The car engine helps your car move, determines the speed, and other critical driving aspects; thus, you should always care for the engine and its parts.
The throttle controls the air which goes into the engine and is a small oval-shaped plate. The bottle is mounted on the shaft, and changing the plate angle allows airflow and engine control.
So, can a bad throttle body cause a car not to start?
When the throttle body goes bad, the car will not start. The throttle body allows regulated air into the engine, and without the regulation, it may be difficult to burn the fuel in the engine as there will be no spark to start the engine.
Contents
What Causes Of a Bad Throttle Body?
1. Sensor issues
The throttle body would go bad due to problems with the sensor, which prevents the latch inside the throttle from opening, thus preventing airflow into the engine.
Failed sensors will not detect the fuel in the combustion chamber and provide the needed air to create a spark that moves the engine.
2. Dirt build-up
Dirt may make the throttle body go bad, preventing the engine from starting. Dirt would build up from the pollen dirt and the number of particles in the air.
The air may become dirty to the environment like smog, forest fires, string wind blowing dirt around, and new construction work. Although the filter will catch the particles, some will go past the filter into the throttle body, causing damage.
3. Pssobile Issues due to accidents
The throttle body and butterfly valve may be damaged from an accident; a physical accident prevents it from opening and closing as expected. Sometimes it may be challenging to repair damage on the engine, and it would be better to replace the throttle body.
4. Vacuum leakage
Vacuum leaks may lead to sensor issues that damage the throttle body. A car with a vacuum leak allows the air to go to the air filter without passing the throttle valve.
The vacuum leak may lead to more air in the combustion chamber than needed, impacting the engine’s start.
What Symptoms Does A Car Experience When A Throttle Body Is Failing?
1. Your Car Might Develop Acceleration Issues
A damaged throttle body may cause acceleration issues, as the engine would start up but lack enough power to move forward, making it shut down.
Moreover, the car may have spontaneous acceleration even when you don’t step on the gas. Thus a damaged throttle body is dangerous and may make it difficult to control the vehicle on the road.
Your car should have smooth acceleration, and a damaged throttle body may lead to rough acceleration. The rough acceleration occurs due to poor regulation of the air-fuel mixture in the engine.
The unregulated air-fuel mixture leads to uneven acceleration. Sometimes the car might be fast even when you don’t press the gas, and sometimes it would be slow even when you press the gas.
2. It Leads to Unstable Engine Idle
The engine becomes unstable when idle due to faulty sensors, allowing air even when not needed. The sensors may cause sporadic conditions which make the car misfire, stall, and idle rough. Thus, the car may halt and stall when driving due to a damaged throttle body.
3. Unusual Fuel Consumption
The throttle bottle body and the sensors ensure the car uses the right fuel for a smooth and efficient ride. However, if the sensors go bad, you may notice unusual fuel consumption as the modules start working on compensating for the abundant or lack of airflow to the engine. When the throttle body goes bad, the vehicle might consume more fuel than expected.
4. Warning Signs
The warning sign tells the driver when there is damage to the throttle body. Thus, if the check engine light shows in the dash, it is better to check if the throttle body is good.
Solutions to a Failing Throttle Body
You can replace the throttle body when there are cracks, broken butterfly valves, and dents to the throttle body. The valves may not open, and a valve replacement may solve the throttle body and sensor issues.
Rust may be a killer for the vehicles, damaging the throttle body. Finding rust on the throttle body may indicate serious future issues, and it may be better to replace a rusted throttle body.
Moreover, the rust may indicate possible leakage problems; if the rust issues seem like a minor problem, you can lubricate to prevent further damage to the delicate car parts.
You should prevent dust particles and contaminants from reaching the throttle body by replacing the filters. Old filters are likely to let in the dirt to the combustion chamber, and it is wise to ensure you buy high-quality filters.
Furthermore, you should clean the filters frequently by scraping the dirt build-up, as it may prevent the dirt from reaching the throttle body.
Can You Drive With a Damaged Throttle Body?
It is unsafe to drive a car with a bad throttle body, and it is better to address the issue when it arises. The vehicle will stall and fail to accelerate, leading to a safety hazard on the road.
Thus educating yourself about the throttle body symptoms may help you make informed decisions about the car.
The Replacement Cost for Throttle Body
The cost of replacing the throttle body may vary from one car brand and model. However, the total repair costs may be between $250 and 650; the throttle body costs about $200 to $500, and the labor costs are about $50 to $150.
Thus, you should budget for a repair appropriately, buy the spare parts from trusted vendors, and get the repairs from a trusted mechanic shop.
Conclusion
The throttle body controls the air which enters the engine leading to a spark during ignition; thus, it maintains the right air-fuel composition.
A bad throttle body may damage the car leading to irregular ignition and may make the car stall when you least expect it. Driving a car with a damaged throttle body may be dangerous as it poses a danger to the driver and other road users.
Replacing the worn-out and damaged throttle body before driving the vehicle is a better solution than having a bad driving experience driving like this.
