke, and Throttle Body Cleaner. The first few posts said dont user Carb cleaner but I want to know if any one has used this type and is it fine for me to use? And if not, what exact brand and name did you use?

thats the stuff i use. as long as it says throttle body or something to the effect of "safe for fuel injected vehicles" you are fine.

[GooseXRS]

I have done this because my car sometimes idles at 235rpm when I start it. I cleaned the donkey out of it yet it still happens so I am thinking it might be the spark plugs or fuel injectors. Any suggestions?
Thank you
Take Care
Andrew