How to clean the throttle body

[RBS-C5]

I have a 2003 with 21,000 miles. The dealer suggested that the throttle body needs cleaning. He will do it for $103 and they use the "clean it while on the intake manifold" approach. I'm hoping to clean the throttle body myself - if I can get some instructions on how to proceed.

Some folks talk about cleaning the throttle body while it is still attached to the intake manifold, and others suggest removing the throttle body to give it a proper cleaning. So far all the cleaning instructions I've found in the "leave it on the intake" approach have dealt with a throttle body where you could open the throttle plate with your hand (i.e. not the "drive by wire" kind).

If I take the "leave it on the intake manifold" approach, how do I get the throttle plate to open so I can clean it with throttle body cleaner? The movement of the plate is apparently controlled by an electric motor, and the plate doesn't respond to gentle pushing to open it.

If I take the "remove the throttle body and clean it properly" approach, I found pretty good instructions on how to remove and install it (below), but I can't find anything about how to properly clean the "drive by wire" throttle body. Any help here will be appreciated.

By the way, the best instructions I have found so far regarding removing/installing a C5 throttle body can be found by Googling "clean C5 throttle body richard newton" (without the quotes) and looking for the entry titled "Corvette C5 Performance Projects: 1997-2004 - Google Books Result". It is an excerpt from Richard Newton's book. The URL is really long and nasty and would probably never work if I pasted it here.

[vettex2]

240 k on mine and it's never needed cleaning
why does yours ?

sounds like a revenue enhancement package to me......

[ToolGuy]

When I clean them, I take them off and install a new gasket.

My daily driver, when I got it had 130,000 miles on the car, I took it off and could not believe what I saw! The back of it was black like coffee, it had never been cleaned in its life.

At 21K, I'm sure it will show dirt, but not black like mine. I also think the price is too high the dealer wants and the time involved to do the job.

I've had a couple throttle bodies that were sticky until cleaned, but that's just my experiences. When I clean them, if that car has an Idle Air Control valve, it gets cleaned too. The valve is an electric motor, in charge of the idle of course and does get dirt covered which can inhibit its performance.

Our Vette don't have this valve either though.

[c4c5specialist]

HI there,

YOU ALWAYS want to clean your throttle plate at least once a year or 12k miles.

Allthebest, c4c5

[RBS-C5]

Please explain how you clean it once it is off the intake manifold. I've seen posts where a toothbrush and throttle body cleaner and rags are used to remove all the grime. Do you unbolt the motor that turns the throttle plate and do any cleaning in there? If not, how do you get the throttle plate to move? Do you have to be careful not to get cleaner in some places? How about the throttle position sensor? Unbolt it and clean or leave it alone?

[Fixvet]

Originally Posted by RBS-C5

Please explain how you clean it once it is off the intake manifold. I've seen posts where a toothbrush and throttle body cleaner and rags are used to remove all the grime. Do you unbolt the motor that turns the throttle plate and do any cleaning in there? If not, how do you get the throttle plate to move? Do you have to be careful not to get cleaner in some places? How about the throttle position sensor? Unbolt it and clean or leave it alone?

Good questions.

[c4c5specialist]

HI there,

Yes, NEVER get the cleaner on the motor assembly or the TPS

Yes, you may use a toothbrush, but normally, throttle plate cleaner and a rag is all you need. Unless of course you have HEAVY deposits like TOOLGUY!!

Normally, you can simply pivot the throttle blade open and hold it in place while you wipe both sides of the blade. This will not harm anything and is the simplest way to do it.

There is no need to remove either the TPS or the motor assembly as long as your careful with the cleaner.

Allthebest, c4c5

[LLC5]

I have always sprayed the cleaner on a rag and cleaned the plate and throttle body by hand, sometimes wrapping the rag around a blunt screw driver to reach the hard areas.

[RBS-C5]

Thanks for all your replies.

I have seen some posts that said to wet a rag with cleaner and clean/wipe as far as you can reach into the intake manifold. Is this something I should do?

Regarding the suggestion to "pivot the throttle plate open" - I tried doing that when the TBA was still attached to the intake manifold - and it didn't move at all with some gentle pushing. Do I just need to push harder?

[vettex2]

Originally Posted by c4c5specialist

HI there,

YOU ALWAYS want to clean your throttle plate at least once a year or 12k miles.

Allthebest, c4c5

why ?
I've never had to
what is affected ?
it's never been dirty to any extent
maybe my catch filter is good for something.......