95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners 4th gen pickups and 3rd gen 4Runners

Throttle Body Cleanout Write-up (w/ PICS)

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Old 10-16-2009 | 03:31 PM
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Throttle Body Cleanout Write-up (w/ PICS)

Ok, so there has been some write ups on this (Throttle Body Clean out) but no pictures. Today I cleaned out my throttle body with it OFF THE TRUCK. I believe this is the right way to do this since you really don't want the carbon buildup going into the engine (at least I don't).

1) I detached the intake hose from the intake box (not the MAF) to the throttle body. I undid the small hose going into the baffles and the clips that hold the wires into the intake hose. These 2 clips are necessary to detach the intake hose from the truck completely.

Clip 1:


Clip 2:



The third clip is optional but it did help me to get the harness out of the way:



I then undid the clamps that hold the sections of hose and the baffles on the throttle body and MAF:



The intake hose should now come out of the truck.

Next I undid all the vacuum hoses and connections on the throttle body:



Next I undid the 2 coolant hoses that go into the IAC:



I used a small set of vise grips (needle nose pliar looking). This allows them to lock while I have the clip expanded.



Don't forget the connection to the TPS:



So, total now we have:
1 Vacuum Hose
2 Coolant hoses
3 Electrical Connections

We still have to disconnect the throttle cable from the body. This is how I do it:



I lift up (turn clockwise) the throttle and slide out the throttle cable toward you with the throttle completely opened up. The cable only comes out 1 way.

With everything disconnected, I then undid 2 nuts and 2 bolts. 2 Nuts on top and 2 Bolts on the bottom. They were 12 mm and I used a deep well socket.



See how dirty!?
The throttle body should now come out (sliding toward passenger side).

This is what you have left on the truck. See the metal gasket? You can reuse that:



Then I cleaned it up really well with carb and choke cleaner. A parts cleaning bin or bucket to dump the carb and choke cleaner is ideal. I especially cleaned out the ports (holes) on the top of the unit:



See how clean?!
Now, installation is reverse of removal. All electrical connections are different. Just make sure you put them all back or else you will throw the CEL. I did this procedure in about 1 hour start to finish without any manuals. When I started it up, it actually had a slightly higher idle but I think it should fix itself over time.

Last edited by stir_fry_boy; 10-17-2009 at 10:00 AM.
Old 10-16-2009 | 03:47 PM
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Pics are messed up, I want to see this!
Old 10-16-2009 | 03:52 PM
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Should be fixed now. On photobucket, there is like 17 different kinds of links that you can use. Now I know which one in the future.
Old 10-16-2009 | 03:56 PM
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Thumbs up

very nice write up! when i did mine i did the same. it idles so much better
Old 10-17-2009 | 01:23 AM
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Very good info!

I should get around to doing this too sometime soon.
Old 10-17-2009 | 08:04 AM
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Great writeup!!

Except for this part:
Then I cleaned it up really well with Carb and choke cleaner out in the street.
I hope others use common sense and do this in a bucket or parts cleaning bin.
Old 10-17-2009 | 09:36 AM
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Originally Posted by SC4Runner
Great writeup!!

Except for this part:


I hope others use common sense and do this in a bucket or parts cleaning bin.
Thanks all!

To be honest, on a warm day (70 degrees F) out in the street at midday, the carb and choke cleaner is just so flammable and volatile that it evaporates either in the throttle body or quickly on asphalt. Unfortunately, I didn't have a parts cleaning bin or a bucket.
But, if people want to use a bucket that is fine.

Anyway, I did fix it so that it doesn't sound like I am advocating dumping toxic solutions out onto the street.

Last edited by stir_fry_boy; 10-17-2009 at 09:40 AM.
Old 10-18-2009 | 04:45 AM
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I remember it popping up on another site but never really paid attention until i saw this, but was there any conclusive evidence of the trd o-gasket having any advantage over the stock d?
Old 11-24-2009 | 07:26 AM
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I did this and now my truck idles way high. about 1950 RPM when cold, and about 1200RPM when warm. Yikes! I did not take off my IAC, and clean it. Is that the problem? My truck runs awesome now, its just idling way high like I said.
Old 11-24-2009 | 04:54 PM
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Originally Posted by cpizzle42
I did this and now my truck idles way high. about 1950 RPM when cold, and about 1200RPM when warm. Yikes! I did not take off my IAC, and clean it. Is that the problem? My truck runs awesome now, its just idling way high like I said.
You may have tightened the throttle cable too much. You need to loosen that. If not you need to reset your throttle position sensor. In order to do this you need to have the truck running, and unplug the front sensor (toward the front of the car). Plug it back in. Your CEL will turn on but after like 3 or 4 key starts it will turn off. That should fix the problem. If someone has a better way to reset the TPS please feel free.
Old 11-24-2009 | 07:10 PM
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Great write up. For anyone planning to do this, it would be a great time to switch to an O Gasket. Link to purchase is in my sig. $6 shipped.
Old 11-24-2009 | 07:20 PM
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I made one out of "Ultra Copper". Sensor safe. I just have a hard time figuring out why they restricted the air flow into the engine so much. The throttle butterfly doesn't even open all the way. Those o-ring gaskets look nice.
Old 11-24-2009 | 09:32 PM
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Originally Posted by stir_fry_boy
You may have tightened the throttle cable too much. You need to loosen that. If not you need to reset your throttle position sensor. In order to do this you need to have the truck running, and unplug the front sensor (toward the front of the car). Plug it back in. Your CEL will turn on but after like 3 or 4 key starts it will turn off. That should fix the problem. If someone has a better way to reset the TPS please feel free.
Thanks bud, thats all it was. It has not idle where it should in so long. It's awesome!
Old 11-25-2009 | 07:48 AM
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which one was it? the TPS or the cable?
Old 11-25-2009 | 11:44 AM
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Originally Posted by 98runner210
which one was it? the TPS or the cable?
First check the cable to see if it is actually pulling on the cable opening the throttle. If not, then reset your TPS by unhooking the electrical connection while it is running and plugging it back in.
Old 11-25-2009 | 06:22 PM
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The TPS plug. I put the cable back in right.
Old 01-05-2010 | 06:34 PM
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Originally Posted by stir_fry_boy
I made one out of "Ultra Copper". Sensor safe. I just have a hard time figuring out why they restricted the air flow into the engine so much. The throttle butterfly doesn't even open all the way. Those o-ring gaskets look nice.
Any reason why you can't just Dremel off the "D"?
Old 01-05-2010 | 07:07 PM
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Originally Posted by zcruiser
Any reason why you can't just Dremel off the "D"?
Not a bad idea. Only problem is it's hard not to make a lip while using a bit that removes a decent amount of material (as in you will now have excess material now built to prevent a perfect seal when it's reinstalled) and obviously it would need to be cleaned real good with all those metal shavings/dust on it. Plus, if you screwed it up, you're dead in the water until you can get another one.

I'd just go with a guaranteed perfect seal, the O Gasket. And I'm not saying that because I sell them...I ran one way before I ever sold them; on my Taco and my current 4R.
Old 01-06-2010 | 06:12 AM
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Originally Posted by rimpainter.com
I'd just go with a guaranteed perfect seal, the O Gasket. And I'm not saying that because I sell them...I ran one way before I ever sold them; on my Taco and my current 4R.
Your site says 'out of stock'
Old 01-06-2010 | 11:12 AM
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Dremel works like a charm. 5 minutes and done. Stainless steel versus paper. In this application, I'll take stainless steel.


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