I just cleaned the throttle body as part of the 60k service I'm doing at home. BTW, I used SINYMaxSe's directions at http://freewebz.com/sinymaxse/maintenance.htm . They are pretty damn good, perfect actually. Anyway, I noticed a little better throttle response, smoother idling, and the engine speeds drops to idle nicely instead of hunting (going below idle speed and then coming back up). Most importantly, the steering wheel shake when the car is at idle with the A/C off is gone. :-)
I do not notice more power, or the "more power at partial throttle" that some have talked about. If you have 5-speed, I say it's worth the effort. If you have an auto, I can't really say.

I agree. After cleaning the throttle body on my 5-speed it doesn't do that hunting like you put it when i drop it in neutral, nor do i get that slight vibration in the steering wheel anymore.

Lots of crap in there at 93,000 miles for me, noticed a little better performance. I just loosened at the throttle body and pull off the hose. Great write up, but the first steps make it alot longer job.

What does cleaning the throttle body have anything to do with the car being an auto or 5spd? Talk about making no sense.


I cleaned my throttle body already and I too felt a bit of a difference. I have an auto.

I also cleaned mine last week and felt it gave me better acceleration, especially uphill. Oh also change the coolent temp sensor. (auto)

Mike think I can come by and do that to my car. I will do it the week of May 25 thats when I come back from Atlanta.

A little harsh there aren't you buddy? Anyway, when you drive an auto, the slightly better throttle response may not be noticed at all because the transmission takes time to respond anyway [less time than a manual at least]. Also, when you're driving around town in an auto, the engine doesn't drop to idle abruptly from high rpm as it may with a stick. So the hunting I was talking about may not be an issue with an auto. However, since I do not drive an automatic Maxima every day, I do not know for sure. Since you do, was your throttle body cleaning worth the effort?

Yes it was worth it. My throttle body was very dirty.

Ditto, only i encountered a lil problem last night doing mine. when i was spraying into the TB, the lil straw thing shot off into my TB all the way into my intake manifold ! well i ended up removing EVERYTHING just to 'shake' it out, ended up using a piece of gum on a 8" long metal strap. well since everything was taken apart, i cleaned everything i could reach! No more cold start problems!

Not to be mean but dam thats funny. At least you cleaned it pretty good. I cleaned my TB, it was good for few months but then again the RPM drop etc, came back. I guess I have to clean it again

Its aiight man, i was Laughing my **** off too, it was Yomie's stoopid moment of the month, stay tuned next month....Its aiight man!

I want to comment further about is it worth it or not. Just do it. This was one of the easiest thing that I have done. If you want a headache, go try changing the knock sensor, fuel filter, or PCV valve.

I agree, the throtle body was easy to do except what happend to Yomie. If that happend to my I would have sh@!t a brick. I'm going to try the knock sensor next week.

just remember, to anyone that hasn't done this before, DONT USE THE STRAW! or jsut check to see if it is securely in place! the only reason i say this, is because i don't want it to happen to anyone else on the boards. I am comfy with tearing apart an engine and putting it back together, but i know there are a few people out there that wouldn't even wanna think about it. Yeah it sucked at first, i had somewhere to go, i got ****ed and frustrated, but then laughed about it and fixed it, now my 'click' has something to laugh about. in all seriousness, if i were you and you haven't done it, i wouldn't use the straw!

this was me yesterday when it happened --->

When I did the throttle body cleaning, I was going to use the straw. However, for some reason, I couldn't get the straw to stay on the tip of the nozzle, it kept falling off. So I said the heck with it and did it without the straw. I didn't think much of it at that time, but I'm glad I didn't use it now.

How soon after will I have to replace my oil?

hmm, i'd like to do this, really soon in fact, but those directions are down If anyone can point me in the direction of another set or email me a cached copy, would be appreciated. Thanks.

I cleaned my throttle body after 80k miles, got a lot of black stuff out and polished the butterfly plate, and didn't feel a bit of difference....pretty much wasted my time.

er, i posted this in the wrong group. I have a 4th gen. anyway, would still like the infoze on how to take it out.

I believe most of these guys that just posted did not remove it, just did it while on the car. I did it to my wifes car today and that was just too easy, remove the stock intake plastic and lift the throttle cable I used the straw , but it didnt shoot in since I sprayed from a distance, and a tooth brush and started scrubbing away and then resprayed stuck a rag in there and it was clean. Took me like 25 Mins. Ill do it to my car when I get back from Atlanta.

Ditto that - I did the throttle body cleaning and the PCV valve this weekend - TB took me 20 min - PCV took over an hour (very few tools, had to take stuff off) Next weekend will be more fun - 300zx fuel filter (i have FSTB and ABS)

Well, this past weekend I decided to attempt the TB cleaning, replace fuel filter and PCV. Started at 12:00 P.M. and finished at 4:00 P.M. The TB cleaning was the easiest, the fuel filter was not as tough as many have stated in these posts. It is easier to work with once the TB attachments are out of the way. The top hose took a little while (wear gloves to prevent cuts and scrapes), just requires some patience. However, the PCV valve took the longest! I could not get the top bolt off (brace that holds the elbow hose). And so I had to slowly try and manuever the hose off (what a pain in the **s that was). Anyhow, the car runs much better! It idles smooth now, although RPM's are now running between 600-700 (running at 500 before). It seems to have more get up and smoother acceleration. Will be changing the spark plugs next.

Watch that straw you don't need it. Cleaned my TB a month ago at 55K ...idle in neutral now a 900 RPM, in drive, 750. Rock solid idle and acceleration...don't mess with with idle afterward...let nature take it's course if idle is strong, steady and not over 1K

About a month ago I recall People saying they did this then it F__ked up there idle or something, so WHAT did everyone use to do this with? Is it a special formula used, AutoZone It, Have You Heard of this messing Sh*t up>