Dodge Truck Throttle Body Cleaning

The subject vehicle is a 6 year old 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 2WD with, standard cab, short bed, 5.7L Hemi engine with 54,000 miles. 

A brief maintenance history is that the oil and filters have been changed as recommended but there have been no dealer services. 

The symptoms and reason cleaning the throttle body are that when the engine has been started for the first time it will usually stall at a street light or stop sign and, if it doesn't stall, the idle will occasionally drop to 450 RPM's or lower threatening to stall.  When the truck was last driven, just before electing to clean the throttle body, a bit of hesitation was felt of 2 occasions when drive at about 45 MPH. 

The recommended corrective action was to removed and cleaned the throttle body and that is where this images and text below come into play.

The skill level of the owner and also the mechanic is low.

The tools needed are, any additional lighting, a socket set, pliers, a screwdriver, and a few cloth towels. 

The only materials needed is carburetor cleaner.  I also purchased new gaskets but didn't us them.  It's likely that you won't need them either.

Click images to enlarge!

	The engine compartment and air-intake before removal.
	Remove the clips on the air filter compartment and slide the top to the right beyond the plastic tabs.
	Loosen completely the 2 screws that hold down the air-intake.
	Loosen completely the second screw.
	A connector on the air intake housing and a cable retainer clip.
	Remove the air intake connector with a set of pliers.
	Remove the cable retainer clip with a screwdriver.
	Press down on the hose from the oil fill cap area until it separates from the air intake.
	Remove the oil fill cap.  Do this last in the removal process to ensure that you don't drop a screw into the engine.
	The air intake has been removed and set aside.
	The throttle body before removal.
	Remove the connector by depressing the retainer with a screwdriver or other tool.  Remove the gasket and the 4 screws that hold the throttle body.
	The back side of the throttle body after removal.
	The air intake area beyond the throttle body before cleaning.
	Spray carburetor cleaner into the air intake area.  Use a towel to wipe away the excess crud and cleaner.
	The air intake area beyond the throttle body after cleaning.
	A closer look at the back side of the throttle body before cleaning.
	The throttle body after cleaning.

Reinstall the throttle body and the air intake in reverse order.