How To: Throttle body cleaning 2005+ V6

This weekend I cleaned my throttle body.

Items you will need: 10mm socket/wrench, rags, flat-head screwdriver,wire,wire cutters, Throttle body cleaner, MAF cleaner,tooth brush.



First step: Remove the negative on your battery. I used the 10mm on this.



Next: Remove the engine cover. There are 2 10mm nuts to remove.



Next: Disconnect both clips on the air cleaner housing.



Remove the air filter. If it is a paper one, replace if needed. If it is the K&N filter like mine. Clean it with the cleaning kit as per directions on the kit.


I use wire to pull the air cleaner housing out of the way. Wrap wire around it & connect it to the base of my antenna. (The black cylinder thing on my antenna is my XM antenna)



Next: Remove 2 bolts holding the MAF box.10mm socket



Then loosen the screw -Either 10mm socket or phillips head screwdriver. I used the socket.


Once the screw is loose, you need to wiggle the housing back & forth, pulling to the left. To remove the housing from the throttle body.

Once removed. I use wire to pull it out of the way. Wrapped around the plastic neck, not the hose.


Then I wrap it around the antenna base.


Everything is out of the way without completely removing.


Cleaning the MAF: I put a spare rag at the backend of the MAF housing.


Then I spray the MAF cleaner into the housing onto the MAF sensor. It hangs down & has a circle on the end. Follow the directions on the can.DO NOT touch the sensor with the cleaner straw! DO NOT touch the MAF sensor with anything. Just spray it with MAF cleaner & only MAF cleaner. The MAF wires are very brittle & can break if touched. If you damage the MAF, it will be several hundred for a new one.


This is the throttle body to be cleaned, inside it.



On to cleaning the throttle body: I lay a rag on the engine below the throttle body to catch any drippings.


Use a flat-head screwdriver to open the butterfly.


Generously spray throttle body cleaner inside, the top & bottom


Using a toothbrush, scrub inside the throttle body as far as you can reach. Spray & scrub. Also use a rag with your fingers or wrapped around the brush to get the gunk out.




When finished, reverse the process to put everything back together.

When you start your truck it may sputter at first, just give it some gas. It is burning off any TB cleaner that may have entered the engine.

Good luck!
Sean

If you want to remove the throtlle body to clean it. I will have pics on the next screen below.


Dexdawg found this for cleaning the MAF on an FJ, it looks identical to the Tacoma. Good find!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiEdey2IHcc

 

Great write up....... I am loving the red arrow!!!

 

Nice job, especially the arrow. I've seen a few write-ups where a specific bolt or clip gets described and I'm looking at it wondering "Where in the hell..."

 

Nice red arrows lol. COuldn't you have just unscrewed the sensor?

 

nice write up... how often should we clean these two things?

 

I much prefer to leave the sensor attached... IMO, less chance to screw it up or let it whack into something else.

 

Removing the throttle body: Remove 4 bolts





Then you have easy access to get to the backside of the throttle body. I didn't do this the 1st time I cleaned the throttle body.


Clean all around the butterfly with the TB cleaner & tooth brush, wipe with a rag.



Also spray TB cleaner in the black piece that the TB connects too. Wipe out with a rag. Mine didn't have much gunk in it. Most of the gunk was around the throttle body itself.

According to Chris4x4 the Throttle body bolts should be torqued to 9 ft-lbs.

 

Box lid cut out. LOL

 

nice write up, this should be stickied!

 

I am not a fan of removing the MAF. Since it can easily get broken. Best to leave it in place & spray the cleaner on it several times. Plus having it tilted, the liquid can drip off with the dirt onto the rag on the backside.

 

Thanks everyone. Glad to help.

 

Nice write up! Can we make it mandatory for all write-ups to have red arrows.

 

Thanks for taking the time to do this write up...very informative!

 

You are welcome. It needed to be written up.

I agree, it is always difficult for me to understand when someone does a write up without showing the exact location of something.

I suck @ photoshop, so a box lid was easier.

 

Gotta love how you made it Krazie proof. That is much appreciated.


Repped!

 

Thanks

 

what does this improve sorry im just wondering

 

probably cleans up oil from the filter that is built up on the MAF sensor and in the throttle body. I've heard oil from the filter can really mess up your MAF sensor if you don't take care of it. Idk about if it makes your engine run any better though, haven't done it myself yet.

 

While throttle-body cleaning is good preventative maintenance, it should also help engine drivability. In fact, if you've noticed a rough idle, stumbling initial acceleration or even stalling - all when the engine is fully warmed up - a dirty throttle body could be the culprit. Once you look inside a throttle body, you will probably be surprised at the dirt, gum and varnish that have accumulated there over time.

In severe cases, the throttle plate may start to open and close with difficulty and even get stuck. The first time I cleaned mine. I noticed the throttle plate was difficult to open.

 

It makes a huge difference on how your engine runs. The first time I cleaned mine @ 80,000 miles. It was like driving a new truck. Performance improved greatly. Before the truck was sluggish on take off.