Chevy Trailblazer - Cleaning The Throttle Body
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ก.ค. 2016
- It may seem daunting, but it is not as hard as it seems. But it can make a big difference in vehicle acceleration, drivability, operation and fuel economy. Check the video out!
*note*. as mentioned by a viewer, there is a gasket between the throttle body and the intake manifold. It a rubber gasket, and you can see it briefly at 7:55. It is a green ring. This would be a great time to check the gasket for damage, corrosion, or breaks, and replace it if necessary. Or, since you already have the throttle body off, maybe just replace the gasket at this time.
Need some Throttle Body Cleaner? Get it here
Amazon.com - amzn.to/3giZ5Ge
For Canadian Viewers
Amazon.ca - amzn.to/3l6lJF7
Tools required
-Throttle body cleaner
-flat head screwdriver
-long phillips/star screwdriver
-drain pan
-soft/nylon wire brush
-cloths/rags
-ratchet
-10mm and 8mm socket
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 descretion. 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. - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
Thank you for this video!!! It was SOOOO Helpful. Also, I heard on other videos to pull fuse #10 PCMB & #28 PCM-1 (In fuse box right beside the battery- maybe this was instead of pulling battery cable) let it sit 15-20 minutes before putting them back in (this lets the computer know to reset the idle.) Once back together, drive the car around for a little while. I ended up running a few errands and after cutting it off and on at my errands, just when I thought it still wasn't fixed, it started running great. Give the computer time to Re-Learn how to idle with a clean throttle body. (I'm in no way a mechanic, but works great!!)
Great tip. Pulling the fuse can help the car relearn the throttle body, especially if you get a check engine light after cleaning it up. Thanks for watching.
You da man this worked like gold i just found a gem at the auction 2004 trailblazer LT on 85k miles on it new everything cept brakes which i put in yesterday was wondering why the car would shutoff soon as i turned the air off found out this was the issue you're video made this ten times easier...you da man!!! Definitely gonna enjoy this truck
Awesome news, sounds like you got an awesome trailblazer deal! My dads 07, the one in this video, was done 5 years ago and there is still 0 issues with the truck. Enjoy!...My dad loves his TB and never wants to get rid of it!
My god dude you are a goddamn savior, i was having issues when idling because my AC was on
Awesome, glad the video helped. It should be smooth sailing now. And you should see more response and better fuel econ too.
Great video. Just bought a old trailblazer like the one in your video. Needed to clean my throttle body. Thanks for showing me how!
No problem at all! Thanks for watching, glad it will help!
And enjoy your new TB!
Thank you for the step by step instructions! Great video. I'll be doing this tomorrow. Hopefully it will help with the throttle body codes. When the Trailblazer gives the "reduced engine power" light, do you know if it's normal for there to be a strong gas odor and black spritz coming from the exhaust too?
No problem...hope it helped. It should help with the codes too, unless there is a physical failure.
As for your inquiry, I wouldn't say it is normal, but it can happen. That means the engine is running 'rich', or that the car is not burning all the fuel when it goes into the engine, so you are still smelling some of the leftover gas, and that spritz should be the excess fuel coming out. Definitely indicates an ignition issue of some sort (throttle body, mass air flow sensor, spark plugs, wires, fuel injectors, air filter, fuel filter, etc). Definitely try the throttle body cleaning (if you havent done so already) and then go from there.
Thank you for this video. It was exactly what I needed to repair my Trailblazer. Your video helped me save a few hundred in repairs because I was able to do it myself using your directions.
That's awesome news. I always like hearing stories like this. Glad the video helped out, and thanks for watching.
@@NexusAuto hey man what do you have on your intake manifold where a vacuum line looks like it should go? Is it just capped off? Looks flat but cant tell. Any help would be appreciated. Btw I have the one with fuel regulator. It's not so bad pretty easy to clean as well. Nice video though. Liked and subd
@@Matthew-ev4cv yep, mine has a cap on it as well. I have seen some have a line run from it (not sure where it goes, never checked), but I've seen quite a few with it capped off, mine included
@@NexusAuto guess I need to find me a cap ugh mechanic lost mine
@@Matthew-ev4cv damn that sucks. The hunt begins! I don't think they cost too much. Not sure how hard they are to find though. Hope it's easy enough
Excellent video! A little more info on unhooking the clips is always appreciated, the damned things!
Tell me about it! They are a giant pain. Thanks for the great feedback.
Love these 4.2 vortec engine's! I have an 02' GMC Envoy SLT XL & boy is she a workhorse,solid SUV with over 278,000 on her! Right now I have a catalytic converter issue (needs replacing) a few new suspension parts & an intake seal has a little oil leak,but man she runs just fine considering the age & mileage. I'm actually shocked at how well she's performed under strenuous conditions! I also have an 05' Envoy Denali (5.3v8) that I'm putting a motor & trans in for a second vehicle that I got for $250 that's in immaculate condition even better than my 02'! I hope the 5.3 is just as mechanically sound as the 4.3 is but with more power that I could definitely enjoy! I wish GM would bring back the Envoy with the same standards in mind but just an updated version I would definitely be in line to purchase! Happy trailblazing my fellow Trail/voy community the heartbeat continues!!👍💪
Me too! I think those 4.2L Vortec are amazing! They just keep on going! Honestly, most of these TBs/Envoys are completely sound vehicles! Those few things you have, I.would just chalk up to age and wear and tear. Looks like that'd a win in my book. Sounds like you got a sweet deal on the Denali too. Those 5.3L are amazing. They have their few issues (ie knock sensors) but they are solid and reliable too. Hope you get many more years out of them!
@@NexusAuto Thanks and do you have any personal dealings with the 5.3 v8 is it as reliable or more than the 4.3 vortec and do you recommend me doing anything prior to installing it being that it'll be out of the vehicle which makes preventive maintenance much easier. Parts to replace or upgrade before installing?? Thanks in advance 👍
@@justmy2cents_ I do have some experience with the 5.3L, but in other forms and variations, in other platforms. But I do know people who have the 5.3L and swear by them. There really isn't a lot that goes wrong with them
Off the top of my head, I would do the usual tune up stuff, particularly spark plugs. I would also change the knock sensor, as it does fail on these vehicles and are a pain to get to with the engine in. Make sure they are torqued to spec. And not related to the 5.3, I would say to check your Power Steering lines. They do tend to rot, especially on the little holder attached to the driver side fender area, and these lines wrap all the way around from the rack, across the driver side frame, along the front subframe and up to the reservoir. Its a giant pain to do with the engine in, so if there is any sign of rust, change em. Other than that, not much else I can think of at this point
Was having ac problems id turn on my ac and it was stall the car, cleaned my throttle body and no more stalling issues
Awesome. First time I heard of the effects of the AC causing a stall, but makes sense...extra strain on the engine, probably not enough air getting in, and stalling it out. Glad the video helped fix the issues!
Just did this with carb cleaner. Only thing that worked. Also I out in new STANDARD Blue Streak coil packs today. Runs good again. I swear after college I'm buying a Toyota
Very informative! I have a 2008 Trailblazer that is throwing a P0121 throttle/ pedal code and I'm going to give it it's first cleaning in hopes that fixes the issue! Thank You!
Awesome news! Hope it works out and that code gets cleared! Good luck!
Dont stop there. Clean the PCV orifice. If the throttle body is gummed up, or if there is any other evidence of blowby gasses in the air plenum upstream of the throttle body, then the PCV system is inoperative and needs to be cleaned.
My 02 Chevy trailblazer doesn’t want to turn on anymore after I turned it off reduced engine power came on dash and throttle body butterfly doesn’t not want to open manually when I went to clean it dose that mean it’s no good and it needs to be replaced? A reply would help and I would really appreciate it thanks man I also changed spark plugs cause two we cracked
If the butterfly is stuck, I would consider getting a new throttle body for sure. You may be able to loosen it by forcing it, or constantly soaking it in throttle body cleaner, but there is a possibility of damage inside. Definitely dont force it (unless you have already), but just spray the hell out of it with cleaner, and let it soak, wipe away, and spray again. It may break up the build up. if you are spraying and not seeing any carbon leaking out, then the inside is gummed up and you should replace the Throttle Body
Thanks for this awesome video! I have a 2005 TB LT and it drives nice on the freeway but idles a little rough at stop. Might this solve it? Thanks!
No problem at all! Unfortunately, there can be a few causes for that rough idle, but this is definitely a potential cause. I would say to give it a try for sure. Even if it doesn't fix the rough idle, it will help the vehicle
These 4.2 L have a history of working the intake manifold bolts loose. They arent to hard to reach, luckily. A rough idle and drivability problems at low throttle, but otherwise smooth running at highway speeds is indicative of a vacuum leak.
I found one trailblazer that could barely run at idle but drove fine at highway speed. Every single intake manifold bolt was no more than finger tight.
Great video. Nice step by strp
Thanks, much appreciated
Thanks for the video. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I just did this to mine (2003 Trailblazer 6cyl) and it worked like a charm. I wish all car repair videos on TH-cam would have the year, make and model in the title and/or description, of the vehicle being used in the video :) It would help for us novices.
Hey Dan. Thanks for watching and for the feedback. I will see about maybe adding the model years in the descriptions in future videos. I wouldnt add it to the title, as that sometimes can make it too long (depending on the make, model, and years covered), but I will definitely take your recommendation into consideration when it comes to the description. Thanks again
@Daniel Theriot this is a 2007 with a 4.2L
Do you have to disconnect the battery befor you do this?
Jasen Swett technically, you can do this job with the battery connected. But for safety concerns and to save any potential damages, better to disconnect the battery
Thanks good tipped .
No problem at all!
IF YOU HAVE A TRAILBLAZER AND IT ALMOST STALLS AT IDLE.. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE HEAT IS RUNNING, DO THIS!
I was skeptical as always, ended up at 3 different shops before I saw these threads and videos about this. Took me 45 minutes and costs $10 bucks. Please Don't be stupid like me and deny that this is your issue. I'm telling you...It will fix it!
Thanks a lot for the support and vote of confidence. Amazing what cleaning that throttle body will do for the car. Glad to hear your TB is working well again. Thanks for watching and the great feedback!
My 2005 don't almost stalls at idle but the rpm drops too like 500 then goes back up (has been getting worse the past 3 years I've owned it) (never seen a check engine light) im going too do this tonight too see if it fixes it :3
So i cleaned it (the plastic tube broke off the intake... >_
but only temporarily.
Hi, when you clean it did you move the “coin” with your fingers? I’m about to do this to my engine but I’m afraid to mess the TB up. Thank you
Hello. Sorry for the late reply. You can move the plate slightly, and it does have the ability to move. But I would advise caution. 1. If you push it too much, it can damage the unit. Only move it a little. 2. Be VERY careful. the plate is sharp and you can get injured. But if you remove the TB completely, you should only need to move the flap minimally. Hope this helps.
Nexus Auto Thank you !
No problem
How do u know when it should be replaced rather than clean?
Typically, if the butterfly flap cannot be moved, or is extremely stiff even after cleaning, or if it does not respond to throttle input. But if that is the case, the car will not start.
great video !!!!
John Daff thanks! appreciate it
NexusTMPG you got it !!!! subd !!! my 03 trailblazer ran great after I did this , it was sending crazy codes but this was the main problem ..next is the thermostat , here we go !!!!!
7 years later and saving my ass today. Car stopped running yesterday (would start, but defroster would kill it unless I reved the engine. It's 26F here, so I kinda need that) but it fixed it and started running better. I'm assuming my throttle body either hasn't been cleaned in years or hasn't been cleaned at all. Mines an 04 LT if that makes any difference, but everything was pretty much exactly the same.
Awesome news! Happy to hear that this fixed the issues, especially with that cold weather. Your LT should run a whole lot better now, and fuel econ should be better too!
@NexusAuto oh yea, significantly better. Idles better and got rid of my SES light, drove almost 10 miles and SES isn't on anymore. I hope I get better gas mileage, I average 12 mpg as of now, but hopefully, the clean throttle body helps that as this is currently my daily driver.
Which codes are you getting? I am getting code po440, I did a smoke leak I dont have any leak,
Jose Vanegas that's what I have. Haven't checked for leaks but I hope I can find a fix
When removing it to clean it, didn't the throttle body go out of calibration?
Nope, and generally speaking, it never happens on any electronic throttle body that I've cleaned, doesn't matter if it's American, German, Japanese or Korean made.
Vehicles also have their own adjustment/relearn procedure as well. That's why, sometimes after a cleaning, the car will feel different (aside from power and fuel economy improvements) and then after a short drive it corrects itself. The vehicle does the opposite as the throttle body gets dirty...it adjusts based on the condition of the throttle body itself and what airflow it can read.
Now, at the same time, if a throttle body was really dirty, or if the plate was sticking before cleaning, it doesn't hurt to do a throttle reset/relearn. Every vehicle has a different way to do it. But if it was really bad, you may want to give the vehicle a fresh start and reset throttle settings.
Very good. I'm good with that
Awesome. Glad to hear. Thanks for watching!
Does this work for a 05 Trailblazer LS?
It should. This should cover all 6 cylinder Trailblazers, which is the engine in the LS, if I recall.
Hi.
Squirrel chewed through my throttle body/spark plug wiring right at the plug that meets them both. We are trying to replace the wiring. Do you know how to get the wiring to release from the plug? We removed the front cap of the plug and tried to push down on what we think are the spring clips but it won’t release the wire.
Any help?
Thanks!
To be sure, are you talking about taking the wires themselves out of the wire harness? If so, there is a tool you can buy that helps remove them. I think some electrical shops sell them, along with Amazon. If that is what you are talking about, let me know and I can get you a link
@@NexusAuto yes it would be the wires out of the wiring harness but all I have is severed wires and I don’t see a spot where the wires would have come out of. It’s really strange. It’s like the throttle body was never connected to anything even though the truck was running for months.
I would be interested in that tool . Thank you.
@@dirte212 damn, sounds like those squirrels made a mess of everything. Here is the tool...hopefully it is what you need.
amzn.to/3piiFr7
If not, and I misunderstood, let me know and I can try and help further.
Hate it when animals get into stuff. They cause a whole bunch of issues that is really annoying to fix. Hopefully you get it sorted.
You sure it wasn't a chipmunk? They like the soy on wiring. I got a free Craigslist treadmill to scavenge the DC Motor - the young lady didn't know the cause. Took it apart and a chipmunk was clamped onto the live wire.
Awesome video!
Thanks, much appreciated.
I also needed to replace the fuel regulator, that took care of the issues that had been encountered by the Trailblazer, 03, with 115,000 miles on the clock! We've had it since '06. Very few winter months of use in Wisconsin too! It shows that 🤗 Happy Dance
@@normanhopfensperger4343 hey hey! That's awesome news! Sounds like you treat your Trailblazer well and take care of things as they come up. Amazing mileage! The one in the video is my dads...he loves it and swears by it. It definitely does the job. Happy to hear yours is still going strong
Yup, we are the second owner, it's also a black beauty! I am looking forward to adding power seats and fog lights to it, possibly next year 😀 It only had 39,000 miles on it, in 06. Slotted and drilled rotors and ceramic pads all the way around. No curb rash on the original aluminum wheels too!
@@normanhopfensperger4343 Awesome! Sounds like it's in excellent condition! Love the brake set up you have too! You know how these GMT360 vehicles are. True workhorses, and nice to drive and look at too1
I did everything as u did , but after my Jeep idles fast , don't even have to push on the gas when going ? Help
There are a few things that can be causing this. One thing is that the throttle body flap may not be sitting right and is allowing too much air in, and causing the high idle. Also, and this is more likely that cause, is that the throttle body needs to be reset. You can do it with a special scan tool or with some key turns, but you can also just disconnect the battery and leave it for a few hours. That sometimes resets the throttle body and it sill start to run normal again. Hope this helps
Does it have to be reprogrammed or should you disconnect the battery. 👍🏻
It *MAY* need to be reprogrammed. I've done tons of different cars from all manufacturers, and haven't had to reprogram one as of now. But it can happen. If it does, you can either hook up a scan tool and reprogram(if you have one), there is another method also out there where a scan is not needed. And you can do the old 'disconnect battery' trick. Just leave it for a couple of hours and it should reset. But it will also reset many other settings too. Not a big deal, but just a heads up
Thanks for the information great video by the way it’s people like you that make the world a better place to live 👍🏻
@@FireEater I really do appreciate that! And people like you leaving feedback like that make the world better too. I wish everyone interacted like. Much appreciated.
no and no
do that and going to past you inspection , i did it engine light disappear , past inspection
I definitely helps! Thanks for watching
I tore the hose off of the front of the resonator while doing this and I can’t find a replacement part online
I was not aware of the hose being sold separately. I checked with a few online stores and local stores and none sell them. My only recommendation would be to try and get it from a junkyard, if possible.
Nexus Auto there is a plastic piece that came off with the hose that I Jb welded back on and reattached the hose to. It has held up so far. Thanks for the video it was extremely helpful!
@@wesleysmotherman8567 nice...very creative fix. I think that should hold up well. And no problem at all on the video...thanks for watching! Appreciate it!
7:05 I cant tell what your putting your finger on and what you are squeezing but mine will not come off
No problem. At the 7:05 mark, on the connector, there is a little grey clip (it looks like a C) and then a black tab in the middle. You need to press on the black tab in the middle while pulling the connector off. Sometimes they get jammed with age, so you may have to wiggle it a little bit. Shouldn't need very much force though
Subscribed! Thanks so much for the reply! I couldn't remember for sure how to get those connectors loose and did not want to end up breaking something. . The grey clip was stuck from age but I got it finally after seeing another video. I unplugged the battery, cleaned the throttle body and so far po171 is gone. Now onto the po420.😵💫
@bsavvy32 no problem at all, and thanks for the sub! Much appreciated. Great news to hear you found the info and got the P0171 taken care of. Hopefully P0420 goes well..it never ends, right? Lol. Thanks again for watching!
If you do not have the dealership throttle body relearn tool I wouldn't do this. Many people are reporting extremely high idle after doing this.
The throttle body relearn tool is ideal, but in my opinion, not necessary. I have done a lot of these throttle body cleanings on fly by wire throttle bodies, and almost all have not had issues, including a few trailblazers. I am not sure about the many people reporting it...may be your experience on the matter. Cars are equipped to relearn the throttle body cleaning, and I can only see if being a problem if the TB was really really bad. Even in the comments here, only one person seemed to have issues, and they unplugged fuses and the battery and waited a bit, and the computer relearned on its own. Still, having the tool never hurts, and if someone can obtain one, it is a 'nice to have'. Especially since these fly by wire throttle bodies need regular cleaning.
my idle speed went down significantly after I cleaned the throttle body.
Isn't there a gasket between the throttle body and the intake?
Yep, you can see it briefly in the video, at 7:56. It's a green one. If you are cleaning the throttle body, it would be a good time to change it.
@@NexusAuto I can't see it, maybe it shows for a 1/10th of a second. My point is, YOU never mentioned it nor in the video did you suggest to change it.
@@NACHALCHAIM Really, I thought you were asking a question because you weren't sure, and I was helping with the answer. Didn't know you were trying a 'GOTCHA' saying I didn't mention something.
These gaskets are flourocarbon rubber, and GM themselves say they are a 'lifetime' gasket and does not need to be changed. Unless there is an intake leak, they don't really need to be changed unless cracked or broken. So it wasn't mentioned. It's not a paper or cork gasket.
So, sorry I didn't mention. Hope this helps clear things up, and you have a great day.
@@NexusAuto I didn't mean it as 'gotcha'. I meant it as a big omission. A lot of people watching TH-cam videos of DIY mechanics can turn a wrench but don't really have an understanding. The way you portrayed your video it appears that the gasket is not important and some following your directions may not put it back, or put it back even if it is damaged. You should redo the entire video and include the gasket.
@@NACHALCHAIM I understand your concerns on the gasket. It wasn't really mentioned as it shouldn't even need to be put back or anything like that. It's seated inside the intake manifold housing, with a notch on the gasket to hold it in place, so when removing the throttle body, the gasket isn't even touched. It doesn't come out with the throttle body.
But I get it. Especially with taking the opportunity to inspect the gasket, at the very least. It would be a good time to check it out and make sure it's not damaged/broken/corroded.
I'll see if I can find some way to incorporate that into the video somewhere. I wouldn't refilm it, but I'll see what I can do
Its great that you now have a clean throttle body, but you never fixed the root of the problem. Your PCV orifice is clogged! Look between the intake manifold between Cyl 3 and 4, there is a short 5/8" hose between the intake manifold and the inside of the crankcase., There is a little hole (that you cant see) that allows vacuum to suck air continuously from the crankcase to the intake manifold. If you keep it clean, there should never be crankcase gasses up in the plenum to gum up the throttle body.
I use a few squirts of denatured alcohol into that tube just before I change my oil, and then pressurize the hose slightly to blow it thru the orifice to keep it clear.
Is this so easy that an idiot can do it? I'm an idiot. Mine has an identical engine 2007 Trailblazer LT
Well, it all depends on your skills with tools and automotive. But as long as you follow along to the video, I think you should be ok. Best rule...if you watch the full video and it feels like too much, get someone to help or bring it to a shop. If you look at it, and even if you say 'It looks tough, but I think I can do this' then give it a try. You have to know your skill level. Hope this helps
What's the sence of cleaning the throttle body butterfly? I don't get this video at all..... I mean the throttle body sensor is what goes bad on these TB's, not the fact that it's dirty (butterfly). 🤔???
No worries, I can answer this for you.
2 reasons to do this.
1. You are right, one of the reasons any fly by wire throttle body goes is the TPS. However, a big reason for that is when carbon builds up on the throttle body, it causes significant resistance increase to the throttle body, which is one of the leading causes for the throttle body motors to fail.
2. A more common issue is when the carbon builds up on the butterfly plate, it starts having adverse affectson power delivery and fuel consumption. I have even seen cars have starting and idling issues from a carbon covered butterfly. Once it is cleaned, issues are gone.
This is only a recent issue. with throttle cabled TBs, the lever action would force the butterfly open. However, since the fly by wire has come about, this is very frequent. I have done dozens of cars from all manufacturers, and it is a major improvement every single time.
@@NexusAuto Wow! Makes a lot of sense, thank you for the heads up I will start cleaning them from here on! 👍
@@salvadorhernandez3404 No problem at all. Happy to help!
02 is faster for taking parts off
U should have replaced the gasket
IT is always a good idea, but if it is in good condition, it can be kept. But best practices is to replace it for sure. Good tip!
you video is so hard to watch. you wiggle the camera so much it make me nauseous
I hear you Dan. At the time. I used to film most videos either completely or mostly free hand....bad idea for videos like this. Sorry about that. I have since adopted using a tripod a whole lot more. Wish I did more of that in this video. Thanks for the feedback!
@@NexusAuto good video other wise. Thanks for creating it.
No problem at all. Hope it helps!