R50 VQ35DE 3.5L throttle body cleaning procedure

[Towncivilian]

I'm wanting to clean the throttle body of my VQ35DE and trying to follow this guide. After unscrewing that clamp (on which the flathead screw is on the opposite side of the screw depicted in the picture), I can't seem to pull the intake out to access the throttle body. Is there something else to unscrew? I tried looking in the service manuals but couldn't find anything (maybe I didn't search extensively enough).

Thanks in advance.

[Pwnin O'Brien]

Nope, there's only one clamp holding the intake tube to the throttle body. Just loosen the clamp as much as you can (without unscrewing it completely) and just pull on the intake tube. Just get a firm grip and pull it hard, it will come off.

[Towncivilian]

Nope, there's only one clamp holding the intake tube to the throttle body. Just loosen the clamp as much as you can (without unscrewing it completely) and just pull on the intake tube. Just get a firm grip and pull it hard, it will come off.

Alright, thanks for your quick reply. I had actually taken the clamp off and tried pulling, but I suppose I didn't pull hard enough.

[Ron Burgundy]

Just get a firm grip and pull it hard, it will come

That's what she said.

Sorry - but how could I pass that up!?!

[Pathfound49]

Nice work Ron.

[Pwnin O'Brien]

Just get a firm grip and pull it hard, it will come

That's what she said.

Sorry - but how could I pass that up!?!

While writing that post I was contemplating writing 'Just get a firm grip and tug, it will come off' but I figured that would be too easy.

[Towncivilian]

I feel like a moron. After getting the intake pulled, what do I clean? I assume clean behind the gold plate as there isn't much dirt or gunk from what I can access. The bottle of TB cleaner I have as well as the forum guide say to move some butterfly valve to access behind the gold plate, but I was unable to find it. I'm used to working with computers, not cars, so I'm almost clueless.

Thanks in advance.

[WPGQX4]

The gold plate is the butterfly valve. I did mine on my 3.3 the other day and couldn't believe the carbon build up. Just spray inside every which way. Have a rag proped up under the TB cause it will flow back and drip all over everything. Then get in there with a rag.

[Towncivilian]

Do I just push on the butterfly valve to get inside it?

[WPGQX4]

Yep