How Much Is a Throttle Body Replacement?

If your vehicle's throttle body isn't working properly, you'll notice that your once-smooth ride won't feel very slick. Instead, you'll experience a rough ride, engine misfiring, less responsiveness and acceleration when you hit the gas pedal, and stalling.

However, this isn't maintenance that can be delayed, since it impacts the safety of your car on the road.

The throttle body of a vehicle regulates how much air reaches its engine. This is essential in internal combustion engine vehicles because air is needed for the chemical reactions that burn fuel and provide power to the vehicle.

The throttle body is made up of a throttle plate—a type of butterfly valve that opens and closes to control airflow to the engine. When you push the gas pedal, the valve opens, allowing more air to flow from the intake valves into the cylinders in your engines.

This increase in air prompts the vehicle to call for more fuel to the fuel injectors, increasing power output. Ultimately, that helps the vehicle accelerate quickly.

When your throttle body fails, you'll no longer experience smooth, quick acceleration. Instead, you'll notice symptoms related to the performance and fuel economy of the engine because it isn't receiving the right air-to-fuel ratio, which impacts combustion and causes the vehicle to run less efficiently.

Common symptoms of a failing throttle body sensor include:

• Rough idling.Rather than maintaining a consistent rate of revolutions per minute (RPM), the engine will vary the RPM even when the gas isn't touched. This can cause shaking or vibrating while in park.
• Stalling or loss of power.If the engine doesn't get the right amount of air from the throttle body, it can stall. You will likely notice this when trying to accelerate or slow down.
• Engine misfires.Misfires occur when the fuel within a cylinder doesn't burn properly, meaning that the cylinder doesn't produce power. This can happen when there's too much, or not enough, air within the cylinder.
• Shaking or jerking during gear changes.This happens because the engine has trouble maintaining an idle speed during gear shifts.
• Slower, less responsive acceleration, or sluggishness.With the engine not getting the right amount of air, it won't be able to create enough power for brisk acceleration
• Reduced fuel economy.If you're hitting the pump more often and also experiencing a rough ride, it can be a sign that you need a new throttle body sensor.
• Check engine light.The check engine light can come on for many reasons, but if you need a new throttle body, your light will likely be illuminated.

In most cases, the cost to replace a throttle body is between $500 and $650. Some throttle bodies may be cheaper to replace, costing under $200. Others are more expensive, costing up to $1,000 or more.

Ultimately, the price depends on your vehicle. If you drive a large or luxury car, you'll pay more for a throttle body replacement.

Car repairs have two different costs that go into the total you'll pay at the mechanic: parts and labor. If you need a new throttle body sensor, the labor costs are fairly low, since this is a relatively quick and easy job for a mechanic. You can expect to pay around $100 for labor.
The more costly aspect of this project is the parts. If you drive a large or luxury vehicle, you can expect to pay more for a throttle body than you would if you drove a smaller or less expensive vehicle.

In addition, OEM parts (parts that come directly from your car's manufacturer) will cost more than aftermarket parts (parts that are new but not made by the manufacturer of your vehicle). Ask your mechanic if aftermarket parts can help you save money or if there's a reason to spend more on OEM parts.

In addition to labor costs, you might encounter other expenses, especially if your throttle body suddenly fails. These include:

• Diagnostic fees. Sometimes, it's not immediately clear that your throttle body is to blame for your vehicle running rough. A mechanic may need to spend a few hours diagnosing the problem.
• Towing if your car is no longer drivable.
• Rental car or public transit costs while your vehicle is in the shop.
• Possible unpaid time off work.

Throttle bodies last a long time, but if you drive your car for enough miles, you'll need to replace them at some point. Consider replacing your throttle body when you notice symptoms, or about every 100,000 to 150,000 miles. In addition, you should clean your throttle body (or have your mechanic do it) every 75,000 to 90,000 miles. You can buy throttle body cleaner at an auto parts store, but to clean this part, you'll need to disconnect the air intake hoses at either end. If you're not comfortable with that, you should leave this job to the professionals.

If you're comfortable working with an engine, it's possible to replace your throttle body yourself. However, this is a somewhat complicated repair, and it's also one that has to be done precisely to keep your car running smoothly. Because of that, it's best to leave throttle body replacement to the professionals.

In addition, replacing the valve yourself won't save you a significant portion of the repair costs, since parts are the most expensive component of replacing a throttle body.

When your acceleration fails out of nowhere or your car is stalling, it can be scary—not to mention expensive! Luckily, replacing a throttle body is a relatively easy job for a mechanic or someone with the right tools and know-how.

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