My 2004.5 sedan has 38k miles, and I'm the second owner. I'm in the process of installing my MD 5/16 plenum spacer, but noticed my throttle body isn't exactly clean.

Here's a pic:



Considering a) what you see in my pic, b) I currently don't have a new throttle body gasket, and c) parts shops are closed during weekends (I think?), what would you do?

 

I would wait and do it at 60-70kmi imo. If you don't have any rough idle or rough initial acceleration or engine stalling why bother with it now

 

Gasket is reusable, don't mess with the throttle plate. Causes many problems.

 

Yeah I am having engine stalling when its warm. So Rookie you are saying just leave it on and clean it that way.

 

I've seen much worse throttlebodies than that. If you're stalling, are you throwing some codes?

 

Not sure, it just stall during warm start up. I read that people clean their tb and it work. I just dont want to hassle with the resetting of everything.

 

disconnect battery and unplug throttle control actuator... remove plenum when you install spacer, but leave TB connected to plenum so you don’t have to worry about gasket (I always replace it though)... clean intake side with TB cleaner and don’t get crazy with the plate... you should be fine. The only problem is you wont be able to clean the other side of the TB...

The other option is just go to Nissan or Infiniti dealer and get the TB gasket (they are cheap)... remove and clean both sides.

When I clean the MAF sensor and TB I notice quite a difference, I think its worth doing as long as you're there... as long as you are careful it should be fine.

Generally its when people don’t disconnect bat and unplug the throttle control actuator when idle problems happen… even following the steps above the FSM suggestes the learning procedure… but the only time I’ve had problems is when I didn’t disconnect the bat and actuator… anyway – if you there is a problem, see next post

 

(from FSM):

Throttle Valve Closed Position Learning
DESCRIPTION
Throttle Valve Closed Position Learning is an operation to learn the fully closed position of the throttle valve by monitoring the throttle position sensor output signal. It must be performed each time harness connector of electric throttle control actuator or ECM is disconnected.

Accelerator Pedal Released Position Learning
DESCRIPTION
Accelerator Pedal Released Position Learning is an operation to learn the fully released position of the accelerator pedal by monitoring the accelerator pedal position sensor output signal. It must be performed each time harness connector of accelerator pedal position sensor or ECM is disconnected.

OPERATION PROCEDURE
1. Make sure that accelerator pedal is fully released.
2. Turn ignition switch ON and wait at least 2 seconds.
3. Turn ignition switch OFF and wait at least 10 seconds.
4. Turn ignition switch ON and wait at least 2 seconds.
5. Turn ignition switch OFF and wait at least 10 seconds.

Throttle Valve Closed Position Learning
DESCRIPTION
Throttle Valve Closed Position Learning is an operation to learn the fully closed position of the throttle valve by monitoring the throttle position sensor output signal. It must be performed each time harness connector of electric throttle control actuator or ECM is disconnected.

BASIC SERVICE PROCEDURE
EC
OPERATION PROCEDURE
1. Make sure that accelerator pedal is fully released.
2. Turn ignition switch ON.
3. Turn ignition switch OFF and wait at least 10 seconds.
Make sure that throttle valve moves during above 10 seconds by confirming the operating sound.
Idle Air Volume Learning
DESCRIPTION
Idle Air Volume Learning is an operation to learn the idle air volume that keeps each engine within the specific range. It must be performed under any of the following conditions:
_ Each time electric throttle control actuator or ECM is replaced.
_ Idle speed or ignition timing is out of specification.
PREPARATION
Before performing Idle Air Volume Learning, make sure that all of the following conditions are satisfied.
Learning will be cancelled if any of the following conditions are missed for even a moment.
_ Battery voltage: More than 12.9V (At idle)
_ Engine coolant temperature: 70 - 100ｰC (158 - 212ｰF)
_ PNP switch: ON
_ Electric load switch: OFF
(Air conditioner, headlamp, rear window defogger)
On vehicles equipped with daytime light systems, if the parking brake is applied before the engine is started, the headlamp will not be illuminated.
_ Steering wheel: Neutral (Straight-ahead position)
_ Vehicle speed: Stopped
_ Transmission: Warmed-up
For A/T models with CONSULT-II, drive vehicle until “ATF TEMP SE 1” in “DATA MONITOR” mode of “A/T” system indicates less than 0.9V.
For A/T models without CONSULT-II and M/T models, drive vehicle for 10 minutes.

 

If you haven't already cleaned it...take it to the infiniti dealership. Some of them offer a TB cleaning...that way if it breaks it is their fault. The throttle body is wayyyy to senesative on our cars. You turn it the wrong way and it will act up. I wouldn't do it.

-Sean

 

its not that sensitive - as long as you aren’t a gorilla with it... mine has been off several times (for cleaning, paint, TBS, plenum work)... dealers would charge a ridiculous amount to clean the TB.

 

I have had mine off a number of times and always used the same gasket. So far up to 13psi no issues.

 

Thanks for the feedback, fellas. Now that I know my throttle body doesn't look that bad, I'm in no rush to clean it. (I'm not experiencing rough idle or rough initial acceleration or engine stalling.)

Another reason I'm in no rush is because I'm no longer doing my plenum spacer installation this weekend. I didn't realize it was going to be such a pain to locate a gotdamned torque wrench that can measure 40 - 100 in/lbs.

Regardless, thanks again for the feedback.

 

There's a video in the DIY section on how to do it...