How To Easily Clean Your 4Runners Throttle Body - Improved Idle and Performance!!!

In this video we clean the throttle body on our 5th Gen 4Runner to restore a nice smooth idle and factory performance.
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Hope you found this video helpful!
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[@joeythedime1838]

Nice video, thank you. I would also mention that when you clean the throttle body take the time to also clean the mass air flow sensor. It's only a 5 minute job.

[@T4Rgarage]

Good call! I’ll pin your comment, hope that’s okay

[@T4Rgarage]

Mass Air Flow sensor clean video here 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGXVhGWfes6biLssi=vZxkHNDpA5yoMlo7

[@jollytime0811]

Thank you for putting together this video! Couple things I will add that I learned after performing this: 1) I removed the cover for the air filter box and found it extremely easy to remove and re-attach the air intake hose. 2) on initial startup, engine ran higher RPM only for about 30 seconds and the engine shut off. I'm guessing it was a protection mechanism by the ECU because it recognized some work was done (correct me if I'm wrong). However, on the second startup, everyone went do normal idle. 3) On test drive, ECU threw a front camera sensor error, but resolved after 5 min. My guess is that the ECU was re-learning it's known values as he discusses in the video. Don't be alarmed if there is strange activity in your sensors initially. I didn't have a whole lot of carbon build-up after 83,000 miles. However, I did notice a SIGNIFICANT improvement in sound and smoothness of idle and acceleration. A great preventative maintenance action to perform. Listen to him when he says to NOT spray throttle body or any other cleaner into the throttle body valve and be VERY gentle when pressing on the butterfly valve. Thanks again!

[@joemarshall5673]

same! except mine died after about 2 seconds on the first startup. i thought i had incorrectly put something back together so i went to check, everything seemed fine then i started it a second time and it stayed running although the rpm’s were higher for like 15 seconds, then it came back down to a beautiful quiet pur. gave me a mini heart attack when it died the first time lol.

[@jollytime0811]

@@joemarshall5673I've come to accept that whenever you do your own vehicle maintenance, you'll have many mini heart attacks throughout life...lol

[@jollytime0811]

I've heard from other forums to not press on the butterfly valve with your fingers for electronic throttle bodies. There is another method of opening the valve by pressing on the gas pedal, but I noticed with my Yaris, that the plate does not fully open making it more difficult to clean. I made the mistake of spraying the cleaner into the body on my Yaris, so definitely listen to him when he says to spray on the rag and then clean. I will attempt this on my 4Runner by gently pressing on the valve with that battery disconnected.

[@T4Rgarage]

Yes the trick is to be gentle and go slowly. I’ve heard this from the Toyota techs

[@rickcastillo78]

Wow, not sure if cars have changed that much, but whenever I clean a throttle body, i remove it completely and clean it thoroughly. Then re install using new gaskets

[@jono7248]

Can't believe dealerships charge so much for this job. Thanks for this!

[@JohnWon-l4n]

You're a dope dude, thabks for this!

[@judithvilla6026]

Really enjoy how approachable you make these maintenance tasks for the average Joe or Jane!

[@LiquidXiron]

Will do this on mine. Thanks for sharing.

[@tubby687]

Can you make a power steering fluid flush video?

[@kentoskentos8428]

Super content.

[@perrylamb6286]

Way useful and very clear! Thanks!

[@almadeunrebel]

nah, take the throttle body off, then attack from the other side. I also changed the TB gasket…No improvement happened to my ‘07 4R, maybe it shifts 200 rpm quicker in the first 3 gears, but I can’t confirm that the TB treatment did that

[@wolfeadventures]

Yes!!! Thank you. 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

[@joeblough4605]

Thanks, I'm going to do this too.

[@peterf4719]

Why not spray cleaner inside? It will burn up and come out as white smoke. Used to clean my 2001 lexus es300 throttle body with car turned on and revinng gas pedal while my dad was spraying.

[@Jon-halos]

You just saved me $240

[@fognua]

why not use seafoam spray

[@richardpierce554]

seafoam does not contain PEA and can damage the catalytic converter or worse

[@joemarshall5673]

what happened after the first time that you started it up ? mine died after about 2 seconds but was fine after the second time. just thought that was strange

[@T4Rgarage]

Sorry for the late reply. Yes, it can run rough for a moment and possibly even shut off. It will idle high for a brief while after the cleaning then settle to a smooth improved idle

[@Treetopflyer777]

I find mine does that pretty much all the time on the first start after I disconnected the battery.

[@Brandon_osborn]

Was this the first time you did this on this car? I have 85k on mine and have never done this 😅

[@T4Rgarage]

First time, yes. You shouldn’t have too much build up at 85k miles but you’ll like have some

[@Brandon_osborn]

@@T4Rgarage thanks! Dealer suggested it for my 90k coming up but said I was supposed to at 30 and 60 also. Oops. I have been noticing a lower idle so I want sure if that was related… great content btw. Followed here and instagram!

[@k31rifleman]

Just did this tonight!!! Thanks again!!

[@joemarshall5673]

did you car die the first time you started it after the cleaning? mine did, but was fine on the second startup

[@fjbT2024]

I was told that the proper way to clean the throttle body on my 13 4runner was to remove the throttle body and clean beyond it. Is that necessary?

[@trendari9977]

The car care nut has a general video on cleaning the throttle body and says don't bother removing it as you would then need to change the gasket. Just do what he does in this video and should work great.