Equinox / Terrain 4 cylinder Throttle Body Cleaning

This video will cover everything you need to clean the throttle body on your Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain. It should cover MY model years 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017. Please note, this only covers the 2.4L 4 Cylinder models.
It may cover other cars that has the same engine, but there may be variances. This included The Buick Lacrosse, Verano, Regal, and the Chevrolet Orlando and Captiva (sport). These models are not verified, however.
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Throttle Body Cleaner - amzn.to/3c88u2D
Microfiber Cloths - amzn.to/32k2xez
Wire Brushes - amzn.to/2FGwY7n
Disclaimer
I assume no liability for property or vehicular damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. I recommend safe practices when working with any and all tools, including but not limited to electrical tools, power tools, pneumatic tools, any lifting apparatus, including jacks, jack stands, and automotive lifts, manual tools, chemicals, lubricants, and any other instruments used within the video. Due to factors beyond my control, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of all above mentioned tools or equipment, or any other items mentioned above, and all information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not myself or Nexus Auto. Caution is advised and any practices by the viewer is at user discretion. Any tool or part recommendations or links are given for informational purposes only and it should be assumed to be bought at your own risk. I or Nexus Auto assumes no liability for any damages, premature part failures, or incorrect parts made from purchases made online, including but not limited to tools, parts, instruments, jacks, chemicals, lubricants, etc.

[@JustAnotherDronePilot]

Thank you for the great instructions! I have an Equinox with 135K KM's on it, bought it at 65K KM. Recently noticed it would have a rough idle when the engine was warmed up and a friend recommended I clean the throttle body. He said best results would be from removing it and cleaning it but not many people on KZbin showed how to do it. Yours was the first that came up. Thank you once again! I will attempt this when the weather gets warmer.

[@NexusAuto]

Well I am very happy to hear that you found this video. I agree with your friend...definitely give the throttle body a cleaning. It's a very common problem on many newer cars. Hopefully it works out and it's not another issue. But either way, you should see some improvements with the cleaning!

[@hcraig9523]

2016 Equinox, hesitating when accelerating, "reduced engine power" and check engine light. Local place checked it out, reset codes and said come back if it happens again. After much research I settled on the cleaning of the throttle body for a potential remedy. Your video helped this 56 yr old female complete this task. Thank you!!

[@NexusAuto]

That's awesome news, and no problem at all! I am so happy you found this video! Thanks for the great feedback!

[@jeffsnow7464]

Thanks for the video! I had a 2015 equinox at 58k miles that was stalling when accelerating from rest. Cleaned the throttle body using your video guide and the problem is gone! Thank you!

[@NexusAuto]

That's awesome! Glad to hear the video helped out and fixed your stalling issue. Appreciate the feedback!

[@justbryanoroarke]

Really appreciate the effort you put in to make this for others. I've been having horrible issues with my RMPS dropping between 1000 and 500, poor acceleration and jerking at times. I'm going to give this a try tonight. 2012 with over 200K. Even if this doesn't fix my issue, I appreciate the video.

[@NexusAuto]

No problem at all. I hope it fixes or at least helps with your RPMs and accelerating issues. Let me know how it goes. And thanks for the great feedback too

[@rachelmarkley989]

Did it fix it I have one doing the same thing

[@justbryanoroarke]

@@rachelmarkley989 yes fixed it 100%. Mine consumes about 5 qts of oil every 5 weeks and my throttle body gets dirty fast. This has fixed my issue each time I’ve done it.

[@outdoorsman357z]

@@justbryanoroarkethank you for the info. Definitely going to try this

[@jimmiedurham8816]

Hardest part for me was getting the red tab to release from the throttle body harness. It broke on one side. It is at weird angle to get your fingers in the right position to press and pull back on it.

[@NexusAuto]

@@jimmiedurham8816 i hear you there. They don't make these things easy, that's for sure.

[@Hedron-Design]

Needed this. Thank you sir. I saw another video that cleaned the throttle body without removing it and left the dirty cleaner in the throttle. This was much better and you even gave the torque setting for the bolts. Great video.

[@NexusAuto]

Thanks! Much appreciated. Glad to hear the video will be helpful

[@Grief0032]

I never took the four bolts off ornthat red tab. I just hawk tua and sprayed that Thang while it was on. The carbon seemed to still get clean. Does it matter? Or did I mess it up a bit by not fully taking it apart. Great videos!!!

[@NexusAuto]

@Grief0032 haha congratulations. You're the first person to use Hawk Tua on a comment in one of vids. That's awesome! To answer your questions, it won't mess anything up (as long as you didn't go crazy with your hawk tua-ing and oversaturate it). And you'll get some carbon for sure. The only thing is there tends to be a lot more carbon build up on the back of the butterfly flap. So a lot of that will remain there and can still cause issues. The way you did it will be a big improvement, but it won't be 100%.

[@garrettsmith5747]

Great video! Also, like most E- throttles, if you do accidently force the butterfly when it is connected to the car with the battery plugged in, you can unplug the battery for about ten seconds or drain the power by turning the key on and off. Next, hook neg lead back up on the battery, turn the key to the on position, wait for the system to boot up with luminating lights and press the foot pedal to the floor 3-5 times or so, then turn the key back to the off position. After, you should be able to start the car and it should run with no problem as the ECU relearned its restored functions.

[@dean7416]

Is it absolutely needed to use a torque wrench? What could happen if I didn’t use a torque wrench? Thanks a bunch for the video and information!

[@NexusAuto]

No problem at all. Officially, I can only recommend using a torque wrench. That is the only true way to ensure it's done correctly. Unofficially, it can be done without, but there is potential consequences. On older cars, if you were off by a few ft/lbs, it honestly didn't matter all that much. Cars these days are built to much finer tolerances, so there can be issues. If you overtighten a bolt, you can strip it or damage the throttle body itself. If you don't tighten it enough, you can have a potential vacuum leak and have a rough idle. If you're good at mechanical work, you can always go without the torque wrench, but it's at your own discretion.

[@dean7416]

@@NexusAuto Okay sounds good. Hey I really appreciate the detailed response! Your videos are great man you really go into detail and show a lot of the things most other videos leave out. I have a 2019 Chevy Equinox LS with the 1.5L. Do you know if the torque specifications for the throttle body on my vehicle are the same as they are for the vehicle in your video? Thanks again for the help!

[@NexusAuto]

@dean7416 thanks! I really appreciate that! Happy to hear the videos help out. I couldn't confirm for the 2019 equinox 1.5L, but I found specs for the Malibu 1.5L, and the torque specs were the same (89 inch/lbs). I assume it's the same for the equinox, but couldn't confirm this for sure!

[@jrrifenburg6251]

Actually you don't need no torque wrench to tighten them bolts down just the ratchet and socket and when you turn it down it's tight enough

[@paulhooversr8149]

If you don't have a torque wrench, then you should divide the inch-pounds by 12 to convert to ft-pounds. Then use some common sense and intuition to "feel" how much torque to apply to the ratchet handle. In this case 89 inch-pounds is about 7-1/2 foot-pounds, so don't apply more than 8--10 pounds of pressure to the end of the less-than-12" ratchet handle.

[@stevebystrom2322]

Very good video with total clarity on torque specs. Nice job!

[@NexusAuto]

@@stevebystrom2322 thanks!

[@WhoDisBear]

How do I reach mine for my 2.0turbo it’s behind the intake tucked in the back between the brake fluid and engine 😢

[@NexusAuto]

What year is your Equinox or Terrain?

[@Jorge857]

I removed the 4 bolts and the clip but my TB is reeeally stuck. Any ideas why or how to solve it?

[@NexusAuto]

@Jorge857 they can get pretty stuck on and sometimes needs to be pulled or 'worked' around a bit....kinda rock it back and forth. Just in case, I would recommend having access to a spare throttle body gasket, in case the current gets damaged when pulling it off. I would recommend spraying something to help loosen some of the buildup in between the throttle body and manifold. Like PB blaster, or even WD40 or the same TB cleaner. And just work it side to side until it starts to come loose. It may take some work

[@Jorge857]

@@NexusAuto I researched and people say what you said: probably an old sticky gasket. They suggest to hit the throttle body with a rubber mallet. I just ordered a new gasket and decided to wait before removing and cleaning the TB. However, after I tried to remove the TB, I got a code: P16A1 Do you have any ideas on the cause/solution? Thanks!!

[@NexusAuto]

@Jorge857 that's a great idea. Best to wait until that new gasket comes in, then try again. The mallet is a great idea. Some taps and it should break loose. The code is a high voltage code related to a few sensors, likely the throttle position sensor. It could be the harness was not hooked back up correctly or maybe the plate is not aligned? Hard to say without being there to test it as there could be a couple of causes

[@Jorge857]

@@NexusAuto Code disappeared by itself this morning! I’ll wait for the gasket to do the cleaning. Thanks a lot! Btw, do you happen to have a video for repairing a LED in the cluster? My check engine light is not working!

[@NexusAuto]

@Jorge857 hey hey! That's great news! Sounds like the code was a one-off situation. Unfortunately, I haven't made a video on replacing an LED in thr cluster as this time.

[@johnmaas373]

There's another video about doing this job and he said it triggered a check engine light and he had to replace his throttle body. What do u think?

[@NexusAuto]

Doing a throttle body cleaning always has the potential to trigger a check engine, but I never heard of having to replace a throttle body because of a cleaning. The sounds like something else may have been in play, but I could not say for sure. Most times, if a CE light is triggered, it is because the cleaned throttle body either confuses the car and it can run too rich or lean. That being said, I have done tons of cleanings of throttle bodies on all car types (American, Japanese, Korean, German cars of many makes) and never once got a CE. It is possible, but if done right, it would be rare.

[@mistardoyle3042]

lol i guess my 2014 has low miles to at 36k mines clean but it has like green stuff on it like an old penny and looks like some kind of dried up adhesive where the air intake seats on the throttle body for some reason and its like cement and brake clean isnt doing anything to it

[@NexusAuto]

Whoa...36k is low for a 2014. Awesome! Hmmm...not sure about the green stuff. I've done a lot of throttle cleanings, and never came across what you're talking about. My only though for the green color is that it could be some discoloration because of the brass, but that normally happens when there is some sort of water or moisture exposure. Not common at all, but possible. The adhesive, I'm not sure about either. Are you the first owner for this car? If not, I am wondering if the previous owner did some service before. If you are the first owner, I'm at a bit of a loss.

[@Omar-fw4gs]

First of all, do I need to disconnect the battery, the negative axle, or not?

[@NexusAuto]

You don't have to, but you definitely should, just as a safety precaution. If you leave the battery connected, it is as your own discretion

[@B-S1999]

Any recommendations on brake pads and rotors for the Pontiac

[@NexusAuto]

There are so many brands out there, but for brakes, the 2 brands I had great success with are Raybestos and Power Stop. They have always worked out well for me

[@rogerhammel429]

Thanks for video! Easy to do , but u answered all the questions when doing something new!

[@NexusAuto]

No problem at all. Glad it helped out

[@rayspringfield34]

good clean simple job

[@NexusAuto]

@@rayspringfield34 thank you!

[@TheGoch1]

Thank you so much. What a easy fix. My daughter's 2015 Equinox. Everything worked the way you said 🎉

[@NexusAuto]

That's awesome news. Happy to hear the video helped out!

[@lucluc2716]

Thank you for the in depth info, saving lives one video at a time 💚

[@NexusAuto]

No problem at all! Really appreciate the feedback.

[@lucluc2716]

@@NexusAuto no one must underestimate the value of knowledge and having access to proper information. Small details matter 💪youre awesome

[@NexusAuto]

@@lucluc2716 thank you! And you're awesome too! I really appreciate it, and I completely agree with you. Anything that helps people fix their car or save money is a win!

[@ciggityliggity7039]

Very clear well spoken instructions. Thanks you sir

[@NexusAuto]

No problem at all. Happy to hear it is a great vid. Thanks for the great feedback

[@beccaframpton3482]

Just use a flat head screw driver to loosen the second hose clamp… way easier than trying to get a wrench in there!

[@NexusAuto]

For sure, whatever works best for you. I used a ratchet and found that easier, but nothing wrong with using a flat head.

[@darrellrobinson9882]

Great job 🎉

[@NexusAuto]

@@darrellrobinson9882 thanks!

[@coldfusion112002]

Thank you for making this video and sharing it! Planning to do this soon. I appreciate you.

[@NexusAuto]

No problem at all, thanks for the great feedback.

[@jomaalghadab3262]

We thank you for your efforts

[@NexusAuto]

No problem. Thank you for watching!

[@rickbagshaw4064]

Thanks for the wonderful instructions. Piece of cake!

[@NexusAuto]

No problem at all. Glad to hear the video is helpful.

[@victorgonzalez9596]

Great information!

[@darrylburton9225]

Thank You for the informative video, this definitely helped me out

[@NexusAuto]

No problem at all. Glad to hear the video helped out

[@octavianomora5712]

Best video, thanks for sharing.

[@NexusAuto]

No problem at all. Thanks for watching

[@wandapenn2573]

Thank you so. Much I really appreciate it. God bless you 🙏

[@NexusAuto]

No problem at all. And may God bless you too! Have a wonderful day

[@mohammedalbaghdadi9575]

Good job

[@NexusAuto]

Thanks, much appreciated.

[@thatmanbolt2877]

The Awkward Mechanic

[@hasbulla7266]

Change your hair

[@NexusAuto]

Oh sorry. I didn't realize you came to a car repair video to get hairstyling tips. That's where everyone goes for that. Also, no I will not. I like it just fine thanks

[@Bullyproof2]

I have to do same to mybterrain today. I'll you know how it goes. I just liked and subscribed to your page. Thx

[@NexusAuto]

Awesome, thanks for the like and sub. Let me know for sure!

[@Bullyproof2]

@@NexusAuto it wont start. ...tried all I can I think. Literally wont turn over today. Loss for words. My only thought is the throttle body sensor

[@NexusAuto]

@@Bullyproof2 oh no! Was this an issue before cleaning? Or only after the cleaning? Does it even attempt to turn over?