The little pokey things sticking up are just diffusers. Make sure the gasket is off and there is a channel in the face that needs to be cleaned out.
EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) ports are just the passages that let the gasses back into the intake.
Use carb cleaner on the throttle body but don't get it in the plastic throttle position sensor. Get the gunk out of the bore and off of the flap.
Make sure the external return spring is on there.
Some years had stickey cables, if it keeps up you may have to replace it.
