Throttle Body Cleaning

[RMinNJ]

So I went to a new dealer this time and they seem to have found my leak on the bottom of the transmission. This is good...been chasing it with my other dealer and GM for over a year.


They also recommended a $100 throttle body cleaning. This service I'm on the fence on.. Can't I just spray some cleaner on the throttle body? I know
my Toyota's throttle body needed to be cleaned at 120K at it was throwing a code.

Thanks..

 

[ohio_grad_06]

I may be wrong, but I don't see why not. I've done this to older cars and been fine. Ultimately you are cleaning out the carbon etc. Most people probably just don't know how to do it.

 

[Maddmatts]

An offer for throttlebody cleaning is usually an "upsell".

It's unlikely that you'll need the service but won't hurt anything to have done. And doing it yourself will save you a lot.

 

[RMinNJ]

How does one clean the throttle body themselves.
Just take the intake hose off and spray it with the appropriate cleaner?

 

[bluejay]

yes ,we have electric tb's on our sonics u will have to put something on the gas peddle to open the door of the throttle body when u clean it . there are some great videos on how to clean ur tb on youtube . there is also a site called carcarekiosk.com they also give great instructions on how to do simple maintenance on cars just search ur car and what u would like to do.

 

[ScarabEpic22]

If you know how to turn a screwdriver, unbolt 4 bolts, and unplug 1 wiring harness, do it yourself in 30min with a $5 can of throttle body cleaner. Undo negative battery cable, remove charge pipe/intake hose from throttle body, undo throttle body electrical plug, remove 4 bolts holding throttle body in. Remove, spray blade with cleaner, use paper towel(s) to wipe gunk away. BE CAREFUL with the throttle body, you can damage it if you're not careful. Reinstall, hook everything back up, reconnect battery cable.

Not liable for anything you do, use common sense and know when you're over your head.

 

[ohio_grad_06]

Even without doing all of the disassembly, when I had my old chevy beretta back as a kid, spraying enough carb/throttle body cleaner into the housing after pulling the air hose seemed to do the trick. Car will spit and sputter a bit though.

 

[RMinNJ]

Thanks..unplugging a connector and turning 4 bolts..that explains why they want 100.

 

[RMinNJ]

Does anyone know how to get the wire plug off the throttle body? I pull back the purple tab on the connector but I tried wiggling and pulling and it would not budge..afraid I would break it...everything is plastic.
I did take off the intake tube and sprayed some cleaner on it but that is only one side of the plate.

 

[ScarabEpic22]

Does anyone know how to get the wire plug off the throttle body? I pull back the purple tab on the connector but I tried wiggling and pulling and it would not budge..afraid I would break it...everything is plastic.
I did take off the intake tube and sprayed some cleaner on it but that is only one side of the plate.

Take a small flathead screwdriver or a pick, press gently in on the gray plastic tab closest to the bottom of the connector (it's a retention tab). Then slide the entire grey piece out the back, toward the wires. Now you can press the black part and unplug the connection. Do NOT undo the purple part.

 

[RMinNJ]

Take a small flathead screwdriver or a pick, press gently in on the gray plastic tab closest to the bottom of the connector (it's a retention tab). Then slide the entire grey piece out the back, toward the wires. Now you can press the black part and unplug the connection. Do NOT undo the purple part.

I will look again... I did the back purple part doesn't look like it is supposed to come out separately. Otherwise I'll take pictures and post back. I must say these connectors do not seem the most intuitive.

 

[minitrucking02]

DO NOT spray cleaber into the throttle. Spary it on a rag and wipe it down yourself. Spray will clean it amazing, except where the sprsy congregates at the lowest point, then you get a sht ton of carbon in one spot.
And if you dont let it dry with a turbo car kaboom.
Spray on a lint free rag, blue towel fron a parts store is fine, or take 100% off vehicle and spray in a washer and let air dry for at least an hr, rinse repeat.
Dont go for dealer service and dont DIY unless you knownwhst can happrn if you fkz it up

 

[spacedout]

I would have asked why it was dirty? is there something wrong with my PCV system contaminating it with oil? I put 95K on my cruze 1.4T with no need to even look at the throttle body.

Any dealer that tries to sell you unneeded services should be avoided, its only a matter of time before they will have you on the hook for hundreds of unnecessary "maintenance". I would have loved to ask him why throttle body cleaning isn't listed in the maintenance schedule in the back of ANY Chevy vehicle owners manual if its something anyone actually needed done.

 

[RMinNJ]

Thanks..
I sprayed MAF sensor cleaner I had on the throttle body (plate was closed). The cleaner is good for throttle bodies also and safe on plastic. I wiped it down with a cotton rag..there was no build up and I doubt any got past the plate. Other than some oil in the intake hose (familiar with that on turbo cars) the part I could see of the throttle body did not seem that dirty.

I know its not listed in any service manual but I know as the miles pile on the car it does build up.. My Toyota threw a check engine light and needed it cleaned. But the miles are on my car are not that much and I was surprised of this 'upsell' so soon also...still I do not think it would hurt to take the body off and clean both sides. Its sad that a crappy plastic electrical plug keeps me from doing it.

 

[ScarabEpic22]

Did you clean the back of the plate? If not, you unfortunately didnt do much... This is why it's best to DISCONNECT the BATTERY and remove the throttle body from the car.

 

[RMinNJ]

I cant figure out how to get the plastic electrical plug off...don't want to force it.