What is performing a “throttle body service” maintenance? My dealership wants to do it at a cost of $180. How often does it need to be done and why? On a 2006 Toyota Corolla with 172,000 miles. The service has been done before but im not sure what it is. Thanks
It is a cleaning process to make your engine run better . But using Google you will find many articles explaining it in full and the pros and cons , But I think you are planning to replace this thing it is running OK I would not spend the money.
The car is running OK. When the chip shortage is over and new cars become readily available on dealer lots, I’m planning on trading it in for a brand new Toyota Corolla LE. Right now they have to be ordered months in advance and shipped to the dealer when available.
Today besides changing the oil, im having them flush and change the brake fluid because they said it looks a little brown. And we agreed,that since it’s a safety item, it should be done first.
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Why did the dealership want to change all the sparkplugs today though, when i had an independent mechanic do that about a year ago. I mentioned that i had it done recently and they said OK, no need to do it
They want to flush the cooling system and transmission system today just “due to the age of the car” but said they wouldn’t be able to get it done today in time for me to get to my next appointment today, so im holding off for right now. As far as the cooling system though, the car has never overheated once in all the 16 years I’ve owned it
If i did every single maintenance item the dealer wanted to do today it would have cost about $1,000
And the service advisor trying to sell you all these services would make a nice commission. Always follow the money.
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You don’t have to bring your 17 year old car to the dealer for these services.
Any independent shop can perform the exact same services, and most times, at a lower cost.
Tester
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If it is in the owners manual then he is recommending it based off of mileage unless you can see it, brake fluid is hydroscopic meaning it absorbs moisture and is recommended about every 30K, how ever there are test strips that pick up the PH balance in the brake fluid from the inner linings of the brake lines breaking down from the moisture content and can tell if it needs to be changed, Toyota very rarely test bad unless it has had regular off the shelf DOT3/4 put in it, the factory fluid is the best I have ever seen…
The FST is a preventive maintenance item and is recommended about every 15-20K miles… It cleans the carbon off/out the throttle body/blade which helps to lower the TPS% at idle making for a better idle and if done correctly will look like an IV drip going to the intake manifold to decarbonize the induction side of the engine… another part goes in the tank to slow clean the injectors… If done correctly the is no cons…
If the transmission has never been flushed or fluid changed then I would leave it be, Toyota Corollas last forever with little failure as compared to most other manufactures… 2006 Corolla has a 120K spark plug in it, so if the correct ones were installed you are good for a long while…
And yes as mentioned the service righters job is to sell you the scheduled maintenance and he gets paid off that… And yes as also mentioned most any shop can preform all that work…
Well, I’m done at the dealership and I got out of there today with the oil changed, engine air filter changed and brake fluid flushed and changed for $300. Might have them do the throttle body service next time.
What exactly is the “throttle body service”? Removing the intake hose, spraying some brake cleaner or carburetor cleaner onto a shop rag, and wiping down the inside of the throttle body? The 2005 and up Corolla has an electronic throttle body, so there is no IAC pintle and no IAC passage to clean. For $180, this is completely unworthwhile, especially if there is no drivability problem.
Also, I am going to suggest that you reconsider replacing the 2006 Corolla. Around here, the 2003-2008 Corolla has remained one of the most common cars on the road, and for good reason. They are comfortable and reliable. Why spend a bunch of money to replace such a great car?
Tester
I agree with you. I have the utmost respect for the Corolla. In fact on the service receipt today the dealer stated in writing “we want to buy back your car. Here’s how to do it…”
The dealer wants to buy back my car, they stated on the receipt for today’s service maintenance
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That’s because the dealer knows they can get a lot of money for your used car.
Especially if they have the vehicle service record.
Tester
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The throttle body blade outer edge as well as the bore gets a build up and causes it not to close all the way, I have seen dirty TB’s showing 25% on the TPS, well the computer then thinks you are depressing the TB (gas pedal) 25% or 1/4 throttle but also reads the pedal is at 0%, that can cause some running issues and basically confuse the computer…
And he is right, I have run air filters with out even blowing them out over 75K miles before changing them and it made 0 difference in the performance or fuel mileage… On multiple vehicles over the years…
I will not buy or sell someone an air filter unless it is turning black or full of trash basically… And on a Drive by wire TB the “gas pedal” has a TPS on it as well as the TAC motor (throttle actuated control) is the TPS, IAC throttle blade motor all built into one and the computer reads both the TPS% on the pedal and the TPS% and they should be pretty close… A normal TPS% on a clean and normal running TB is about 5 to 10%… So that is a very good reason to clean your TB’s…
Ask the Toyota salesman for a ride to the Honda dealer so you can buy a new car, see if then, the Toyota salesman still needs your old, high mileage car.
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Yes, they should have the service record in their computer system
I’ll definitely have the TB serviced next time i go in for an oil change.