How to Clean the Throttle Body on a VW or Audi 1.

8T
A Clean Throttle for a Smooth Idle

Taking an hour or two to clean your throttle body can make a world of difference in your car's idle and throttle
response, which is why I wrote up this quick and simple DIY. Cleaning your throttle body should take one to two
hours to complete if you're giving it a real good cleaning, or fifteen minutes for a fast spray-down.

Over time, the plate in your car's throttle body can become encrusted with carbon and dried-up oil. That crud can
affect the airflow, giving your car a rough idle and slower throttle response. So if you are experiencing rough idling
and slow response to the accelerator, then cleaning the throttle, the IAT sensor, and theMAF sensor is a great way to
give your car a nice tune-up.

The Tools to Make That Throttle Body Shine!

This job requires just a few basic household tools. And if you have read any of my other DIYs, then you know my tool
motto, "If you don't own it, then go buy it. Tools are a lifetime investment."

5 mm Allen/hex screwdriver

Flathead screwdriver

Throttle body cleaner or carburetor cleaner

New gasket (optional)

Rag, Q-tips, paper

The Allen head tool I use is a multi-size fold-in pocket tool shown in the picture (around $5 at any tool store) but any
changeable-bit screwdrivers or 5 mm hex sockets with an extension will work.

The flathead screwdriver is used to unscrew and loosen the hose clamp. If your car has a pinch clamp you will need
to pry it off with vise grips or pliers; after removing it once, replace it with a screw-type hose clamp for future use.

Throttle body or carburetor cleaner can be picked up at any local auto shop along with the replacement gasket. The
gasket is optional. People recommended you replace the gasket if you take off the throttle body, but I've reused the
same gasket without ever having a problem. If you do decide to replace the gasket, it is about five dollars, and the
auto shop can tell you what one is right for your car.Part # 61092 from Fel-Pro seems to fit most VW/Audi throttle
bodies and can be ordered online for a few bucks.

How to Remove and Clean the Throttle Body

The pictures for this DIY were taken on a 1.8T. Most V-dubs and Audis are the same, although
depending on make and model your car may look a little different.

Step 1: Pull off one side of the little vacuum hose on top of your throttle body. If you want to replace
the clip, then pry it off, but I have noticed that the part of the hose connecting to the check valve can
be pulled off pretty easily by twisting it back and forth, and can be returned to its original position
without having to tear off and replace the clamp.

Remove small vacuum hose.

Step 2: Unscrew the intake hose clamp. If it has a crimp clamp or pinch clamp take it off with pliers
like I recommended in the "Tools" section above.

Loosen hose connecting to throttlebody.

Step 3: Work the intake hose off of the throttle body and bend it out of the way so you can get to the
wire harness.

Remove hose from TB and push out of the way.

Step 4: In the picture below, the screwdriver is pointing at the wire harness that needs to be
removed. The easiest way to remove the harness is to put your flathead screwdriver into the harness
clip, pull up on the tab, and wiggle it off with your other hand. If you're uncertain on how to release
these types of clips please see " How to Remove and Clean Your MAF Sensor " for a better
explanation, and if you end up breaking the clip, here is a DIY for that: " Replacing a Broken
VW/Audi Wire Harness Clip ."

Release wire harness connected to TB.

Step 5: Using your 5 mm Allen hex tools, unscrew the four screws holding the throttle body to the
intake manifold. Once those four bolts are out you can easily remove the throttle body.

Unscrew the four bolts connecting the throttle body to the intake manifold.
Step 6 : Clean it! The first picture shows all the carbon and oil that was on my throttle body, and that
is even with me doing a fifteen-minute cleaning and Sea Foam treatment every six months. Spray
your cleaner all around inside and wipe it clean with a rag. Then clean the plate with Q-tips. Keep
spraying it down with cleaner; you can never use enough! Once it looks nice and clean, a great trick
is to use small slices of paper to clean all around the throttle plate. Take a thin slice of paper and
move it back and forth up to the plate hinge, it is amazing how much more crud will come out. Spray,
repeat, spray, repeat until you have a clean Q-tip and slice of paper.

The throttle body can now be removed.

Tip: Slide paper between plate and housing for a good clean.
Step 7: Re-install. If you bought a new gasket, peel the old one off and put on the new one. In any
case, then reverse the steps and screw your throttle body back in. Spray a little cleaner into your
intake manifold before you screw in your throttle body. The Bentley manual states that the bolt
torque should be 7ft/lbs. If you don't have a torque wrench, just make the bolts are snug: no need to
go full force! Make sure you plug the wire harness back in and reconnect the vacuum hose on the
top.

Step 8: Re-align your throttle body if needed. Alignment is not needed for a gentle clean as
described above, but if you are harsh and move the plate around, you will need to re-align your
throttlebody. The best way is to use a VAG-COM. Or you can use this simple method. Put your key
into the ignition and turn it to the "on" position: that is, don't turn on the motor, just turn on the
electronics. After turning the key, wait about a minute and a half. That will allow your throttle body to
re-align. If the hood of your car is still open, you can leave your key in the "on" position, hop out, and
go to your throttle body. You will hear a really high-pitched note there. That is your throttle body
alignment in action. Once that high-pitched note stops, the alignment is done, and you can start your
car.

While We're There, Let's Clean the IAT Sensor Too!

The IAT sensor is located on the intake manifold, right next to the throttle body. It sends information
relating to the air temperature being run through your car. On some cars it is incorporated into the
MAF sensor, and if so, this part of the article will be useless for you.

But on the 1.8T, it's located on the intake manifold. So If you notice your IAT is located next to your
throttle body, well then let's take a minute to clean that too.

Step 1. Remove the sensor's wire harness as described above.

Step 2. With your 5 mm Allenhead/hex screwdriver, remove the bolt holding the sensor in.

Unscrewing the bolt holding the IAT sensor

Step 3. Wash the sensor in an alcohol bath the same way you would for the MAF.Use Q-tips to
remove any oil or carbon deposits. Be gentle but thorough.
Step 4. Screw the sensor back and plug in the harness.

IAT sensor

Optional: Turning or Twisting the Throttle Body

Twisted Throttle Body

The original position of the throttle body pushes the incoming air against the top where it is forced to
each cylinder.

Some people believe the incoming air is distributed to the cylinders better if you turn the throttle body
clockwise so that the incoming air runs against the front of the intake manifold. That way cylinder
four is getting an even distribution of air.

It's up to you whether you want to try it out. The throttle body is square, so the only alteration you
would have to make is running a longer vacuum hose from the throttle body to the check valve that it
is originally connected to. If you are doing this on an Audi, where the throttle body is on the driver's
side of the car, you would turn it clockwise.