I was told my throtle plate needed to be cleaned on a Ford 500/ Where is it? i can't locate it.

Your best best is to have a scanner run tests on the engine. Autozone, Oreillys, and Advance will test free. In answer to your question, the throttle plate is in the Airhorn which is the metal part just behind the plastic ductwork from the Air filter.

There is also a part called an ISC motor which is in the same area. Some engines are more prone to dirt in this valving and it can be cleaned with WD40. The ISC requires more disassembly than just spraying the throttle plate. You may want to look up articles on the ISC.

You can spray cleaner into the Airhorn housing but do not attempt to wipe where the throttle plate contacts the Airhorn walls. The interior of many of the Airhorns is sprayed with a Teflon coating which is suppose to remain there. You may want to replace a switch called a TPS. This throttle position sensor is the device which is attached to the throttle plate. It is on the outside of the Airhorn, has 1 electric connector and 2 screws or bolts holding it to the housing. The only trick to it is getting the groove and slot of the 2 intermatching parts connected before bolting it tight. There is little adjustment and for the most part, it is a plug and play repair.

I hope my information has been very helpful in solving your problem.

You didn't say what year or engine size so i don't have a picture for you but is you follow the "tube" that goes from where your air filter is at to where it hooks up to the engine (the trottlebody) it will be in there. remove that "tube" where it connects to the trottlebody and look inside. You will see a plate that opens and closes when the gas is pressed and reliesed. That plate is your throttle plate. Most of the time when I give them a good cleaning I spray it down real good with trottlebody cleaner and open that plate up like the gas pedal is being pushed a use a good stiff toothbrush. Some people use a wire brush but I don't suggest that. You may need to use a screwdriver or something with a rag over the end of it to reach in there to wipe all the buildup that you loosened up. Make sure you get the edges of the plate so it closes well. Also depending on the year of the vehicle but most of them, the timing and idle are set by the computer so the computer most "relearn" and since you have cleaned that your idle will be different although the computer doesn't know this so diconnect your battery for a bit and then reconnect it and then start the vehicle, let it idle for a bit, push the gas pedal down to get your RPM's to about 2500 and hold steady for about 60 seconds, then let go and let the vehicle idle for a little while and your computer will set the idle and timing. Not sure if this is how your vehicle sets as I'm not sure of the year or engine but this is common practice. Anyway I hope this info helps you and good luck. One other thing if your radio has a locking code, make sure you have that because you will need to reprogram your radio because of disconnecting the battery.