What are the symptoms of a throttle valve malfunction?
2 Answers
Throttle valve malfunctions generally cause: 1. The car cannot start, or after starting, the throttle valve does not return to position when the accelerator is pressed. 2. Black smoke emission and high fuel consumption. 3. High idle speed and unsteady acceleration. Relevant information about the throttle valve is as follows: 1. Definition of the throttle valve: The throttle valve controls the engine's air intake, adjusting the mixture ratio of gasoline and air based on computer signals to ensure complete combustion of gasoline and generate power. In fact, every time a driver presses the accelerator, they are not pressing "fuel" but "air," compressing a certain amount of air into the engine through the accelerator and gear shifting. 2. Causes of throttle valve malfunction: Largely due to carbon buildup inside the throttle valve, problematic throttle valves are often filled with black carbon powder from incomplete combustion. Prolonged use of the throttle valve and poor driving habits are the main causes of carbon buildup.
I always encounter this issue - the car's idle is extremely unstable, especially during cold starts when the body shakes like it's dancing. Sometimes it even stalls automatically at red lights, which is quite startling. Acceleration feels sluggish too; when I press the accelerator, the speed climbs painfully slow, making overtaking difficult. Fuel consumption has also noticeably increased - my previous car burned nearly 2 liters more per 100 km. The constant illumination of the engine warning light is another common indicator, requiring computer diagnostics to confirm throttle body malfunction. These symptoms mainly occur due to excessive carbon buildup inside the throttle body or a faulty position sensor causing inaccurate airflow control, leading to ECU command errors. Untreated, this can trigger chain reactions in the electronic control system. It's best to have professional shops perform regular throttle body carbon cleaning as prevention. DIY cleaning is possible but remember to disconnect the battery to avoid accidentally damaging other components.
