The car engine is a combination of multiple components that are linked together at various points to offer the smooth ride you enjoy every day.
Each of these parts plays a particular role in the daily functioning of the engine and car-if any of these parts fails or malfunctions, the car might not even move.
One of the most crucial components in the car’s configuration is the throttle body-it regulates the air and fuel ratio in the fuel injection system.
This component is rarely talked about-there are car owners who have never even heard of it.
In this article, we will look at the throttle body and the effects it has on the transmission system in times of failure or malfunction.
So, Can a throttle body cause transmission issues?
Yes, if your throttle body fails, the car will experience transmission problems. You will notice some rough engine running, and trouble shifting gears and if the damage is severe, the car will not even start.
The throttle body is located in the fuel injection system. Its role is to control the amount of air getting into the combustion process.
If it malfunctions, you can expect an imbalance in the air and fuel ratio which can be characterized by stalling and rough starts in the morning.
The throttle body does all this through the Throttle body sensor which reads how far down you’ve pressed the gas pedal to determine how much fuel and air you need in the combustion chamber.
Contents
Is Throttle Body Part Of Transmission?
Well, the throttle body is connected to the transmission but it is not quite part of it. The transmission relies on the throttle body to determine the amount of power expected from the engine.
There’s a throttle cable that runs from the accelerator pedal to the transmission valve. This cable transfers valuable information about your activity on the pedal to the transmission system. With this information, the system determines the amount of power to deliver.
The whole concept is pretty direct: when you press hard on the gas pedal, you’re most likely looking to gain more power. Your car will in turn feed the combustion chambers with more fuel and air which will be burnt to produce the extra power you need.
How Do I Know If My Throttle Body Is Going Bad?
If your car’s throttle body malfunctions, several warning signals will hit you before things get out of hand. If you are smart enough to have these symptoms looked into, you could save yourself hefty figures in repair fees.
Kicking the can down the road with this one could result in deeper complications and maybe more expensive repairs.
The Check Engine Light
Even for novice drivers, this is the most reliable signal that something is off. The check engine light alone might not aid so much in pinpointing the actual problem but knowing that something is not working is a step in the right direction. You are advised to look for other more direct signs before opening the engine up.
The role played by the throttle body in your car’s operation cannot be ignored, if this part fails, the electronic car module will detect it immediately.
Other more direct signs can include rough running and weak driving. Since the ECM is connected to these operations, it will immediately trigger the check engine light.
Poor Acceleration
Weak or no acceleration at all is a clear sign of issues with the fuel supply-the throttle body. The car might also jerk from time to time and as the problem worsens, power hesitations will kick in. When the car accelerates, it picks up at the right pace but loses power immediately after.
On the other hand, but on rare occasions, the car will self-accelerate. You could be driving down an alley when the engine suddenly roars and the car speeds down the roads. Putting the funny aspect aside, self-acceleration can be dangerous.
Both of these are caused by malfunctions in the throttle body.
Sharp Misfires
If there is an imbalance in the air and fuel ratio in the combustion chamber, misfires are inevitable. Well, misfires might occur due to other less serious issues like bad spark plugs but they are a sign of underlying throttle body failures.
Since the throttle body is directly responsible for the air and fuel ratio regulation, a slight fault in its operation will result in misfires.
Misfires can be described as bump sounds coming from the engine when you accelerate.
Rough Idles
The correct idling RPM for your car immediately after starting up should be anything between 600 and 900; anything more or less is off.
When the car’s RPM is wrong, you will experience rough idles accompanied by warnings from the dashboard.
The culprits, in this case, might be several but a bad throttle body is at the top of the list.
Altered Fuel Economy
If your car suddenly starts consuming more fuel per kilometer then you might just be headed to your latest car repair, the throttle body. Well, this sign works both ways; a bad throttle body might also cause your car to consume less.
Anything that makes you pay less might sound good but not in this case, as the car runs on less fuel, the engine is struggling to keep up and might not go for long.
Sudden changes in fuel consumption levels either upwards or downwards should be a cause for worry.
What Problems Can A Bad Throttle Body Cause?
A failing or already failed throttle bottle can cause a myriad of problems for your car. You could experience trouble shifting gears, your fuel economy chart could be off, your engine might misfire or the car might not even start.
The fact that the throttle body can get clogged and result in airflow issues for the combustion process should be reason enough to have it checked.
Bottom Line
Throttle body problems can cause issues in the transmission system as the two are heavily interdependent in their operations.
They are connected via the throttle cable which relays the relevant readings from the gas pedal to the transmission system.
The most common early warning signs include poor acceleration, rough idling, the check engine light, and misfires. The article above details the relationship between the throttle body and the transmission system.
Throttle body repairs can be expensive, take these warning signs more seriously and hope for the best.
