Throttle Body
The throttle body is an engine component responsible for controlling the amount of air that flows into the engine. The amount of air flow to the engine will determine the amount of power, or torque, that is outputted. Inside the throttle body is a throttle plate which opens when you push down on the gas pedal. Older vehicles will have a mechanically-controlled throttle body – where the throttle body is directly connected to the gas pedal through a cable. Modern vehicles now use an electronically-controlled system where an electric motor opens and closes the throttle plate. In some instances, these electronic controls may reside in the powertrain control module aboard the car’s computer.
Signs of a bad throttle body
Throttle body maintenance
If you notice any of the above signs, get your throttle body examined by a car care professional right away. A complete throttle body service should be a part of your routine car maintenance and should be performed every 30,000 miles or so. Sometimes, the issues may simply stem from the throttle body being dirty; in these instances, only a cleaning is necessary. If the issue is more severe, your technician will first read any trouble codes that have been produced and then repair or replace the throttle body.
The best way to get maintenance done on your throttle body is to book your appointment through CarAdvise. CarAdvise makes car care simple and guarantees that you’ll pay less than retail price on all of your car maintenance services.
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