How to Remove the Throttle Body of a 3.8 Buick
by Russell WoodThe 3.8L engine found in some years and models of Buick cars uses a throttle body to regulate the amount of air flowing into the engine. This throttle body has a butterfly valve on the front which is opened and closed with the throttle cable. The throttle body needs occasional maintenance, including cleaning and lubricating the linkage. To do this, you can remove the throttle body from the engine, which should take about an hour to do.
Step 1
Pop the hood. Push the drain pan beneath the radiator. Open the petcock valve on the bottom of the radiator with your hands and let out about one gallon from the radiator, then close the valve.
Step 2
Remove the air intake tubing from the front of the throttle body on the front of the engine using the flathead screwdriver. Pull the tubing away from the engine so that it's out of the way.
Step 3
Pull off the vacuum lines on the throttle body by hand. Unscrew the hose clamps holding the coolant lines to the throttle body with the flathead screwdriver, then pull the lines off of the throttle body.
Step 4
Unplug the electrical harnesses from the throttle body by hand. Unhook the throttle cable and cruise control cable from the throttle body using your hands.
Step 5
Unbolt the throttle body from the engine with the 3/8-inch ratchet and socket. Pull the throttle body away from the manifold, then take it out of the engine bay.
Things You'll Need
- 3/8-inch ratchet and socket set
- Flathead screwdriver
- Drain pan
Writer Bio
Russell Wood is a writer and photographer who attended Arizona State University. He has been building custom cars and trucks since 1994, including several cover vehicles. In 2000 Wood started a career as a writer, and since then he has dedicated his business to writing and photographing cars and trucks, as well as helping people learn more about how vehicles work.
