4th gen 4.0L Throttle Body Cleaning (with pics)

[CJ3Flyr]

I decided to clean my throttle body (my T4R has about 66k on it). Was it worth it? I don’t know yet. I do know throttle tip-in feels a bit more responsive and the rpm corrects a little quicker as the A/C compressor cuts on & off (while idling).

I also removed the MAF sensor to clean it, it was spotless. This is the 2nd time I have looked at that, bot times it was good. Toyota made great strides 3rd to 4th gen as far as this issue concerned. The 3rd gens seem to benefit from cleaning the MAF sensor.

Tools: 10mm, 3/8 drive socket, short extension, needle nose pliers, a couple of dabs of grease, cleaner, rags.


Product.

1st two nuts to be removed.

Next lift the front of the cover and pull it towards you. It'll come right off.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

-Using the 10mm ratchet again loosen the clamps (A.) and remove the airbox mounting bolts (B.).
-Next undo the harnesses labeled C.
-Next undo the breather hose (D).
-Next detach the harness standoffs (E).
-Next remove the airfilter and detach it's 'lid' from the inlet hose.

-Next look at the back of the airbox and remove this rubber tubing (E). A quick twist and a pull should be fine. There's no clamp on it.

This is just an orientation photo showing the box loose but not completely removed.

And one after the box is completely removed.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

These two photos illustrate how the throttle body will be flopping around on the two coolant lines. (IMHO there's no need to open those lines.) It also points out the 4 bolts to be removed. Upon re-install a dab of grease on the bolt threads is probably ok but grease lightly. You don't want the engine to suck any and you don't want accidentally introduce a lube that'll eat gasket ring. Torque for the 4 bolts = 21N*m or 15lb*lbf.

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The next 2 show the positioning of the throttle body while cleaning (and the placement of the rag to catch the gook). You can open and close the butterfly with no worries (key off of course).

I took the opportunity to reset the ECM as outlined in my reply here. Good luck! BTW, it took me much longer to edit the photos and type this than it did to clean the throttle body. Start to finish was under an hour.
:cheers:

 

[810moto]

Nice write up Chris! good detail and photos as well. did you notice your rpm's running a bit high for a short while after doing all this? Mine did for about a day. Not sure why but all sets well now.
Again, good job.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Nice write up Chris! good detail and photos as well. did you notice your rpm's running a bit high for a short while after doing all this? Mine did for about a day. Not sure why but all sets well now.
Again, good job.

I just drove it in the driveway and idled it for a minute. It always idles fast for the little bit when I pull the EFI fuse. It behaved pretty much like it always does other than quicker, more stable compensation for the A/C compressor cutting on & off.

I can update better in a day or so

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

You always have nice write ups! Anyway I did that almost 1000 miles ago and I didn't reset the ecu and it still idled high for about a day or two. Also did you noticed that the ac works better or was that just me?

 

[Ruffian]

Holy Schnikes! I've never done this on a V6 before, but crap that's a lot to remove to get to the TB! On my V8, it's much simpler. I don't even bother unbolting the TB....tee hee....little girl hands! Although I had to learn the hard way the TB cleaner is murder on your manicure! lmao It eats anything you've put on your nails. Hey Chris...is there a write up for this on the V8? Maybe I should do one if there isn't.
Good job man!:thumb3:

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Holy Schnikes! I've never done this on a V6 before, but crap that's a lot to remove to get to the TB! On my V8, it's much simpler. True but I'll race you on a oil & filter change any day:lmao: They each have + and -...I don't even bother unbolting the TB....tee hee....little girl hands! Although I had to learn the hard way the TB cleaner is murder on your manicure! lmao I don't even know you but you are such a bad a** with some girlie left in there, just awesome! Love it It eats anything you've put on your nails. Hey Chris...is there a write up for this on the V8? I haven't seen one, doesn't mean there isn't one out there. I am going to link to this in the Maint sticky in a few days. If you find one for the V8 (or do one) let me know so I can link that too. Maybe I should do one if there isn't.
Good job man!:thumb3:

Thanks

 

[Nuke]

Excellent. Thanks for the write up.

 

[szaq]

Since I bought my 2007 4Runner SE V6 in march I experienced engine vibrations on low RPMs.After suggestions from my mechanic,yesterday I cleaned throttle body-thanks CJ3Flyr.I am not sure yet if this helped with the engine vibrations,but I am always learning the hard way :ybrick:.I forgot to remove the vacume hose at the back of the air box and I broke a small air fitting on the box.I used crazy glue to put it together,but I am pretty sure it will not last for a long time. Does anyone know if I can somehow put a new air fitting into the air box?(New box is around $500)Where this vacuum hose goes and if this part is important?Also is this normal that throttle body butterfly is not completely closed?
Thanks.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Does anyone know if I can somehow put a new air fitting into the air box?(New box is around $500)Where this vacuum hose goes and if this part is important?
Thanks.

I would look at a variety of fittings/unions in the plumbing section (I'm thinking ice makers and other small, flex tubing applications) of the hardware store. Drill out the old fitting, attach the new one and use some JB weld to seal it in.

Good luck and post-up what the fix is, I'm sure you're not first or the last to make this mistake

 

[achen]

Poor Fuel Mileage

Hello All,

I need some help here. I have a 2004 4 runner with about 42,000 miles on it. Lately, my mileage really sucks and very poor fuel economy. i was wodnering what i can do to boost fuel efficiency. What if any maintenance i need to do on this truc? The only maintenenace i did ont his truck so far is just oil change, spark plus cabin ari filter and engine filter. Do i need to change the transmission fluid, do a fuel system flush, engine coollant flush, throttle body flush, etc. Are any of the fluid flush cleaning necessary for the 4 runner? I don't know how everyone maintain their 4runners. For example i get about 180-200 miles per hald gallon. About 340-350 for a full tank. Is that considered good? I just don't know if i need to do any maintenance service as the manual doesnt list that many only oil change and spark plugs every 30k miles. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[achen]

sorry for my typos

 

[renep74]

CJ3Flyr, resurrecting the tread from the dead. Did you try replacing the factory metal throttle gasket with the TRD O gasket.

I'm planning to clean the MAF and TB this coming weekend.

thanks

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

You must be thinking of the 5vzfe not the 1GRFE.

 

[renep74]

skyline,

You are exactly correct. I went back and check the write-up it's for 1999 T4R. For 1GR-FE engine, only clean the TB.

 

[Brunes]

Great Write up- The idle and response on my new-to-me 04 is much smoother now.

Dovetails well with a spark plug change, MAF cleaning, ECU reset, air filter change, and general cleaning of crud outta the engine bay. Gunna do my Tacoma soon...

 

[Dougtoms01]

What is the ECU reset? Is that the Check Engine Light? How do you reset it? Newbie here

 

[chaz]

disconnect - battery term. for a few minutes, then reconnect, that reset it so it can start relearning again.

 

[codman232]

I did this 2 days ago along with cleaning the Mass Air Flow sensor, and if you are considering doing this I would highly recommend it. I have a 2007 4runner with 80k miles and it drives like a new car after cleaning the MAF and the Throttle Body. Acceleration is much better and it seems like the 4runner is shifting gears much smoother. I asked my wife to drive it just so I wasn't just over reacting to this but she also said it drives like a new car, hopefully it was because of the cleaning and not from the ECU reset. Thank you for the write up and again if anyone is thinking about doing the cleaning and you have high mileage, I would definitely consider doing this maintenance.