I read alot of posts about doing this but it still seems confusing.
Can anybody tell me (dumbing it down) how to do this please.

On the 4,9 and most likely 4.5 and 4.1 you need to remove the air filter housing, Pull the single hose off the back of the air filter and undo the 4 screws on the air filter box, the whole assemble should lift out.

You may be able to leave it in and do it too, I just find it easier to remove.


you should now see the throttle body which was under the part of the air filter assembly that didnt have the filter, Its a circle with 2 slightly recessed "blades" Have someone sit in the car WITH THE ENGINE OFF and the keys in your pocket or somewhere else, but not in the ignition :)

Have them press the gas pedal down to the floor and the 2 blades open up exposing 2 tubes below them. Those 2 tubes are the ones to rod out with a stiff wire to knock all the black carbon out of them, let it fall and it will burn up which is fine.

I did it myself and just wedged something between the pedal and seat to hold it down

Then you can use a tooth brush to clean the 2 blades, especially underneath them and also clean the sides of the tube. You can use carb cleaner for this, just don't spray it on anything near that is electrical.

Once its clean just put it back together and you can disconnect the battery to reset the idle, or just let it ix itself over time.

I just want to add that you do not need a helper to press the gas pedal. You can easily lift the throttle lever (the part engaged with ISC motor plunger) and secure it with a spacer made, say from a wine cork to hold the throttle blades up.

OK two problems. I only see one tube in the throttle body and it's on the right. I see like a black round dot at the bottom on the left side. Is it suppose to be like that?

Another, after i cleaned it the best i can. I disconnected the battery like you told me to. Now I gotta very high idle at start up. And when let off the accelerator when i'm driving, I actually SPEED UP!

I thought resetting the battery was supposed to cure this?

I think you have a 4.5L which may be different then my 4.9 in some ways, but I am pretty sure you should have 2 tubes. the black dot is most liekly a tube that is just plugged full of carbon. If it speeds up and idles high it probably hasnt relearned yet, since it shouldnt have to relearn with clean tubes I would look into trying to clean the other one, I think one is slightly smaller then the other.

The cars default calibration is for clean tubes, resetting the battery tells the computer the tubes are clean, but if they are not you may get problems like you describe until the computer realizes they are plugged and adjust accordingly, after driving with plugged up tubes the high idle and speed up should stop once the computer "learns" but I would just go out thier and clean the 2 tubes again.

Also remember to be careful with the carb cleaner as it could harm electronical sensors and cause problems aswell

In some cases you have to remove carbon deposits using a drill bit.