Classic throttle control via rigid rods or flexible throttle steel cable is gradually becoming a thing of the past. No one modern engine cannot do without microcontrollers and compact electric drives, so it is not surprising that the accelerator is controlled by the engine control unit. Today we will try to dispel the popular belief about the complexity of the electronic throttle and tell you how to clean it yourself.
Design, principle of operation and advantages of the E-throttle
An electronic throttle performs the same functions as a mechanical one - it regulates the amount of air entering the engine intake manifold. Structurally, it consists of a housing with a throttle chamber and a damper mounted on a movable axis. The main differences are in the drive mechanism.
Previously, when the driver pressed the accelerator pedal, he set a cable in motion, which turned the gas sector to desired angle. Today, the rotation of the damper is controlled by an electric drive installed on its axis, and the degree of throttle opening is regulated by a command from the power unit control unit. Having lost its mechanical function, the gas pedal plays the role of an analog-to-digital converter - with its help the degree of depression and the speed of movement of the driver’s foot are monitored. At the same time, the electronics control the behavior of the accelerator pedal and analyze many engine operating parameters.
The design has become more complex, and therefore less durable, right? However, in reality the implementation electronic drive allowed us to obtain a number of advantages:
- electronic control prevents the risk of accidentally opening the throttle too far when starting off;
- by setting the optimal fuel mixture ratio in all operating modes, the device prevents jerks and dips in engine operation and contributes to its efficiency;
- working in tandem with ABS systems, EBD, ESP, etc. The E-throttle is an extremely convenient tool for timely changes in traction forces.
The electronic accelerator mechanism, on the contrary, has become simpler. Thus, there is no need for a mechanical idle speed controller with its diaphragms, valves and transition channels. In an electronic throttle, they are installed by turning the damper at a small angle. This happens at the command of the control unit; it is possible to program the degree of its opening depending on the temperature of the incoming air, the degree of engine heating, etc. For the same reason, the need to heat the throttle device was eliminated, which is why it was also possible to simplify the engine cooling system . 
As for the mechanics of the electronic gas pedal drive, it consists of a simple gearbox, a pair of plastic gears and a low-power electric motor. Problems are caused by the electronic accelerator control board, which interprets the commands of the microcontroller and provides it with information about the position of the damper. If we talk about the reliability of the design as a whole, then more often problems associated with malfunction electronic gas pedal, disappear after thorough cleaning of the unit from dirt and carbon deposits.
Causes and signs of throttle valve contamination
Since the design of electronic throttle valves is no different from traditional type devices, they require periodic cleaning of the throttle valve. About the need Maintenance The electronic gas pedal shows the following signs:
- difficult starting of the power unit;
- unstable engine operation;
- dips and jerks when trying to gain speed;
- slow response when trying to increase or decrease speed.
Accelerated deposition of dirt and carbon deposits on accelerator parts is facilitated by operating a vehicle with a clogged fuel and air filter, damage to the air duct, and prolonged driving. low-quality fuel. But do not think that contamination of the unit occurs only due to insufficient attention to the car on the part of the driver. Increased contamination is caused by the appearance of oil dust in the crankcase gases due to wear of the cylinder-piston group - in this case, the situation can only be corrected by engine repair.
How to clean the electronic throttle body without removing it from the car
Experts recommend servicing electronically controlled throttle valves at least once a year or every 20 thousand kilometers. It is better to perform the damper cleaning procedure before the onset of autumn rains, for which there is a logical explanation. The fact is that due to the increased humidity of the incoming air, dirt deposits on the drive parts, axle and damper soften. Because of this, the throttle sticks, which makes it impossible to control engine speed and can cause an accident.
On most foreign and foreign cars domestic production the electronic gas pedal drive is installed directly in front of intake manifold. The accessibility of the mechanism and the ease of its maintenance make it possible to carry out preventive maintenance in literally 15-20 minutes.
For this you will need:
- carburetor cleaner (replaced with gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, etc.);
- silicone lubricant in the form of a spray;
- rags;
- a screwdriver with a flat or Phillips blade (depending on the type of screws used to secure the air supply pipe);
- a brush with stiff bristles or a toothbrush;
- protective gloves.
It is better to do the work sequentially - this way you will avoid mistakes and be sure that you did everything correctly:
- Using a screwdriver, loosen the clamps securing the air supply pipe and disconnect the corrugated hose from the body of the electronic accelerometer.
- Press the throttle valve, turn it 90 degrees and conduct an external inspection. Dirt and grime on the walls of the case are sufficient reason to start cleaning immediately. Resinous and soot deposits primarily clog the gap necessary for the engine to operate at Idling. Because of this, the speed becomes unstable or power unit and completely stalls due to the loss of air supply. In addition, touching the valve to a thick layer of carbon deposits causes it to jam and contributes to increased wear of plastic gears and other drive parts.
- Lock the throttle in the open position. To do this, place an object made of wood or plastic of suitable thickness between the damper and the inner wall of the case - for example, the handle of the same screwdriver.
- When starting to clean the unit, generously moisten the inner walls and damper with detergent. Pay special attention to those places in the throttle chamber through which the valve axis passes - the tar deposits accumulating there are precisely the reason for the rotation unit jamming. As a result, the throttle turns jerkily and makes driving uncomfortable.
- After waiting 10-15 minutes to soften the blockages, they are removed with a brush. If necessary, the process is repeated many times, achieving complete cleaning of the throttle. Keep in mind that on some car models the throttle chamber walls are coated with a special molybdenum coating. The extremely smooth layer promotes laminar air flow in the channel and prevents soot from settling. Do not confuse this coating with carbon deposits and do not try to remove it. On the contrary, use gentle cleaning methods and abandon the hard brush in favor of a soft flannel cloth.
- After achieving a soft, even shine from the walls of the inner chamber, clean the front and rear sides of the throttle valve.
- Wipe parts and surfaces dry with a rag. Blow out the assembly additionally compressed air.
- After cleaning the throttle valve, to electronic pedal gas worked softly and smoothly, apply silicone grease on the axle, the valve and that part of the throttle chamber to which it adjoins.
- Attach the air duct and tighten its fastening clamps.
After intervention in the unit, the throttle valve position parameters will change, so in some cases it is trained. If (“floating”, as auto mechanics say), then reset the volatile memory of the controller by briefly disconnecting the “positive” terminal from battery.
And the last thing I would like to remind you: when starting for the first time, do not press the gas pedal until the engine warms up. Ensuring engine operation at rated speed over a wide temperature range, you will allow the controller to adapt to changing conditions and set the optimal idle settings. In the future, this will make it possible to operate the car without any surprises from the outside. throttle assembly.
Seal
The throttle valve in modern automobile gasoline engines is a device that, along with other systems, is responsible for regulating the composition of the fuel-air mixture entering the cylinders for combustion. For different modes engine operation requires a strictly defined qualitative and quantitative composition of the combustible mixture and its violation can lead to unstable work engine in appropriate modes, loss of power of the power plant and increased consumption fuel. That is why the full functional performance of the throttle valve is important, which can be impaired by contamination during vehicle operation.
Why does the throttle valve become dirty?
In addition to the fact that contamination itself is a natural process for any operating mechanism, the intensity of contamination of the throttle valve is increased by the ventilation system crankcase gases and exhaust gas recirculation, which, in accordance with environmental requirements, direct harmful substances for afterburning in fuel mixture. As a result of their work, a persistent coating of tarry deposits appears on the throttle valve.
How often should you clean the throttle body?
The throttle valve should be cleaned as it becomes dirty. On average, this can happen once every 30,000-50,000 km. Its contamination can be determined by the following signs of disruption of normal engine operation:
- unstable engine operation at idle with periodic sharp decrease in speed and subsequent sharp increase (so-called “dips”);
- jerks while driving at low speeds due to unstable operation of the idle system;
- the tendency of the car to stall when trying to drive immediately after starting a cold engine.
To make sure that the throttle valve needs cleaning, you must remove the pipe going to the throttle valve from the side air filter and gently pressing the damper to move it to the partial or full opening position. If dirt is clearly visible, then this unit needs cleaning.
How to clean the throttle body
There are no particular difficulties in cleaning the throttle valve. Carry out qualitatively this procedure This can only be done by completely removing the throttle valve from the engine. Let's look at the process of cleaning the throttle using the example of a 1.8-liter Duratec family engine in a Ford Focus car. 
After these steps, all problems with engine idling that were associated with contamination of the throttle valve should disappear. Power point will make you happy again stable work at idle and under load when moving from low to high speeds.
Cleaning the throttle valve worries car owners from time to time. carburetor engine. But the good side of this small problem is the simplicity of this operation. Therefore, we will briefly outline the basic principle of the work that needs to be done if your engine begins to complain about this part.
Flushing the throttle body: what is this part?
The throttle valve is present in fuel injection systems and is responsible for the timely and sufficient supply of air to the system. Correct proportion each component in the fuel-air mixture guarantees its efficient combustion and, accordingly, good power. From here it becomes clear that any error in the operation of this part will affect the performance of the car, and will also worsen the quality of the mixture, and then the condition of the engine.
The damper is directly connected to the gas pedal or accelerator, as it is also called. When the driver presses the pedal, the damper opens using a cable, and the life cycle of the fuel-air mixture begins. Some cars have manual control by this process. But the method of repair and diagnosis does not depend on the principle of the throttle valve. This is exactly what we will talk about next.
Cleaning the throttle valve - how and when to clean it?
If you have already taken the trouble and read the instruction manual for your car, you are convinced that this design is quite primitive, there is nothing to break, which means that it needs to be replaced or leveled very quickly. extreme cases, if suddenly someone managed to mechanically damage it. But there are enough factors that could clog the damper itself or the housing in which it is enclosed. After all, it pumps ordinary air, which is far from crystal clear, and besides, oil vapors and crankcase gases are always present in the system. This all condenses, sticks and then makes it difficult for the part to work properly.
There are several signs that should make you at least take a look at the condition of the damper, and maybe clean it. The engine in such a situation is a little disobedient, it stubbornly starts, gives dips and floating speed at idle, as well as at low speeds may jerk your car. In such cases, check the condition of the intake system, and if you need to flush the throttle valve, then arm yourself with a cleaning aerosol and a cloth, because now we will go to save it.
How to clean the throttle valve - work progress
Cleaning is a simple process, but getting to your destination is much more difficult. The throttle valve is hidden in an air corrugation, which must be removed correctly. Next we begin to disconnect this mechanism from the gas pedal. Let your friend press the pedal in the cabin, and at this time you disconnect the gas cable; this will become possible when the accelerator is depressed. Now it’s the turn of the hoses with antifreeze; we also disconnect them and let the excess liquid drain.
You already understand that we don’t want injuries, so these operations should be performed on a cold engine, that is, after a long period of inactivity, and not immediately after driving, otherwise you risk, at a minimum, getting burned.
Now it's time to remove the throttle body. We start by dismantling the gasket, and then unscrew the damper bolts. That's it, it can be removed. Inspect the manifold to ensure there are no gasket debris there, and clean it if there are any. By the way, it cannot be reused, or rather it is highly not recommended. Therefore, first purchase a new gasket. Now is the time to learn how to clean your throttle body.
We take the aerosol and spray it on the contaminated surface, where there are non-metal parts (plastic, rubber), try to avoid direct contact with the aerosol, as it can damage them. Now wait 15 minutes and remove the solution with a napkin. Where there was no sprayed cleaner, you will need to wipe with a cloth, spraying it with an aerosol. It is also not recommended to pour the product into the body, as is the use of hard cleaning materials or a brush. In the latter case, the protective microlayer can be damaged.
The throttle valve is part intake tract car, which is responsible for regulating the amount of air entering the intake manifold and necessary for the formation of the fuel-air mixture. It is important that the throttle is kept clean.
What is a throttle valve, and what is it used with?
Engines internal combustion, used on most cars, work thanks to the fuel entering the cylinders. The fuel burns in the cylinders, the energy from combustion moves the pistons, and the car moves. For the fuel to ignite, a spark is required gasoline engine or high pressure in diesel. But in order to obtain energy for movement, it is important not only to ignite, but also to maintain the combustion process. And from a school physics course we know that the combustion process requires an oxidizing gas. Around us there is a lot of the most common oxidizing agent - oxygen, it is found in the air. We combine fuel and air - we get fuel-air mixture, which will easily ignite and burn inside the engine. To supply air and regulate its quantityinto cars and install the throttle assembly.
There are two types of throttle valves:
- mechanical;
- electromechanical with electronic control unit.
The mechanical damper is directly connected to the gas pedal by a rod. Press the gas pedal - the damper opens, more air enters the intake manifold, and more mixture is formed. When you release the gas pedal, the throttle closes. This design is used on budget old cars.
IN modern cars apply the principle of electronic control. The damper is controlled by the ECU ( the electronic unit control), which itself reads the indicators from the sensors and makes a decision on the position of the throttle valve.
Unlike a mechanical drive, an electronic drive provides optimal torque in all engine operating modes, even when the driver does not interact with the gas pedal. This throttle design helps maintain environmental requirements, ensures safety and optimizes fuel consumption.
Let's figure out why the throttle gets clogged
Like any vehicle component, the throttle valve must be serviced periodically. A common problem with this unit is blockage.
The throttle can become clogged for several reasons.:
- Dust on the roads. Despite the location of the damper after the air filter, dust particles still enter the throttle air duct. If the filter itself is already dirty, then larger dust fractions enter the choke.
- Crankcase ventilation. On many modern cars crankcase gases are cleared from oil in the oil separator and enter through the throttle into intake system together with regular air. This principle is being implemented to comply with environmental standards.
- Exhaust gas recirculation. This system began to be used relatively recently, but has already become popular among automakers. Exhaust gases from exhaust manifold again enter the intake through the throttle to burn out.
Now imagine that oil particles from the crankcase gases combine with dust and/or carbon particles from the exhaust gases. A dirty, oily film is formed, which constantly settles on the damper. After tens of thousands of kilometers, a layer of this dirt will disrupt the operation or completely disable the throttle assembly. Therefore, periodic cleaning of the throttle body is important for proper operation engine.
Determining when it's time to clean the throttle body
If you notice the following symptoms in your car, then this is a clear reason to inspect the throttle assembly and seriously think about cleaning:
- floating engine speed at idle (you will hear irregularities in operation by sound, or pay attention to the tachometer needle, it will “float” up and down);
- Difficulty starting the engine (sometimes even “hot”);
- increased fuel consumption;
- jerking at low speeds;
- on some models it lights up Check light on the dashboard;
- loss of power (rarely occurs, mainly on large engines).
You can check and inspect the damper yourself. To do this, simply disconnect the pipe coming from the air filter and look into the throttle block. It is immediately visually noticeable if there is dirt on the walls of the housing and on the damper itself.
It’s best to leave the cleaning itself to a mechanic.. But if you decide to tackle the pollution yourself, then our advice will be useful to you.
Cleaning the throttle valve yourself
There are many designs of the throttle assembly, each with its own nuances, but general principle the same everywhere. First, let's give some general recommendations:
- if you start cleaning, then the throttle must be removed completely in order to clean the inside walls of the housing along with the external surfaces;
- do not use hard brushes or rough rags for cleaning and wiping; on some cars they can damage the special molybdenum layer, which is applied by the manufacturer to improve air permeability;
- do not touch the throttle valve unless necessary; on some cars the cleaning procedure is carried out once every 100,000 km (depending on the brand);
- Be sure to “train” the damper after cleaning, if this is suggested by the manufacturer.
Let's look at this process using an example Subaru Impreza WRX.
1. First, remove the pipe going from the air filter to the throttle. The pipe is held on a clamp; to remove it, simply loosen the screw on the clamp.
2. Disconnect two hoses (secured with clamp clamps), one from the front, the other from the back. We disconnect the contact going to the throttle.
3. Unscrew the four bolts that secure the assembly to the intake manifold body.
4. Clean the unit special liquid for washing carburetors - with carb cleaner. Use any brand, but do not buy very cheap bottles from dubious stores. average price per can - 100-150 rubles. Use soft rags for wiping.
5. If possible, change the rubber gasket. It costs around 25-100 rubles for different brands and car models.
6. Put everything back together in reverse order.
7. If required, we carry out “training” of the throttle, that is, a new adaptation of the ECU - we show the electronics the extreme positions of the damper so that the unit understands when the throttle is open and when it is closed.
How to train the throttle
You don't always need to train. On mechanically actuated throttles, everything is adjusted manually - just close the valve mechanically before or after installation. If you have electronic control, turn on the ignition and see if the throttle is closed tightly. If it is closed, then adaptation is not required.
If the settings still go wrong, you need to perform a series of manipulations (each brand has its own actions). In general, it looks like working with the ignition and gas pedal in a certain sequence and with a certain amplitude. Have a stopwatch, your reaction, and follow your manufacturer's instructions.
On some models, it is enough to disconnect the terminals from the battery to reset all settings to factory settings, after which the damper will automatically move to the desired position.
On modern models BMW, for example, needs adaptation, but it happens automatically the first time you turn on the ignition after cleaning the throttle.
Bottom line
The process of cleaning the throttle valve looks simple, but if you are not confident in your knowledge, then contact a service center; this procedure will not be difficult for auto mechanics. At self-cleaning be careful and follow our advice.
Smooth roads and happy journey!
Find out from the video why to clean the throttle body
Most domestic drivers are already accustomed to performing minor car repairs at home. Pumping the brakes, changing the oil - no self-respecting car enthusiast will deny himself the pleasure of “poking around” under the hood of his car. The same applies to such a simple operation as cleaning the throttle valve. We will discuss later in the article how to do all the work correctly and what tools should be used.
1 When to flush the throttle valve
Initially, we should understand the design of the throttle valve and its operating principles. This item located in front of the car's intake manifold and is responsible for the passage of air into it. Accordingly, the wider the damper is open, the more air passes into the car’s engine. Next, the air mass is mixed with fuel and sent to the combustion chamber of the car. Thus, the more air is mixed with fuel, the higher the power rating vehicle. By pressing the accelerator pedal, the driver steers. The car's gas pedal is connected to the throttle valve using a special cable and works according to mechanical principle. However, today on the market you can find cars equipped air damper with manual drive.
The throttle valve is one of the few parts that may be needed extremely rarely. The period of operation of the element is equal to the period of use of the vehicle itself. It is necessary to replace a part only when it has received mechanical damage. Much more often the throttle valve needs to be flushed. This operation should be performed approximately once every 6–12 months. This need is directly related to the ingress of all kinds of gases and dust from the crankcase protection onto the body and inside the part, as well as a large amount of oil from other parts of the machine.
The first signs that your car needs throttle body cleaning are:
- unstable starting of the car engine;
- intermittent engine idling;
- the car often jerks when driving in initial gears;
- The car “fails” when operated with fast gear changes.
If you discover this behavior in your car, you should not immediately run to the nearest service center to replace parts. All we need to do is clean the existing throttle body. Every car owner can perform this operation.
2 Technique for cleaning the throttle valve
3 How to flush the throttle valve
Cleaning the throttle valve does not require special equipment. An aerosol is best for this. Liqui Moly . This tool perfectly removes dirt on the surface and inside the device. To wash the part, just spray it with an aerosol and leave for 15 minutes. After that we wash it off detergent with a damp cloth and wipe dry.
One more good decision will be the use of the product Carb Medic. It has a strong smell, so before cleaning your throttle body with this aerosol, you should wear a protective mask. Next, carefully spray the part with the composition and leave for 30 minutes. After this, wash off with a damp cloth.
As we have seen, there is nothing difficult in flushing the throttle valve. The main desire. And your car will thank you good indicator power and a pleasant driving experience.
X Do you still think that diagnosing a car is difficult?
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