Cleaning Throttle Position Sensor and Throttle Body

[campbeam]

I recently got into a situation where my Aurion hesitated upon hard acceleration from a low speed. An internet article suggested that a solution or part of the solution would be to clean the throttle position sensor. Started doing some research and eBay listings indicated that this sensor was a bolt on part. However, as I discovered when I actually removed the throttle body on my 40 series Aurion, the throttle position sensor is actually riveted to the throttle body. Attached picture is from an eBay listing for a used throttle body and you can see that it can do with a decent clean before being fitted..

I had recently cleaned the throttle body when it was attached to the intake and decided to give it a more thorough clean. As I could not actually remove the throttle position sensor, I placed the throttle body so that the shaft for the butterfly valve was vertical. I then sprayed some WD40 into the area a few times and let the WD40 penetrate and hopefully do some cleaning. This was done to both ends of the shaft. Upon reassembly, I attached the lower coolant hose to the throttle body then using a small funnel was able to pour some coolant into the upper coolant hose until coolant spurted out of the throttle body. Upper coolant hose was then refitted.

It took a few attempts to start the engine before it started. I was thinking that the engine was idling higher a bit noisier, then discovered that I had not refitted a hose from the oil catch can to the intake. Everything sounded normal after refitting that hose so ready for a test drive which ended up being a drive to a beach on the Gold Coast.

All good because I was able to test some hard acceleration from 80kph[roadworks] back up to 110kph speed limit. Later when coming home after exiting the freeway, I had a few more tests from a stationery stop at the traffic lights up to the various speed limits. Acceleration and gear changes were totally smooth and I attribute this to a lot of recent maintenance as well as this additional cleaning. Main finding is that it was worthwhile to remove the throttle body to be able to give it that extra bit of a thorough clean to be just like new

 

 

[L4WL3SS]

At least its not a nissan TB where u have to do a reset after moving the valve 

[Sebastian Woodhouse]

On the Ford stuff I play with we occasionally find that popping the “cover” (screwed not riveted on the Ford) and doing a proper gear of the wiper and contact surfaces with contact cleaner and then reliving with the correct contact lubricant works well.  At the same time the drive motor gears get a clean and fresh live also.

 

That said a replacement throttle body is $60-$250 range so you do wonder if it’s worth the effort.

It would be interesting to split the Toyota TB open and see if the same clean routine can be performed.  

[11/16Aurion 12Kluger]

A big killer of TBs is moving the butterfly valve too fast.  It ruins the elec motor inside it.
That link the OP posted mentions that.
Only use TB cleaner!