So the dealer sez my Cts is not Idling properly due to my throttle body plates being dirty.........

So I would rather clean them myself then pay $150.00 :banghead:


Any tips on how to do this? thanx

Hey, Just take them off and clean with a little intake/carb cleaner and a old tooth brush. Works and it's a lot cheaper.

Hey, Just take them off and clean with a little intake/carb cleaner and a old tooth brush. Works and it's a lot cheaper.



Yeah......sounds good :cool2:

they sell specific throttle body cleaner, be sure to not get the grime past the TB into the intake. jam a rag up in there. its a 10 minute DIY

Ya, I would just take the whole TB off and do it that way.

^^ makin it way to big of a job if you take the TB off....like urb said shove a rag in there...then get to cleanin...just don't try and start the car with the rag in there still...

^^ makin it way to big of a job if you take the TB off....like urb said shove a rag in there...then get to cleanin...just don't try and start the car with the rag in there still...


This is the exact way I cleaned the TB on my Escalade. Have a buddy hold the gas pedal down to open the plates and cram a rag into the TB. Get some TB cleaner and spray it thoroughly, using a soft toothbrush to clean around the hard to reach places. DON'T use carb cleaner to do the job. Remove the rag when you're done and you're good to go.

This is the exact way I cleaned the TB on my Escalade. Have a buddy hold the gas pedal down to open the plates and cram a rag into the TB. Get some TB cleaner and spray it thoroughly, using a soft toothbrush to clean around the hard to reach places. DON'T use carb cleaner to do the job. Remove the rag when you're done and you're good to go.

i learned from the best :cloud9:

i bought some throttle body cleaner for my vette but decided to do my wifes altima first. i cleaned it exactly like the other posts said and it totally screwed the idle up, i had to get a new idle module costing me over $300. i did some reading up on cleaning the throttle body and everwhere i read, it said that it's a bad idea.

^^ chances are you got some gunk lodged into a small tube, or you screwed up the maf.....your not supposed to spray the crap in there...you spray it on a rag and get out as much as you can....if you spray it in there chances are it'll go back into the intake manifold...which is probably one of the reason your screwed up your idle...

i bought some throttle body cleaner for my vette but decided to do my wifes altima first. i cleaned it exactly like the other posts said and it totally screwed the idle up, i had to get a new idle module costing me over $300. i did some reading up on cleaning the throttle body and everwhere i read, it said that it's a bad idea.

Well I'm interested in reading from the literature that suggested this is a bad idea. I have advised people to use this method and several people (including myself) have been completely satisfied with the results. No offense, but perhaps you goofed somehow or perhaps Altima's TB is somehow different than GMs.

Either way I'd appreciate you directing me to the information advising against this treatment.

he's gotta be talkin about a maf......

no, i am talking about the throttle body. i am not a mechanic by any means but i am able to do alot work to my cars, exhaust, brakes, intakes and so on. it's not like i saved any of the info that i have read but they basically said that parts wear down together and if you clean one part it may have ill effects on other corresponding parts. yeah, maybe the altima's are a little different or pickier. all i was saying is that you need to be careful, sometimes little things can become bigger problems.

no, i am talking about the throttle body. i am not a mechanic by any means but i am able to do alot work to my cars, exhaust, brakes, intakes and so on. it's not like i saved any of the info that i have read but they basically said that parts wear down together and if you clean one part it may have ill effects on other corresponding parts. yeah, maybe the altima's are a little different or pickier. all i was saying is that you need to be careful, sometimes little things can become bigger problems.

:hmm:

So where did you read that cleaning a throttle body was detrimental? I can't think folr the life of me how you could have screwed anything up. It's basically a no brainer to do, but thanks for sharing your experience.

spraying carb cleaner or throttle body cleaner that is not sensor safe into the throttle body DAMAGES sensors on or near your throttle body! to ensure you dont do damage to sensors, remove them, spray a rag with cleaner and clean the throttle body. i know and have seen tones of guys do this by spraying the cleaner right into the throttle body and ruin sensors.

I've heard the usual method was to use a soft or worn toothbrush and to be careful not to drop anything down in there. Use as little TB cleaner as possible and then use a rag to clean up after using the brush. I never thought of pushing a rag down there first to keep stuff from flowing over the sensors.

If you don't want the dealer to do it then try an independent shop. They will probably charge a little less and do just as good a job.

I have cleaned mine on my 94 Camaro and it was EZ

Just checked mine and its really clean at 25K so I didn't bother. Air filter looked real good as well. I did clean that. You can dislodge the loose stuff and then I used a shop vacuum with brush attachment.

Then I looked at the engine and it looked dirty with grit and stuff. Off came the strut brace and the engine cover. Loaded up my chassis sprayer with some all purpose cleaner and sprayed the engine down with a hot water mix. Let it soak and then I rinsed it off. Dryed it by reversing the shop vac (blower) and a little towel action and it looks really good.