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Autopapyrus · RAM 1500 5.7 HEMI V8 (2021)
https://autopapyrus.com/guides/ram/1500/throttle-body-cleaning/
Compiled automatically from service literature and owner experience. Specs are for the typical configuration — check them against your exact car before you start.

RAM 1500 5.7 HEMI V8 (2021): Throttle Body Cleaning

The 5.7 HEMI uses an electronic throttle body with no cable (drive-by-wire). Do not use carburetor or traditional cable-type throttle cleaner. Use only brake cleaner, and only after removing the throttle body from the intake manifold. Cleaning is needed when idle speed is lower than normal, throttle response to the pedal is sluggish, or there is a fault code for the electronic throttle control system.

Difficulty: Medium Time: 40-60 minutes Steps: 15 Tools: 8 mm socket, ratchet, extension, torque wrench, clean lint-free rags, toothbrush or soft nylon brush, cotton swabs

Part

  • 🔩 Brake cleaner (chlorine-free), new throttle body gasket (optional, if the old one is damaged)
There's a full repair manual for this car Every system, wiring diagrams and torque specs — not just this job. Haynes and 4 more. See manuals →

Step by step

15 steps
  1. Disconnect the negative battery terminal and let the system power down for 1-2 minutes.
  2. Remove the air duct between the air filter housing and the throttle body (the plastic corrugated duct is held by clamps).
  3. Disconnect the electrical connector on the throttle body. Press the locking tab and pull the connector toward you.
  4. Remove the 4 bolts that secure the throttle body to the intake manifold (8 mm socket, bolts are located at the corners of the housing). Loosen them in a crisscross pattern: upper right, lower left, upper left, lower right.
  5. Carefully lift the throttle body off the manifold. Remove the gasket and inspect it. If it is torn or badly compressed, replace it with a new one.
  6. Generously moisten a clean lint-free rag with brake cleaner and wipe the inside of the throttle body, removing carbon and oily deposits. Do NOT spray the cleaner directly into the housing. It can get onto the electronic components and sensors.
  7. Using a toothbrush or soft brush dampened with cleaner, gently clean the edges of the throttle plate and the gaps around the shaft. Do not press on the throttle plate itself. It is driven by an electric motor, and mechanical force can damage it.
  8. Use cotton swabs to remove remaining dirt from hard-to-reach areas. Let the housing dry completely (2-3 minutes).
  9. Place the gasket (old or new) on the intake manifold and align the holes.
  10. Install the throttle body, start the bolts by hand in a crisscross pattern, then tighten them with a torque wrench to 105 in-lb (12 N·m) (9 lb-ft). The intake manifold is plastic and the bolts can easily strip the threads, so use an accurate torque wrench.
  11. Connect the electrical connector until the locking tab clicks.
  12. Install the air duct and tighten the clamps.
  13. Reconnect the negative battery terminal.
  14. Throttle relearn: turn the key to the ON position (ignition on, do not start the engine) and wait for the warning lights on the instrument cluster to go out (about 10 seconds). Slowly press the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor, then release it slowly. Repeat 2-3 times. Turn the ignition off. This allows the control module to learn the new position of the clean throttle plate.
  15. Start the engine and let it idle for 2-3 minutes. Idle speed may be unstable for the first 30-60 seconds. This is normal as the PCM adjusts its parameters.

Common mistakes and warnings

  • Do not use carburetor or throttle body spray cleaners. They contain aggressive solvents and oils that damage the coating on the electronic throttle plate and sensors. Use only chlorine-free brake cleaner on a rag. Do not open the throttle plate by hand while it is installed. This is an electronic system, and forcing it open can upset the calibration or damage the actuator.