When you step on the gas pedal, you want your car to move. Although you may not realize what happened, the throttle body is the beginning of the whole process. But over time, your throttle body may wear out or become very dirty.
So, how do you know it's time to clean or replace the throttle body? We will break down everything you need to know here. Who knows, we might just help you restore your old throttle body and save you a few dollars.
What is a Throttle Body
The throttle body is a component of the engine that controls the amount of air entering the engine manifold and combustion chamber. This is a relatively simple component. It just opens to different angles and allows the correct airflow to enter according to the throttle position.
On older vehicles, a mechanical linkage connects the throttle body to the accelerator pedal, while modern vehicles use sensors to achieve the same result.
Signs of a Faulty or Dirty Throttle Body
Although the throttle body is a mechanical part, this does not mean that it will not wear out over time. Not only that, as carbon accumulates on the throttle body, it may stop responding, causing a series of problems.
Below we highlight the six most common symptoms to let you know that you need to check the vehicle’s throttle body.
1. Check Engine Light
The most common symptom of throttle body failure is to check the engine light. Checking the engine light can point you directly at the throttle body or any of the various components that connect and drive the throttle body, such as the throttle body position sensor.
Remember, the check engine light will tell you where to start troubleshooting, it will not tell you exactly what the problem is.
2. Rough Idle
If your vehicle is idling unstable, there is definitely a problem with the throttle body. It may have problems at the correct point, or it may fail to open or close beyond a certain point.
Either way, if your vehicle is idling unstable, it is worth checking the throttle body.
3. Engine Stalling
If the throttle body of your vehicle is sufficiently defective, you may find that your vehicle cannot continue driving. This happens because the engine is not getting enough air, and because the throttle body cannot be opened further, the air intake cannot be increased to prevent the engine from stalling.
4. Rough Acceleration
Since the throttle body controls the airflow to the engine, it is not surprising that if the throttle body malfunctions or becomes dirty, it will affect your acceleration. Not only will the acceleration be a bit rough, but it can also prevent your acceleration beyond a certain point or deceleration beyond a certain point.
5. Poor Fuel Economy
When everything is working the way it should be, your engine is a fine-tuned machine that maximizes performance while minimizing fuel consumption. However, when your engine cannot get the correct air-fuel ratio, it will force your engine to consume more fuel to get you to your destination.
Depending on the specific conditions of the throttle body, it may be a small difference or a major drop. But one thing is certain, you will end up spending more money on fuel.
6. Poor Engine Performance
There is no way to solve this problem. If your engine's throttle body is faulty or dirty, the engine performance will be poor. It may accelerate too fast, or it may not have the charm you are used to. Either way, engine performance will be affected.
What Causes Throttle Body Issues
Most throttle body problems occur because the throttle body accumulates dirt and dirt over time. As this dirt and dirt accumulate, it will cause the throttle body to stick, thereby affecting overall performance.
The good news is that because most problems come from dirt and grime if you can remove the debris, you may find that it looks like a new throttle body!
If you prevent dirt and dirt accumulation from the beginning, you can make the life of the throttle body longer and avoid expensive maintenance costs.
How Long Does a Throttle Body Last
Although you should clean the throttle body at least once every 75,000 miles, a properly maintained throttle body can easily use 150,000 or even 200,000 miles. That's because it is a mechanical part, and it takes a while for the mechanical part to wear out.
The biggest warning is that you need to take care of your throttle body to make the most of it. Because when you have not properly maintained the throttle body, you may find that you need to replace it when it is close to 100,000 miles or even earlier.
Can You Drive With a Bad Throttle Body
Although you can drive with a broken throttle body, you definitely shouldn't. There are two reasons. The first is the security issue. When your throttle body fails to work properly, your vehicle may accelerate or fail to accelerate at the most untimely time.
This greatly increases the chance of an accident, which is a very big problem. The second issue may not be as important as security, but it will affect your bank account. That's because a problem with the throttle body during driving can cause further damage to the engine.
The incorrect fuel-air ratio will not only affect performance and reduce the fuel efficiency of the vehicle but also increase the wear and tear of the vehicle. This extra wear can damage various components, which means that when you have time to repair it, repair costs will be higher.
Throttle Body Replacement Cost
Although the throttle body is not the most expensive part of your vehicle, it is not cheap either. If you do find that your vehicle needs a new throttle body, you may spend between $450 and $600 on parts and labor.
If you want to do this work yourself, you won't save a ton. This is because most of the cost comes from parts, not labor. If you plan to do this yourself, you can still expect to spend between US$400 and US$500 for the new throttle body.
Since the parts are expensive, it's best to see if you can't clean the existing throttle body and save yourself a few bucks.
Cleaning vs Replacing
Because the throttle body is a more expensive component, it is worth checking out various throttle body cleaners. And since most throttle body problems come from dirty throttle bodies, it may even be a long-term fix.
Just make sure to spend time cleaning the throttle body every 50,000 to 75,000 miles traveled to prevent dirt and grime from accumulating too far.
If for some reason you are reviewing this guide and your throttle body is not working yet, you should still clean it every 50,000 to 75,000 miles to prevent future problems.
Since these low-cost and effective cleaners can clean your throttle body multiple times, you can save yourself hundreds of dollars in future repairs by simply cleaning the throttle body instead of replacing it!
