Cleaning throttle body - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

maxima1274 · 07-19-2009, 11:24 PM

Hey guys, recently on my 99 Camry, the gas pedal sticks and sometimes when I'm at a stop light, I have to push with a little more force for it to work. I researched and found out that I should clean the throttle body.

So my question is, is it safe to use Gumout Carb Cleaner to clean the throttle body? Cause I already bought it but I just want to be safe.

BamZipPow · 07-20-2009, 02:05 AM

Just take it back and git the TB cleaner...you don't want to kill stuff just being cheap. Git the right tools fer the right job...

maxima1274 · 07-20-2009, 11:35 AM

A lot of people have said that Carb Cleaner works as well, which is why I was asking.

toyotaholic · 07-20-2009, 12:15 PM

yea, it'll work. just be careful with the straw, it might shoot off.

maxima1274 · 07-20-2009, 01:55 PM

Update...

Welll I just tried to clean it and get out as much of the gunk as I could, but my hand won't reach past the butterfly valve where all the main black gunk is, so I'm guessing my only choice to get as much of it out as I can is to remove the throttle body.

Any one have instructions on how to remove the throttle body for the 4th gen camry?

Oh by the way, the carb cleaner I got isn't the spray kind, so I had to pour some in a bowl and used an old toothbrush to dip it in the carb cleaner and clean as much out as I could.

maxima1274 · 07-20-2009, 02:55 PM

Am I even supposed to clean past the butterfly valve? Will it harm my engine if I do?

Is it ok if I brush off much of the black gunk as I can and leave it there (past the butterfly valve)? Because my hand won't reach in there in order to clean it off with paper towels.

Mike Gerber · 07-20-2009, 05:44 PM

"Am I even supposed to clean past the butterfly valve?"

Yes, and I would also clean the back side of the butterfly valve and where the butterfly seats in the throttle body housing. Here's a good thread on how to do it with some good pictures and a way to prop the throttle body open:

How to: Cleaning Throttle Body -4 Cylinder Engines- With Pictures

I would also recommend you get the proper spray throttle body cleaner or some O2 safe spray carb cleaner. Tape the straw to the body of the can, just in case it blows off. I hope the liquid cleaner you have been using says it's O2 safe on the can.

Mike

maxima1274 · 07-20-2009, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Gerber

"Am I even supposed to clean past the butterfly valve?"

Yes, and I would also clean the back side of the butterfly valve and where the butterfly seats in the throttle body housing. Here's a good thread on how to do it with some good pictures and a way to prop the throttle body open:

How to: Cleaning Throttle Body -4 Cylinder Engines- With Pictures

I would also recommend you get the proper spray throttle body cleaner or some O2 safe spray carb cleaner. Tape the straw to the body of the can, just in case it blows off. I hope the liquid cleaner you have been using says it's O2 safe on the can.

Mike

Ok, after I spray past the butterfly valve, am I done? Because I can't wipe it down that far.