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How To: Clean Your Throttle body A CFans Members Mod Project by CpnBnanaMn Skill Level: Moderate

Disclaimer: Please use caution and seek professional assistance when necessary. ColoradoFans.com, the author, and all associated members are not responsible for any damages, injuries or other harm which may occur with this modification. This post does not reflect the views of ColoradoFans.com and it's ownership. Before attempting this modification, it is advised to verify this will work on your Colorado or Canyon, as not all GMT 355's are same!

PURPOSE: To clean the throttle body and remove any buildup that has occurred REQUIRED TOOLS:

5.5mm socket 10mm socket small flat blade screwdriver 3/8" drive ratchet (1/4" works too) Old toothbrush or small medium bristle nylon brush 5" extension for 3/8 or 1/4 drive socket 3" extension for 3/8 or 1/4 drive socket 1 can Throttle Body Cleaner 1 Can Seafoam (Available at any local auto parts store) 1 Can Seafoam Deep Creep (optional) Funnel 3 ft tubing to fit funnel

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. First thing I decided to do was give my engine a good dose of Seafoam liquid to help clean out the combustion chamber. My truck has 78K on it, and was running like crap. Simple enough, I just used a piece of vinyl tubing snaked through my air intake, right up to the TB.

WARNING:Be sure to follow the directions on the bottle carefully. DO NOT pour this stuff into an engine that is NOT running. You CAN and WILL cause hydrolock (the engine will not be able to compress the liquid) and you WILL end up blowing your engine!!!! It's also worth noting that you will want to make absolutely sure your exhaust is WELL ventilated. Begin to SLOWLY pour the liquid into the funnel. You'll notice that your engine will REALLY start to chug. Once you get about 1/3 of the can into the TB, shut off the engine, and remove the funnel and tubing. Let this sit for about 5 minutes. When time is up, restart the engine. Be positive that everyone and anything you don't mind getting all nasty is away from the exhaust on the truck. You see a puff of some nasty crap come out of the exhaust along with a lot of smoke. Don't panic. This is normal, and will subside in a couple minutes.

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2. Remove your positive lead from your battery, as a means to help prevent several possible issues from coming up. 3. Remove the MAF sensor. It requires a 5.5mm socket to remove both of the bolts attaching it to the intake.

4. Next remove your air intake assembly. Loosen the two hose clamps using the 8mm socket, and the two 10mm bolts that hold the resonator to the engine (below image is of stock intake & resonator).

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5. You will also have to remove 2 tubes that connect your engine to your intake (note that this image is an aftermarket intake, so your intake tube may look different, although you’ll still have to remove the two tubes in the hands in this picture).

6. Next, using a 10mm socket and either a long extension, or by connecting a couple short ones, remove the 4 bolts that surround the throat of the TB. I should also note here that I opted to wait until I got the TB off the engine to remove the fuel line and electrical connection. It made it easier to get to them.

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7. Now the electrical connection was a little tricky. Use extra care in removal so not to destroy the retaining clip or keeper. I used a screw driver to slide the keeper back so that the retaining clip could be depressed.

8. Remove the fuel line. Now this one was also a little tricky at first, but once I figured it out, EASY! There is a retaining clip that passes completely through the nozzle that connects to the TB. It DOES NOT come out, but will slide enough to one side or the other to allow for the fuel line to be removed easily. I just used my thumbnail to push on it, and the line came right off.

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9. Now get to work cleaning your TB. Note that at the top of the TB on the side that mates with the intake manifold, there is a little hole. That hole is connected to the fuel line, and is where gas is injected and mixed with air. It'd be a good idea to make sure that the brass nozzle and path to that hole, including the hole are cleaned out. (If you look closely at the pic below, you'll see the brass fuel nozzle, then directly below my index finger is the aforementioned hole)

10. Now, I used the Throttle Body cleaner , an old toothbrush and shop rags for the chief amount of cleaning, and then used the Deep Creep afterwards inside the throat because of the oils that Creep has in it for lubrication. I left a thin film of it on the butterfly and throat. You'll want to take your time and make sure you clean this thoroughly. Any little bit of carbon or crap left in the throat will cause issue, possibly not allowing your TB butterfly to close properly, allow air leakage, and therefore defeating the purpose of this cleaning. DO NOT use ANY sharp objects in the throat to clean out buildup! Your result should look similar to this:

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11. After this, since I tend to be a little anal-retentive about stuff like this, I cleaned the mating surface of the intake and removed and cleaned the O-ring in the groove and the groove itself.

12. Keep one thing in mind when putting your O-ring back. It IS a little bigger than the groove, but it will go. You will just have to work it in. 13. At this point you're over the hump, so now it's time to just reverse the process. Don't forget to reconnect your fuel line, and electrical connection to the TB, making sure that they are firmly seated, as well as making sure to re-install your MAF and re-seat the electrical connection to that as well. Re-install your air intake system, and VIOLA!! Completed.