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View Full Version : How To: Cleaning 2012 Mazda 3 Throttle body & MAF sensor & Dry Air Filter



greyseason
03-29-2014, 07:59 PM
Decided to clean my Throttle body, Dry flow Air filter and MAF sensor this weekend, and thought I'd share how i did it. I have a Corksport SRI but for different intakes, and the stock intake the same instruction applies.

What you'll need:
- MAF sensor cleaner
- Throttle Body cleaner
- clean rag/s
- 10mm socket for intake clamps (Corksport SRI)
- T15 Torx socket for MAF sensor

Here is what I used
http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s377/greyseason/CAM00507_zpsb4de172c.jpg
http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s377/greyseason/CAM00535_zpsfa90d72b.jpg

And here is a picture of my engine bay. For reference (just cleaned it too :D)

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s377/greyseason/CAM00804_zps3d9d83a6.jpg

Last night once i got home, i removed my air filter, and capped it with a rag and elastic bands. I did it at night because i wanted it to dry while i slept.

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s377/greyseason/CAM00503_zps7630651b.jpg

I didn't get a picture of what i used, but basically you need to buckets. One for the dirty water, and one for the clean water. Now this would be much easier in the summer since you could use your hose but you'll probably end up refilling the buckets at least one more time. You'll take your filter and put it in the water, but be sure to not let water get past the mouth of the filter and rotate and shake the filter for a little. Water will still flow through the filter but nothing to much. switch from the dirty bucket to the clean bucket. Empty the dirty bucket and refill with cleaner water. Repeat as many times as you'd like.

Let the filter sit until it is COMPLETLY dry. You don't need water going into the intake tract. If you are just cleaning the filter, make sure everything is reassembled and tight, and you are done.

Now onto the MAF sensor.

This is what mine looks like. Remember I have a 2012 Skyactiv. Your sensor may look different, but they are all the same really.

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s377/greyseason/CAM00794_zps621212a8.jpg

You will get to this by unplugging the harness from the sensor by pinching the connector, and lightly wiggling/pulling it loose. Then using the Torx screw mentioned above, unscrew the MAF sensor from the MAF housing (black piece on my intake) and try and be gentle with it.
When looking at the picture, you will see a small resistor. You will be spraying that with the MAF cleaner. There is also a opening on the bottom and the right side where you will also spray with the cleaner.

Once you've sprayed it, set it off to the side and let it dry. It evaporates quick but 5-10 minutes to be safe. Now, onto the Throttle body.

I removed the whole intake setup, and this is what i saw

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s377/greyseason/CAM00795_zpseb392f21.jpg
Looks pretty clean if you ask me

I tried to get a picture of the inside, but that was SO hard. Ill update once I buy a USB Endoscope
http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s377/greyseason/CAM00796_zpsaaa68a10.jpg

Spray the throttle body's butterfly (the part the opens and closes) as well as the insides as good as you can.
Let it sit for about 30 seconds and grab your rag. If you wanted, and could hold the butterfly open you could use a toothbrush and scrub a little better, but when holding it with your finger, you just gotta stick your finger with the rag in there. Here is what i got from that

http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s377/greyseason/CAM00797_zpsc1093c1e.jpg
http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s377/greyseason/CAM00798_zpsf2aa9201.jpg

In the first picture, the glob at the top and on the bottom of the second pic, has almost thick little pieces. Could just be from moving the rag around while i tried to clean it. I tried to get a better look into the Intake manifold, and i thought i could see some shiny liquid but can not confirm what it is.

Once you've finished up with that, wipe up the area, and reinstall everything, and make sure everything is tight and that you aren't missing anything. With the MAF sensor, it doesn't take much on the bolts to make them tight. Than make sure everything is tight again, you don't want a leak. If everything checks out, start the car up and see how it drives. My car had a little trouble starting at first, which I'm assuming happened because i was opening the butterfly when cleaning it.

The car feel much better, and seems to pull better and sound better too.

I hope this helps a few of you guys.

Amir
03-29-2014, 08:33 PM
Nice write up. I did this yesterday but now I'm thinking I should go again on the TB.

Mine started a little rough too but after a couple of minutes it was fine.

SomeGuy
03-29-2014, 08:44 PM
You really shouldn't manually push open the throttle body with your fingers. You're better off removing it and cleaning the inside that way, also that little bit of dirt there won't make really any difference on the throttle body.

greyseason
03-29-2014, 08:45 PM
You really shouldn't manually push open the throttle body with your fingers. You're better off removing it and cleaning the inside that way, also that little bit of dirt there won't make really any difference on the throttle body.

Thanks for the info. Why shouldnt you open it like that? becasuse of the spring? Mext time i will remove the whole unit.

Amir
03-29-2014, 08:52 PM
Your valve, did you notice if it closed completely? Mine stays open just a bit. Hope it's normal.

greyseason
03-29-2014, 08:53 PM
yes it was. In the pic it looks slightly open, but its sealed. Yours is wider than that?

Amir
03-29-2014, 08:57 PM
Yea mine wasn't closed, I had to push the top for it to seal completely. Time for some reading.

hex
03-29-2014, 09:00 PM
T15 "hex" bit = T15 Torx bit, for the people that don't know!

greyseason
03-29-2014, 09:02 PM
T15 "hex" bit = T15 Torx bit, for the people that don't know!

Whoops! thanks for that buddy.

fixing now

Hyperion
03-29-2014, 09:21 PM
You can also put a brick or something heavy on your gas pedal to open the butterfly valve

SomeGuy
03-29-2014, 10:01 PM
You can also put a brick or something heavy on your gas pedal to open the butterfly valve

It's drive by wire...I don't think that actually works unless the car is on (although I've never tried it).

r4mi5awi
03-30-2014, 01:30 AM
Nice write up! Practical and simple.

r4BBiT
04-02-2014, 02:55 PM
Thanks for the info. Why shouldnt you open it like that? becasuse of the spring? Mext time i will remove the whole unit.

You shouldn't do that, because the TB uses electrical motor to open and close and this might not be good for it. Old TB were fine because it used simple line, like bicycles brakes for example.

greyseason
04-02-2014, 02:59 PM
You shouldn't do that, because the TB uses electrical motor to open and close and this might not be good for it. Old TB were fine because it used simple line, like bicycles brakes for example.

Thanks for your input! Seems like the whole TB will come off next time

mParsonz
04-02-2014, 06:47 PM
It is better to take it right off but really you aren't going to damage it at all by manually opening it.. I take them off all the time to clean them anyways, but i still manually open them as do all the other tech's i work with.. but better safe than sorry I guess!

greatape74
06-05-2014, 01:30 PM
I did clean my MAF and filter yesterday but I did clean the throttle for I was not sure how you guys do it. Did you guys spray the throttle cleaner inside the TB? I look mine I 2007 Mazda 3 gen 1 and it's dirty, can you guys guide me how you guys do it? thank you in advance.

greyseason
06-05-2014, 01:37 PM
I did clean my MAF and filter yesterday but I did clean the throttle for I was not sure how you guys do it. Did you guys spray the throttle cleaner inside the TB? I look mine I 2007 Mazda 3 gen 1 and it's dirty, can you guys guide me how you guys do it? thank you in advance.

Just take the throttle body off, and spray some cleaner in there and wipe both sides with a rag, and reinstall.
Somebody else can chime in if there is another step in there

greatape74
06-05-2014, 01:48 PM
Just take the throttle body off, and spray some cleaner in there and wipe both sides with a rag, and reinstall.
Somebody else can chime in if there is another step in there

I'm lazy lol... to remove the throttle body can I just spray inside the it while opening the butterfly open? If not I will remove it in another time, I live in a condo and it is dark in the basement parking that why. Thanks

greyseason
06-05-2014, 02:20 PM
I'm lazy lol... to remove the throttle body can I just spray inside the it while opening the butterfly open? If not I will remove it in another time, I live in a condo and it is dark in the basement parking that why. Thanks

That's what I did, but apparently it's better to take it off. I'm,sure you'll be find

greatape74
06-05-2014, 02:38 PM
That's what I did, but apparently it's better to take it off. I'm,sure you'll be find

ok, I will take it off and clean it, may be this Sat, once again thank you.

zoom4106
06-05-2014, 10:31 PM
I use old to brush to clean the inside of TB

zoom4106
06-09-2014, 03:58 AM
I use old toothbrush to clean the inside of TB

*correction

13SPEED3
06-10-2014, 08:44 PM
tooth brush is perfect if you get the throttle plate stuck open by putting something on the gas pedal. you might need a small pick though depending on how
thick the layer of dirt is on your throttle body plate just to go very very lightly on the throttle plate to kind of loosen up all the dirt and then you keep spraying throttle body cleaner on the plate and go over it with the tooth brush and the rag until its clean.

greyseason
06-10-2014, 09:19 PM
tooth brush is perfect if you get the throttle plate stuck open by putting something on the gas pedal. you might need a small pick though depending on how
thick the layer of dirt is on your throttle body plate just to go very very lightly on the throttle plate to kind of loosen up all the dirt and then you keep spraying throttle body cleaner on the plate and go over it with the tooth brush and the rag until its clean.

our cars have electronic TBs so stepping on the gas wont do anything

proDJtege
06-10-2014, 10:43 PM
If you spray the cleaner into the throttlebody, be aware that it will need time to dry out with the TB open for air.. otherwise, starting the car after a 2 minute dry time will be rough and will need some gas to push that stuff thru.... not the greatest thing to force but hey, if that's how you wanna do it... heh I found that out myself.

Alternatively, if you let it dry while something holds the TB open, be sure NOTHING falls in or gets stuck in there.

zoom4106
06-11-2014, 10:37 PM
our cars have electronic TBs so stepping on the gas wont do anything


It will open when you stepped on gas if you put the ignition key to ON position.

I use my breaker bar on my gas pedal leaning against my seat to press it.

13SPEED3
06-12-2014, 11:08 AM
You can start the car after sprayin the throttle body cleaner in it and putting everything back together just give it some gas to make sure it Doesn't die out then let it run for a little bit then take it for a drive and it'll be ok