Anyone has instructions on how to clean a throttle body?

[Jenko]

So my very first post is how to clean my throttle body. A few weeks ago I went to the dealer to get my oil changed and breaks checked and he said I needed the throttle body cleaned and the engine air filter changed. Well, they wanted to charge $169 to clean the throttle body and $40+ to change the filter. I did some research and found the instructions for the filter here and just finished changing the filter. Long story short,

I don't know how to remove the hose in order to clean it. I've watched some videos on you tube but they don't have any for a sonic and as I've never done this before and I don't want to screw anything up, I'd like to know the best method to get to the throttle body so I don't have to pay $169 bucks for it.

 

[RS Turbo]

If you have less that 25k miles on it you dont need to worry about it.... If so the then its warranty because the maintence schedule in the owners manual does not say it needs this service!

 

[ThatTmoGuy]

Throttle body cleaning is just them trying to get more money out of you for a service that is not needed, depending on the motor you have it could be really easy. Go buy a cab of throttle body cleaner from the parts store follow the intake to the throttle body and spray it.

You should not need this service at this time though.

 

[Jenko]

I have 20 thousand on it now thanks a 120mile round trip commute to work so I'll be hitting it soon enough. I've also been noticing a high idle for a while now and just learn recently that a dirty throttle body would be the cause of it.

 

[ThatTmoGuy]

Do you have a 1.4 turbo or the 1.8?

 

[Eric Smit]

how high?


-Eric Smit

 

[Jenko]

1.8. I've been noticing that when I'm just sitting, the idle will suddenly get really loud for a second or two, go back to normal for a few minutes then idle high again.

 

[Eric Smit]

how high?


-Eric Smit

 

[$ub$onic]

I call bs at that dealer

 

[acire91]

What do you mean by you don't know how to remove the hose? Did you undo the hose clamp?

 

[Jenko]

how high?


-Eric Smit

Not sure yet. I just looked up how to check it. Previously, I was just going by the sound of it. Full disclosure: I'm a total newbie of DIY car maintenance so I'm learning as I go along.

What do you mean by you don't know how to remove the hose? Did you undo the hose clamp?

I did the undid the clamp closest to the air intake box when I was changing my air filter but I couldn't pull the hose loose. I watched a couple of videos on Youtube (none for the sonic unfortunately) and they pretty much just pull it free to reveal the throttle body. Clearly, I'm doing something wrong here.

 

[RS Turbo]

Where do you live? have the temps changed? when does this idle surge happen? Watch your rpm gauge how much does it increase and decrease sitting still with your foot on the brake?

 

[ThatTmoGuy]

What you need to do is unclip the house from the air box, follow the hose towards the engine and then unclip it there. I'm sure that your car is behaving normal and does not need to have any service to the throttle body. During the cooler months ethanol content is much higher than the summer and that makes everything run a bit different. Your motor may slightly pick up the RPM to try and keep heat in the catalytic converter so it keeps the exhaust clean.

 

[Jenko]

Where do you live? have the temps changed? when does this idle surge happen? Watch your rpm gauge how much does it increase and decrease sitting still with your foot on the brake?

I live in Miami Florida, eternal summer and/or rainy season.

What you need to do is unclip the house from the air box, follow the hose towards the engine and then unclip it there. I'm sure that your car is behaving normal and does not need to have any service to the throttle body. During the cooler months ethanol content is much higher than the summer and that makes everything run a bit different. Your motor may slightly pick up the RPM to try and keep heat in the catalytic converter so it keeps the exhaust clean.

Though Most of you all are in agreement that I probably don't need it. Still! It's good to know how to do it. I'll try to take it out in a few days just to see if I can do it. Thank you all so much for the quick replies and assistance.

 

[seanp1]

I live in Miami Florida, eternal summer and/or rainy season.



Though Most of you all are in agreement that I probably don't need it. Still! It's good to know how to do it. I'll try to take it out in a few days just to see if I can do it. Thank you all so much for the quick replies and assistance.

You are welcome. Maybe you could take pics and write up a howto?

 

[rdss]

Here's a "how to" on a GM truck.

How to Clean your Throttle Body : How-To Articles

 

[Swif86]

Hello everyone! I just joined today. I have this same problem but much bigger. My car completley stopped accelerating. Meaning, I can't drive the car anywhere right now. If you hit the gas, it just revs high like the transmission went. I do not think it is the transmission though. Like Jenko, dealership said I needed to have it cleaned or my car would completely stop accelerating. Well, that's exactly what happened! Was quoted the same price for the job as well. Can someone tell me how to GET TO THE THROTTLE BODY AND CLEAN IT?

 

[Eric Smit]

Hello everyone! I just joined today. I have this same problem but much bigger. My car completley stopped accelerating. Meaning, I can't drive the car anywhere right now. If you hit the gas, it just revs high like the transmission went. I do not think it is the transmission though. Like Jenko, dealership said I needed to have it cleaned or my car would completely stop accelerating. Well, that's exactly what happened! Was quoted the same price for the job as well. Can someone tell me how to GET TO THE THROTTLE BODY AND CLEAN IT?

if it was a throttle body, it wouldn't rev. your tranny is gone.

 

[Swif86]

Dude are you serious???

 

[Blue hedgehog]

Yes he is.