Yet another throttle body cleaning problem
For ANYONE that ever wants to clean their throttle body, remember this for future reference:
IF you want to open the butterfly valve, simply get a second set of hands (friend, cousin, sister, homeless guy, whatever), have them sit in the car, and with the car's ignition turned over to the Accessories setting, have them put the car in gear (1st, D, whatever) and step on the gas. Voila. The valve will flip open, and you'll be able to clean all over the inside of the TB without ever having to touch it.
For what it's worth, I've cleaned the throttle body in both my old Maxima and my G this way. Never had one issue with high idle, and never had to do the re-learn procedure. The car's ECU will eventually re-work all of the fuel maps during the next few drive cycles.
IF you want to open the butterfly valve, simply get a second set of hands (friend, cousin, sister, homeless guy, whatever), have them sit in the car, and with the car's ignition turned over to the Accessories setting, have them put the car in gear (1st, D, whatever) and step on the gas. Voila. The valve will flip open, and you'll be able to clean all over the inside of the TB without ever having to touch it.
For what it's worth, I've cleaned the throttle body in both my old Maxima and my G this way. Never had one issue with high idle, and never had to do the re-learn procedure. The car's ECU will eventually re-work all of the fuel maps during the next few drive cycles.
^ thats good advice but if youre doing it yourself you can do it by hand as long as you can perform the relearn properly. Every time iv ever cleaned a TB on any car including many infinitis with electronic TB i have opened the valve with my fingers to clean at times it required no reset while mostly it did.
My point is that its not as bad as many ppl think as long as you are patient and can time the relearn properly you should be able to get it within a few tries even if you dont just keep at it, worth saving couple hundred bucks imo.
My point is that its not as bad as many ppl think as long as you are patient and can time the relearn properly you should be able to get it within a few tries even if you dont just keep at it, worth saving couple hundred bucks imo.
I'm at 63K miles or so, and I have never had even a hint of any hesitation, stumbling idle, idle fluctuations, or anything. Besides that my gas mileage is as good as it's ever been, so I'm not planning on doing a darn thing to the throttle bodies until I have a good reason to.
BUT . . . If I ever have to do it, I'm planning on just visiting kool so he can do the reset for me.
BUT . . . If I ever have to do it, I'm planning on just visiting kool so he can do the reset for me.
It's up to you.
A soft stick or something between the seat and pedal to hold it down works best, use the power seat to snug it up into the pedal.
Mr.Brett is giving great advice on this one. Because if you do insist on cleaning it, you're NOT SUPPOSED to touch the butterfly valve, that messes up the motor, doesn't matter how gentle you are.
Mr.Brett is giving great advice on this one. Because if you do insist on cleaning it, you're NOT SUPPOSED to touch the butterfly valve, that messes up the motor, doesn't matter how gentle you are.
A soft stick or something between the seat and pedal to hold it down works best, use the power seat to snug it up into the pedal.
Mr.Brett is giving great advice on this one. Because if you do insist on cleaning it, you're NOT SUPPOSED to touch the butterfly valve, that messes up the motor, doesn't matter how gentle you are.
Mr.Brett is giving great advice on this one. Because if you do insist on cleaning it, you're NOT SUPPOSED to touch the butterfly valve, that messes up the motor, doesn't matter how gentle you are.
Still frequenting the org?
Yup 
Pop my head into the ghustle thread every once in a while but there's a couple guys in there that are irritating as Clashez in some regards, but mostly just the General 5th gen section answering Qs where I can.
But TB related I need to find out what we can use within parameters that is larger.... time to research
Pop my head into the ghustle thread every once in a while but there's a couple guys in there that are irritating as Clashez in some regards, but mostly just the General 5th gen section answering Qs where I can.
But TB related I need to find out what we can use within parameters that is larger.... time to research
A soft stick or something between the seat and pedal to hold it down works best, use the power seat to snug it up into the pedal.
Mr.Brett is giving great advice on this one. Because if you do insist on cleaning it, you're NOT SUPPOSED to touch the butterfly valve, that messes up the motor, doesn't matter how gentle you are.
Mr.Brett is giving great advice on this one. Because if you do insist on cleaning it, you're NOT SUPPOSED to touch the butterfly valve, that messes up the motor, doesn't matter how gentle you are.
It's common recommendation on FBW throttle bodies NOT to touch the butterfly
The fact that pretty mcuh everyone that has touched it manually has caused some measure of damage or at minimum screwed up calibration should speak volumes to this.
When it's un-necessary to do it by hand why would you? Makes no sense.
Also an old toothbrush works best if you NEED to loosen tough spots (unlikely), the propellant + TB cleaner strength should easily wash away any crap in there.
If you really want to get technical about it, a TB should never be cleaned ON the car.
The fact that pretty mcuh everyone that has touched it manually has caused some measure of damage or at minimum screwed up calibration should speak volumes to this.
When it's un-necessary to do it by hand why would you? Makes no sense.
Also an old toothbrush works best if you NEED to loosen tough spots (unlikely), the propellant + TB cleaner strength should easily wash away any crap in there.
If you really want to get technical about it, a TB should never be cleaned ON the car.
thats why u take it off as per the DIY and like iv said iv done this at least 40 times on many car brands with dbw tb with no issues including many others as you might see in the diy while many have had issue with relearn which is a separate issue.
cleaning dbw tb is very important for optimal performance since its all electronic you want the valve to be free moving and no buildup around the edges which may keep it from closing properly or allow steady air through at idle, you may do your research on this or ask any infiniti tech or any other certified tech, i can say this with certainty cause i have done my research and asked professionals certified techs including infiniti head techs taht offer this service themselves and clean it using their fingers covered with a cloth and using tb spray. while some local shops would save time and labor and just spray and be done
Relearn is normal procedure for any car with dbw(some require it while others dont) that even the dealership performs after cleaning them using a tb cleaner and cloth which is much gentler than a brush ... HERES a 'professional' how-to clean dbw tb procedure for GM buts all the same, read thru to clarify any doubts, its better to follow advice from someone who knows these things inside out rather than form any of us.
I dont really care how people do it all i wanted to clarify was that your statement to 'never touch the TB butterfly valve cause it will mess up its motor' is incorrect and mislead some ppl causing them to be scared and dishing out couple hundred bucks to do something they could do for $5-6 other than that do as you please no need to get all worked up about it
cleaning dbw tb is very important for optimal performance since its all electronic you want the valve to be free moving and no buildup around the edges which may keep it from closing properly or allow steady air through at idle, you may do your research on this or ask any infiniti tech or any other certified tech, i can say this with certainty cause i have done my research and asked professionals certified techs including infiniti head techs taht offer this service themselves and clean it using their fingers covered with a cloth and using tb spray. while some local shops would save time and labor and just spray and be done
Relearn is normal procedure for any car with dbw(some require it while others dont) that even the dealership performs after cleaning them using a tb cleaner and cloth which is much gentler than a brush ... HERES a 'professional' how-to clean dbw tb procedure for GM buts all the same, read thru to clarify any doubts, its better to follow advice from someone who knows these things inside out rather than form any of us.
I dont really care how people do it all i wanted to clarify was that your statement to 'never touch the TB butterfly valve cause it will mess up its motor' is incorrect and mislead some ppl causing them to be scared and dishing out couple hundred bucks to do something they could do for $5-6 other than that do as you please no need to get all worked up about it
Last edited by kool_yaar; Jul 19, 2012 at 10:25 PM.
Yup
Pop my head into the ghustle thread every once in a while but there's a couple guys in there that are irritating as Clashez in some regards, but mostly just the General 5th gen section answering Qs where I can.
But TB related I need to find out what we can use within parameters that is larger.... time to research
Pop my head into the ghustle thread every once in a while but there's a couple guys in there that are irritating as Clashez in some regards, but mostly just the General 5th gen section answering Qs where I can.
But TB related I need to find out what we can use within parameters that is larger.... time to research
As far as interchangable TBs, are you talking for the G or the 5th gen? I wonder if you could use the TB off of the Frontier? I'd assume, considering that it's a VQ40, that the TB would be considerably larger. Or maybe even the G37? Now you've got me wondering...
i agree that its good advice indeed but just to clarify, touching the butterfly valve while the car is off does not mess up the motor in anyway. even when using brett's advice you will be touching the valve to clean you cant just spray and be done. You have to touch the valve a to clean it properly since you want to get all the gunk off from the valve and the edges which wont come off without rubbing it with a lint free cloth after spraying
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Maybe I got lucky, but all I did was keep the car completely off and didn't have to do any relearns or anything... and I also opened the butterfly with my hands and cleaned it too... no issues again. Didn't even have to disconnect the battery or anything.
As far as interchangable TBs, are you talking for the G or the 5th gen? I wonder if you could use the TB off of the Frontier? I'd assume, considering that it's a VQ40, that the TB would be considerably larger. Or maybe even the G37? Now you've got me wondering...
When I did my TB cleaning, I never had to touch the butterfly. Not that the TB on my Max or the G were terribly dirty. But the aerosol can of throttle body cleaner I had provided enough pressure to sort of "pressure wash" the buildup off of the TB.
When I did my TB cleaning, I never had to touch the butterfly. Not that the TB on my Max or the G were terribly dirty. But the aerosol can of throttle body cleaner I had provided enough pressure to sort of "pressure wash" the buildup off of the TB.
Anyways, ot.
Yes I want a bigger TB for the G, once I supercharge, but I have some checking to do. I want 4" intake ideally, so mad roughly that is a 3" TB