Product Type:Throttle Body
Fits the Following Vehicles:
For Nissan Pathfinder For 3.5L 2003-2004
What is a Throttle Body?
- A throttle body in a car is used to maintain and control how much air is allowed into the engine. You can compare it to a butterfly valve. You can find this between the air cleaner and the intake manifold.
- It is generally made from aluminum. When the driver puts pressure on the pedal, input data is collected. As more fuel is allowed to enter the engine, better combustion and acceleration power is granted as more air enters in.
What happens to your car when the throttle goes bad?
- When you come to a stop or a red light, your car will stall and stop working, and shut down. This will make your car impossible to drive and you may have to push it to the side of the road.
- A bad throttle will force your car to use much more gas than it needs to go a certain distance. So not only will your car perform worse than usual, but you will also lose a lot of money at the gas station.
- Finally, when you have a bad throttle body in your air intake system, your vehicle will have the check engine light on constantly. If you see this light on, please don’t ignore it. Get to the mechanic as soon as you can to diagnose the problem.
When does a throttle body need to be replaced?
What signs do we look for to know if it is officially time to replace the throttle? There are several signs to consider, including:
- Cracks, dents, or a broken butterfly valve – If there is enough damage to the throttle to the point where the valve does not open and close correctly, a replacement valve is the only way to correct this issue. It would probably cost you just as much to buy a new valve as it would repair your current damaged one, so just buy a new throttle.
- Rust – Rust is the killer of millions of vehicle engines and finding rust in the throttle body is not a good sign. Not only that but rust usually means there is some kind of leak that you must also repair.
- Too dirty – if particles and contamination have home their new home in the valve of the air throttle, no amount of scrubbing or scraping can get it off. But try to remove all of the dirt and buildup first by using a throttle cleaner.
Throttle Body Removal and Installation
Materials Needed: Gasket scraper, Plier assortment, Screwdriver assortment, Socket set, Wrench set
Step 1: Locate the throttle body.
Step 2: Remove any duct work or piping connected to throttle body.
Step 3: Disconnect electrical connections.
Note: The number and type of connections will vary by manufacturer.
Step 4: Remove the throttle cable.
Step 5: Remove the mounting hardware of the throttle body. Remove the hardware that mounts the throttle body to the intake manifold.
Step 6: Separate the throttle body from the intake manifold.
Step 7: Clear away any gasket residue.
Step 8: Install new throttle body gasket.
Step 9: Examine the replacement throttle body.
Step 10: Transfer any necessary parts to the replacement.
Step 11: Install the replacement throttle body.
Step 11: Install the replacement throttle body.
Step 12: Plug all electrical connectors.
Step 13: Complete installation of all other ancillary items.
Step 15: Start the engine to verify installation.
Step 16: Perform a road test.
Does a new throttle body need to be reprogrammed?
Yes, a new throttle body needs reprogramming so that it adapts to its new vehicle. Some vehicles automatically reprogram the throttle body when their installation ends. First, the mechanic must install the throttle body. Then turn on the engine for several minutes to idle. For certain cars, the throttle body will only reprogram and adapt to the engine when the owner takes the vehicle out. They must drive around for several miles and drive at both fast and slow speeds.
Here is how the mechanic is going to reprogram a throttle body:
- Turn on the engine and allow it to idle for several minutes as the vehicle gets used to the brand new throttle body.
- The vehicle has to get used to the improved airflow from the brand new throttle body. This is especially true of an older engine that is receiving a brand new state-of-the-art throttle body.
- Certain cars and trucks require the owner to drive the vehicle around for several miles. They have to accelerate to fast speeds and decelerate to slow speeds. You can check with your vehicle’s manufacturer about the proper way to acclimate a new throttle body to your vehicle's engine.
How to reprogram my vehicle’s throttle body after a cleaning?
- As a vehicle gets old through time and use, it will get dirty and build up grime and dirt. Once the throttle body is clean again, it will work as if it is brand new. But the rest of the engine must get used to the improved airflow and faster valve reaction.
- An old throttle body needs recalibration after it is removed from the engine and cleaned. Since the throttle body is not going into a different car or truck, and back to its original vehicle, it does not need to be completely reprogrammed with a diagnostic tool.
- Unless the manufacturer says differently, the throttle body requires reinstallation into the engine. Then, the owner of the vehicle must turn on the engine and allow the engine to run for several minutes.
- Since the throttle body is now clean,the engine must readjust to the higher increase in airflow that is no longer obstructed by the dirty throttle body. After allowing the engine to idle for several minutes, turn the engine off.
- After a few minutes, turn the engine back on and allow the engine to sit idle for a few more minutes. Some vehicles only needed the engine to idle for a few minutes one time. Some vehicles require that the engine must sit and idle two separate times.
Conclusion
- For a qualified mechanic, installing and reprogramming a new throttle body should not take too long. Once the throttle body is in the engine, turn the engine on and leave it to idle for several minutes. The new throttle body and the engine can adapt to one another.
- In certain cases, the owner of the vehicle must drive around before the throttle body can adapt. It is possible that the new throttle body does not need replacing. It just needs cleaning and reprogramming.
