Maintenance tip for 3.4L V6

Yesterday I talked to my buddy whos a Mechanic for Toyota and I asked him for tips on maintenace for my taco. He told me to clean my throttle body because carbon deposit get build up in there. So, I bought some Carb cleaner like he said, I got a rag, spayed and clean my throttle body. Today I drove it to work, OFF the bat i notice my idle is alot smoother. My buddy told me i should get better MPG also. So i totally recommend doing this to your truck. you'll notice a huge difference. IMO

Also, your TB has about 6 little screws that hold a little plate down. Inside that are about 6 or 7 little holes that carbon gets build up in there also spary and clean those holes out with carb cleaner until there completely free of any carbon.
Hope this helps

 

what other tips did he divulge?

 

Just your basic stuff. Oil change, spark plugs. things like that. I'll asked him again on sone secret tips. Lol

 

newb here, where is the throttle body and what's it look like? do you have to take it apart? thanks

 

Did you notice better throttel response as well?

 

1st question: your TB is located at the end of your intake hose. You'll see your throttle cable attached to it. Right next to your manifold.

2nd question: maybe a little but i have the Deck plate mod on my truck so i didnt reall notice a change.

All i notice was a smoother idle. I hope to see a better MPG.

 

Heres some pictures hope this helps.

Picture #1 unscrew the clamp where the intake hose attaches to the TB. Your going to open the Throttle plate so you can clean inside of it.

Picture #2 - These are the little screw that hole on that little plate i was taking about. There are 6 tiny holes in there clean that out.

 

Dude, I gotta know, because I have not had any other conclusive reponses. Have you had any issues getting smogged since you did the deckplate? I know how it works etc., but my only thought is that during a visual inpection, they would fail you for intake modifcation, even if is it closed and all black and stealth. So I am guessing you have passed, maybe more than once? Same shop, different shops?

I am trying to hear some conclusive experience before I carve up that expensive piece of plastic.

 

I posted this same question and haven't had any responses.
Wondering the exact same thing right now......anyone?

 

So you spray both opening completely with the cleaner? Do you wipe it down or leave the spray inside?

 

i have to smog my truck this month. Ill let you guys know. But when i do get it smogged. Im putting on my deckplate cap on.

You get a rag and spray carb cleaner on that. Then open the throttle and whip. you can spary some in there just dont get wild with it.

 

I looked at my truck and I dont have that top plate?

 

so what happens with aftermarket cold air intakes and ram intakes? both are non OEM spec intakes, and they're a whole lot more obvious than a black plastic bump on the OE intake.

 

I just got smogged with my deckplate closed. Its white so it sticks out but I passed

 

Do you have a 4 banger or the v6?

 

The 95.5-2002 Tacoma TB's were just straight drive by cable. The 2003-2004 had the ETCS-I (Electronic Throttle Control System - Intelligent) So It was electronic but also has a cable incase the system failed. So Im assuming since you have a 96 Taco your TB will not have that plate since they are different. Just my guess though.

 

I just cleaned my throttle body about 5 days ago. Not because of this thread but because my truck wouldn't stay at idle, and when I would put on the brakes, it would cause the RPM's to drop and kill the engine. Luckily I had already experienced this once before on previous Toyota models so I knew what to do. Basically just pull off the intake hose, take your can of throttle body cleaner, or carb cleaner (they're basically the same thing), and an old tooth brush. Spray some cleaner into the throttle body, scrub with tooth brush, open the throttle repeat process, don't go heavy on the spray when you open the throttle, it doesn't hurt anything, but it can cause a brief moment of panic when you turn the key and nothing happens, and all you hear is the crank of the engine. you just have to burn off the cleaner, which literally takes 2-3 cranks. Reassemble and your done.

I too noticed an immediate change in the throttle response, MPG...ehh about the same. But everyone should do this probably once a year. The carb cleaners is like 4 bucks at the local parts store. Takes 5 minutes and keeps your truck running clean.

Oh and the other best part of doing it yourself, the stealership wants (last time I checked) $85 to do this.

Oh also another quick tip, get some MAF sensor cleaner and clean that bad boy every once in a while, it will help your engine run more efficient cause it's not misreading air temps & volume.

Taking care of your truck yourself is sooo much cheaper than paying someone else to do it.

 

My Grandfather's truck does this. Now I know what to do. Thanks for the info... rep for you.

 

We need a full write up and then make it a sticky. I am asume its the same for a 2nd gens except we have plastic cover over the engine.

 

Good maintenance tip and thanks for the info and pictures.