The global vehicle engine and engine parts market reached a value of $228.9 billion in 2022.
There are many parts of an engine that experience wear and tear with time. The throttle body is one such part, and after a while, it may need replacing.
There are several signs that indicate your throttle body is in bad shape that will leave you asking “do I need a new throttle body?”.
For a rundown of some of the signs that indicate a bad throttle body, keep reading.
Check Engine Light
This is one of the clearest signs that you have a problem. A bad throttle body can cause issues with the signal that is sent from the sensors to the onboard computer, which will make the check engine light illuminate.
This light can also indicate various other issues, so don’t immediately replace your throttle body. Instead, take your car to an auto specialist so that they can identify the problem.
Rough Idling
While idling your car engine should be quite steady if there are no issues. If you notice unusual noises or the idle jumping up and down, these are both signs of a bad throttle body.
When your car is idling the engine is very sensitive, so it is an easy time to notice any bad throttle body symptoms.
Rough Acceleration
One of the jobs of the throttle body is to regulate the air0fuel mix that enters the engine. A bad throttle body can cause irregularities in this mixture, and you may notice this when accelerating.
If the speed of your acceleration is inconsistent you may need a new throttle body.
Misfires
These another potential result of the air-fuel mixture being wrong. Misfires can also be caused by a weak spark from a spark plug. This is because both of these things can cause incomplete combustion.
These are often loud bangs, but can also just be small bumps when revving your engine.
High RPM While Idling
Another function of the throttle body is to control the RPM. A good throttle body will keep this steady, so if your RPM is higher than it should be it may be down to a problem with the throttle body.
This doesn’t always mean the throttle body is damaged, as this can be the result of it not being calibrated. You can use a diagnostic scanner to calibrate it correctly.
Stalling While Idle
Much like causing the RPM to rise, a bad throttle body can also make it dip. Sometimes it can drop so low that the engine will stall.
This could be due to damage to the throttle body, but it is more likely a build-up of dirt and soot on the throttle body flap. You can usually remedy this by cleaning the throttle body and calibrating it.
Poor Engine Performance
If the air-fuel mix is off, among other problems, the engine will probably not perform as well as it should. You will usually notice this while accelerating – if it feels less powerful than usual then there is probably a problem with the throttle body.
Changed Fuel Consumption
Another possible result of an incorrect air-fuel mix is that your car will consume too much or too little fuel. If you are having to refuel more or less often than usual, this is probably the reason.
While refueling less often might seem like a good thing cost-wise, it will cause damage to your engine over time.
Replacing Your Throttle Body
Jegs is a leading supplier of auto parts, with a huge range of products available. If you need to replace your throttle body, or any other engine parts, we have everything you need.
To find out more about what we offer, click here to contact us today.
