You don't have to take it off. Just take the hose off that runs from the air filter housing to the throttle body . Then just clean it without removing it.

The thing is that the elbow behind the throttle body is collapsed and I can't get my hands in there too well because it's right up against the firewall. That elbow needs replaced.

I'm not familiar with how the engine is laid out on your truck so I can't help you there. It may very well take some acrobatic moves to get to that hose.
I could be wrong but just cleaning the t-body may help relieve any extra vacumn being drawn through that hose and collapsing it.

I may try that first. The thing was that I was trying to replace the PCV valve and that's how I got to where I am. The PCV is on the back side of the throttle body where that elbow is attached.

Isn't it nice how they put the things together.
I'd do what you suggested earlier if you're not used to working on one, look for a youtube video. More than likely if you are just a little handy with a wrench you should be able to do it yourself without any problems. You may end up still needing an IAC motor but for the effort and time I would try these simple repairs first. You'll save yourself a trip to the shop and a couple hundred bucks if it works.

Wife's Trailblazer was doing the same thing... cleaned out the Throttle Body and took the brake vacuum line off of the vacuum booster side (the other end should go into your intake manifold somewhere) while the engine is on and at idle dump about 2/3rds can of Seafoam into the hose and when the engine starts really sputtering shut off the motor. Wait about 15-20 minutes for the Seafoam to soak valves and pistons. When you start it back up the smoke will cover your neiborhood. Mosquitoes will die. But you have to keep the engine at 1500 to 2000 RPM for 5 seconds at a time till the smoke is gone. Once you clean out the intake, valves and pistons it should run better. Since you have over 100K you might do this again within 2K miles to help get rid of what the first dose didn't. After that every 10K. This helped my wife's 100K Trailblazer run like new.

You saying it's his 7th Vexor Valve or the Bypass Line?

Don't tell him his busines Boy!

Well, I replaced the IAC valve and sprayed the butterfly from outside the throttle body and scrubbed it with a tooth brush. It wasn't quite as dirty as I thought it would be, but it did have some gunk. Funny thing is that is also what the mechanic suggested (I never told him I was gonna do that). Now the truck isn't dying but it is trying to idle too high and fluctuating until it finds the right idle. I still wonder if the elbow behind the throttle body needs replaced. Also, I need to figure out how to reset the service engine light. Pull off battery cable?

it sounds like it needs the PCV elbow at the intake.

the pcv itself is actually in the passenger side valve cover. the elbow is on a tube. im not a small fella and i change them quite often so im sure you can handle it.


then go to an oreilly and have them clear the codes. and then drive it over 35 MPH for a little while and allow the idle to reset.