When you push down the accelerator, you almost always predict the vehicle will respond. And while you might not be aware of exactly what’s happening, the throttle body initiates the whole process.
Over time, you might find that your throttle body may just wear out or simply become dirty. So, how do you know when it’s time to clean or replace your throttle body? We will have everything broken down below.
And who knows, we might even help you revive your old throttle body and save you some cash!
What is a Throttle Body?
The throttle body is a part of your engine. It regulates how much air comes into the intake manifold and then onto the combustion chamber.
In other words, it simply opens up to different angles depending on how far your throttle pedal is pushed down to let in the correct amount of air flow.
Older vehicles had a mechanical connection to the gas pedal, while newer vehicles rely on electronic sensors to accomplish the same task.
Symptoms of a Clogged or Bad Throttle Body
Although the throttle body is mechanical in nature, it will wear out like all mechanical parts over time. On top of that, carbon buildup on the throttle body can prevent it from working properly, leading to an entire host of issues.
All of that said, we have highlighted the six most common symptoms that indicate you should look at your throttle body.
#1. Check Engine Light.
A check engine light is the most common sign of a faulty throttle body! The check engine light may specifically point you toward the throttle body or also can point to various components, such as the throttle body position sensor, that interface with/actuate the throttle body.
Just remember that a check engine light points you to where you should start your troubleshooting; it doesn’t give you the specific problem.
For owners of VWs and Audis, you may also see the EPC (Electronic Power Control) light illuminate as throttle body problems trigger this light.
#2. Rough Idle.
If your car is roughly idling, there is definitely a chance that there is something wrong with the throttle body. It may not be able to hold a position, or it may not be able to open or close beyond a threshold.
Either way, there is a reasonable chance you should pull the throttle body when you have a rough idle or your car appears to be revving on its own.
#3. Engine Stalling.
If your car’s throttle body is defective enough, you may find that your car won’t stay running!
This may happen because the engine isn’t getting enough air and the throttle body can’t open any further to allow enough air intake to stop the engine from stalling.
#4. Rough Acceleration.
The throttle body controls the air flow to the engine, and when it is defective or dirty, it shouldn’t be surprising that it can affect your acceleration.
Acceleration can sometimes be rough, but it can also mean you can’t accelerate beyond a specific point or you can’t slow down beyond a specified point.
#5. Poor Fuel Economy.
When everything works correctly, your engine is a finely tuned machine, maximizing performance and minimizing fuel usage.
But when your engine can’t get to the right air-to-fuel ratio, it forces the engine to spend more fuel to help you get to where you want to go.
It could be a small difference or a huge difference, depending on what is happening with the throttle body. But one thing is for certain: you will be spending more money on fuel.
#6. Poor Engine Performance.
It is a no-brainer that if your engine has a faulty or dirty throttle body, engine performance will struggle.
Your engine could accelerate too quickly, it could not accelerate to the oomph you are used to; either way, engine performance will suffer.
What Can Cause a Throttle Body Issue?
Most throttle body issues tend to arise simply because the throttle body is covered in dirt and other grime over time. Once the dirt starts to build up, it can cause the throttle body to stick and affect overall vehicle performance.
The good thing is, since most of our issues are due to dirt and grime, if we can remove that debris, we may find that the throttle body is once again working like new!
And, if we can keep the dirt and grime from building up in the first place, we can extend the life of the throttle body and avoid expensive repairs!
How Long Can A Throttle Body Last?
As a general guideline, you want to be cleaning your throttle body every 75,000 miles or so, because with good care, your throttle body can easily last 150,000 or 200,000 miles, plus.
This is also primarily a mechanical component, and for the most part, mechanical components take a long time to wear out.
The big catch to that is you have to care for your throttle body to get that extended life. When you fail to properly care for your throttle body, you may have to replace it around 100,000 miles, if not sooner.
Can You Drive with a Faulty Throttle Body?
While you can drive with a faulty throttle body, you really shouldn’t. There are actually two reasons for this. First is a safety concern.
If you throttle body isn’t functioning properly, your vehicle can accelerate or fail to accelerate at the worst possible moment.
This certainly makes it more likely that you will have an accident—a pretty big consideration.
The second consideration may not be as important as safety, but there is a monetary component when you consider the cost of repairs. That’s because driving with a throttle body that is not working properly means you are further damaging your engine.
Not only does an incorrect fuel-to-air ratio impact your vehicle’s performance and maximize your fuel economy, but it also increases the wear and tear on your vehicle.
That additional wear and tear can damage different components of your vehicle. Even more so when you finally get around to repairing it.
Throttle Body Replacement Cost
While it might not be the most expensive part in your vehicle, a throttle body does not come cheap.
If you find out that your vehicle needs a new throttle body, you are likely to spend at least $450-$600 for both parts and labor.
And even if you do want to do the job yourself, you are not going to save a lot of money because most of the expense is from the parts and not the labor.
If you do decide to do the job yourself, you can reasonably expect to pay in the range of $400-$500 for your new throttle body.
When you consider that the parts are quite expensive, you might check to see if there are any throttle body cleaners on the market that could help you save some money.
Cleaning vs Replacement
Since a throttle body is a more expensive component to replace, it is worth your time and energy to explore different throttle body cleaners. Since the majority of throttle body issues stem from a dirty throttle body, this could even be a long-term fix.
Just be sure to clean your throttle body every 50,000-75,000 miles as maintenance so that dirt or grime doesn’t have time to build up too much.
If by chance you are reading this and your throttle body is not having an issue yet, you should still plan on cleaning it every 50,000-75,000 miles to help prevent a future problem.
Since they are relatively cheap and effective, a couple of throttle body cleanings could save you hundreds in repairs by deciding to clean your throttle body instead of replacing it!