DIY: Clean your throttle bodies
#121
Finally got around to it last weekend. Disassembly, cleaning and reassembly took about an hour. Did not have to do the relearn, and car definitely idles better now... I didn't get around to cleaning the MAF (forgot about it, even though I had the MAF cleaner too). At the same time, I wasn't sure I was up to messin' with MAF without instructions. I found a DIY thread on another forum, it should be helpful when I get around to it.
#122
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,434
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From: Yorba Linda (Orange County)
:EDIT: to OP
Do not disconnect the harness connector!
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Great DIY Q8y_drifter
I took the liberty to add this^ edit to your post.
It's very important to NOT disconnect the harness.
If it is disconnected, and the butterfly is moved while cleaning;
the ECU will lose the closed or zero position of the sensor.
If that happens the car may not start or may run poorly.
If the cable is disconnected you have to perform a
"THROTTLE VALVE CLOSED POSITION LEARNING" procedure for the ECU.
Do not disconnect the harness connector!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Great DIY Q8y_drifter
I took the liberty to add this^ edit to your post.
It's very important to NOT disconnect the harness.
If it is disconnected, and the butterfly is moved while cleaning;
the ECU will lose the closed or zero position of the sensor.
If that happens the car may not start or may run poorly.
If the cable is disconnected you have to perform a
"THROTTLE VALVE CLOSED POSITION LEARNING" procedure for the ECU.
#123
#125
How much wiggle room is there to clean the throttle body if you leave the connections in place?
Are you guys masking off any areas when spraying the cleaner or are you just being careful not to get any on plastic and painted surfaces? Most of these cleaners, while safe for coated throttle bodies, will destory the finish on plastic and painted surfaces.
What is the issue with completely removing the TB, if you can do the learning procedures via the pedal method or if at a dealer with consult II?
From what I gathered you do NOT whatsoever want to spray the cleaner into the throttle body and have all the gunk enter the engine, it will coat your internals, cause compression to rise, etc.
I am debating what to do in my situation. I know my TB is likely dirty, I have idle surge, sometimes takes longer to start, and throttle response is poor. CAMP2 readouts do not always show 100% WOT when flooring it like it used to. Also, I will occassionaly get a slight vibration in the pedal area when just putting the car in first or reverse from neutral. The vibration onlu lasts a second or two and only happens occasionally. I'm not sure if this is related to the dirty TB.
My options are either to clean my current TB (~26k miles) or replace it with a new/remanufactured unit in case any of the sensors or parts are going bad, besides being dirty...
Are you guys masking off any areas when spraying the cleaner or are you just being careful not to get any on plastic and painted surfaces? Most of these cleaners, while safe for coated throttle bodies, will destory the finish on plastic and painted surfaces.
What is the issue with completely removing the TB, if you can do the learning procedures via the pedal method or if at a dealer with consult II?
From what I gathered you do NOT whatsoever want to spray the cleaner into the throttle body and have all the gunk enter the engine, it will coat your internals, cause compression to rise, etc.
I am debating what to do in my situation. I know my TB is likely dirty, I have idle surge, sometimes takes longer to start, and throttle response is poor. CAMP2 readouts do not always show 100% WOT when flooring it like it used to. Also, I will occassionaly get a slight vibration in the pedal area when just putting the car in first or reverse from neutral. The vibration onlu lasts a second or two and only happens occasionally. I'm not sure if this is related to the dirty TB.
My options are either to clean my current TB (~26k miles) or replace it with a new/remanufactured unit in case any of the sensors or parts are going bad, besides being dirty...
#126
There's more than enough room for you to move the TB around, flip it, etc.
No need to mask any areas, spray the TB cleaner on a clean shop towel or something similar and just clean the TB and intake manifold side with the towel only. You do not want to spray the cleaner on the TB itself.
Because the idle relearn procedure can be a b!tch to get right and there's no need to disconnect anything any further when you got more than enough space already.
I'd suggest you at least try and clean it first. It's even easier for you DE guys since you only have one TB.
BTW, I think I once saw a how-to procedure for the DE on Youtube. Check it out.
No need to mask any areas, spray the TB cleaner on a clean shop towel or something similar and just clean the TB and intake manifold side with the towel only. You do not want to spray the cleaner on the TB itself.
Because the idle relearn procedure can be a b!tch to get right and there's no need to disconnect anything any further when you got more than enough space already.
I'd suggest you at least try and clean it first. It's even easier for you DE guys since you only have one TB.
BTW, I think I once saw a how-to procedure for the DE on Youtube. Check it out.
#128
#129
#133