For any car owner, engine problems can be your worst nightmare. However unavoidable, you should always be on alert to check the Electronic Throttle Control warning light. This warning light appears on the dashboard in case of a problem.
The ETC is essential as it ensures the proper balance of air pressure in your car’s engine. Therefore, it’s imperative to understand this important engine part more if your truck comes with a 5.7 Hemi.
This article will teach you the symptoms of a wrong throttle body, its causes, and how to fix the ETC 5.7L Hemi. Please read it to the end since you never know when you will need the complete information on this problem. However, let’s start by defining the ETC.
What is an Electronic Throttle Control(ETC)
Electronic Throttle Control is a vehicle technology that electronically replaces the mechanical linkage of the accelerator pedals to the throttle. It collects information from the pedal sensors and adjusts the throttle accordingly.
When accelerating, the ETC receives a signal from the sensor and uses it to determine how far to open up the throttle. This system is responsible for how far your truck accelerates. It controls how far you can push the pedal and let enough air in the engine.
Symptoms of Bad Throttle Body
Modern fuel-injected cars’ air intake systems include a throttle body, which regulates the amount of air entering the engine and thus influences how efficiently the pistons burn gasoline. It’s critical to get the correct amount of air. Your engine might run lean if it gets too much or too little air.
The throttle body is synced with the fuel intake and the accelerator pedal when it is working properly. When you depress the accelerator pedal, the flow of fuel into the engine is increased, and the throttle body sucks in additional air to aid combustion, allowing your car to operate at its best and run smoothly.
When the throttle body becomes dusty, clogged, or malfunctions, it prevents air from entering the engine, causing problems with performance as well as unburned gasoline going through the exhaust system.
Keep an eye out for the following symptoms, which act as early warning signals of dirt in the system, helping you to catch this problem before it gets out of hand.
Build-up of grime
Coking, or the accumulation of dirt and grime within the throttle body, is one of the main reasons why it needs to be cleaned, as you might expect.
This creates a rough surface, which disrupts the air-fuel flow and reduces the efficiency of your engine. Carbon deposits inside the part cause an uneven surface, which generates a similar issue.
The fuel economy is poor
Make a note of your gas mileage. Fill up your automobile with gas and keep track of the miles on the odometer. Drive the car until it runs out of gas to determine your average miles per gallon.
If this is off by more than 10-15%, you most certainly have a clogged throttle body that is hurting the performance of your vehicle.
Idle time (poor or high)
One of the telltale signs is poor or low idle since your throttle body isn’t performing as well as it should. Stalling after a complete stop, a low idle after starting, or stalling when the throttle is rapidly pulled down are all examples of this. Dirt in the system causes turbulent airflow, resulting in a fluctuating idle speed.
Acceleration that is uneven or slow
When you depress the accelerator pedal, the flow of air and gasoline into the engine increases. The car will not be able to get the power it needs from combustion if the throttle body is clogged with dirt or coke.
How does it feel to be behind the wheel of such a vehicle? It’s possible that the car takes longer to get moving than usual, or that the speed increases in unpredictable spurts.
To function properly, the engine requires sufficient air and fuel. The engine will suffer if it does not receive adequate air supply owing to a damaged throttle body, and as a result, the driver will notice a decrease in performance. If your automobile feels like it’s lost half of its power when you accelerate, a bad throttle body is almost certainly the blame.
Electrical issues
With so many of the car’s systems relying on computer connections and controls, electronic wiring has become its nervous system. If the electronic sensor in the throttle body becomes blocked with dirt or dust, it will make inexact or unnecessary changes to the air-fuel mixture, putting the car in secondary power mode until it is rectified.
Disturbances in airflow
Dirt and grime buildup in the throttle body can cause airflow and pressure problems, or the problem could be an incorrectly adjusted throttle stop, which is also part of the air intake system. Uneven airflow can lead to pressure issues in the system, which can result in poor performance and acceleration.
The check engine light is on
The electronic throttle control will be notified if the throttle body’s performance isn’t up to par, and the check engine light on your dashboard will illuminate.
Because there are several potential causes for this to light up, it’s a good idea to do some hand inspections to see if there’s any dirt or carbon around the item.
Stalling idle
The throttle body can also influence RPM in the other direction. It can cause the engine to die if the RPMs are too low at idle. This is frequently caused by a buildup of soot and dirt on the throttle body flap, which results in less air entering the engine and, as a result, a low idle RPM.
This problem is usually solved by cleaning the throttle body and calibrating it using a diagnostic kit.
Engine misfires
Misfires can happen when the air-fuel combination is off or when the spark plug produces a weak spark. To put it another way, it’s incomplete combustion within the combustion chamber.
A faulty throttle body can mess with the air-fuel mixture and cause your engine to misfire, as we previously stated. When you rev the engine, little bumps are the quickest way to see a misfire.
Reduction of power
Examining how much effort you are applying each time you step on the pedal is one of the easiest methods to know if your ETC is broken. If there appears to be a slight loss of power each time, something else is likely to have gone wrong with this vital component of your car.
The ETC cannot measure the volume of air entering a turbine. This happens when the throttle body wears down from its original size, which can increase fuel consumption or reduce performance.
Causes of a Bad Electronic Throttle System
The following are some of the common causes of ETC malfunction:
- Vacuum or air filter leakage
- Loose sensor or electrical connections
- Damage to the ETC system
- Rust on the throttle body
How to Fix the Electronic Throttle Control 5.7L Hemi
There are many ways to fix the electronic throttle control 5.7L Hemi. A few ways are listed as follows:
- Clean the throttle
- Change the hose
- Reset throttle system
- Replacing throttle system
Let’s discuss these, one by one.
1. Clean the throttle
So, how to fix the electronic throttle control 5.7L Hemi? Preparing the workstation is the first step in learning how to clean the throttle body without removing it.
Because the compounds you’ll be using are volatile, this should be an outdoor location with plenty of ventilation. After deciding on a suitable location for the job, look for the throttle body under the hood in the engine compartment. Here are some pointers on how to find it quickly:
- Between the air cleaner and the intake manifold lies the throttle body
- Aluminum is used to make the throttle body
- The throttle body is attached to the gas pedal by metal wire in some older models, so you can identify it by pressing the gas pedal when the engine is turned off and looking at the moving element
Once you’ve located the throttle body, you must proceed with caution. This is due to the presence of tubes, hoses, and, in certain circumstances, electrical connections. Avoid some of these pieces because it will be tough to restore them to their original condition if something goes wrong with them.
Tools required
- Set of screwdrivers
- If there are any sticky stains or grime, use a soft toothbrush
- Work in a light manner
- Use pliers to remove the clamps
- Rubber gloves and safety goggles
- Cleaner for the throttle body
- Wipe dirt and stains with a paper towel
Now that you have the necessary tools and materials, you can start cleaning the car and gear.
Step-by-step process
Step 1
To avoid short circuits, disconnect the negative connection of the vehicle’s battery for safety.
Step 2
The large air duct that connects the throttle body to the air cleaner may be found here. A metal clamp is commonly used to secure it. Remove the air duct gently using a screwdriver to loosen the screw. Make sure you do it right. Disconnect any electrical wires that may be attached to the air duct.
Step 3
Remove air ducts and pipes to reveal the moveable plate within the throttle body. It’s important not to damage any of the gaskets within.
Step 4
Put on your protective equipment, including rubber gloves and goggles. Begin spraying the throttle body cleaner within the throttle body and removing the sticky dirt with the brush. Make sure nothing spills from the throttle body.
Step 5
Several times over, repeat the previous steps. Wipe the dirt off with a paper towel after each use. Repeat the process until the exposed metal appears to be completely clean. Carefully remove the idle sensor, clean it, and thoroughly dry it.
Step 6
Using paper towels, dry the throttle body. Make sure the throttle body is free of fluids.
Step 7
Using the screwdriver, reinstall the air ducts and tighten the clamps.
Step 8
Pick up your tools and supplies from the engine compartment and reattach the battery negative terminal after reinstalling the air ducts and any electrical connections you have removed. The engine may now be started.
Step 9
Some issues, such as starting the engine, stumbling, or unsteady RPM, are common after cleaning the throttle body. Some throttle cleaner residues have burned in the intake manifold, causing this. Everything will go back to normal once it has burned out.
Step 10
Take your automobile for a test drive if you’re wondering if cleaning the throttle body makes a difference. You’ll notice a difference in the engine’s performance, fuel economy, and sound. How to clean the electronic throttle body follows the same steps.
2. Replace the hose
Reading the throttle vane sensors is how the throttle body operates. Any leak in the throttle body’s electrical linkage will lead it to fail and prohibit air from passing through it, which means that if this hose linking engine electronics to your vehicle’s valve fails mechanically, you won’t be able to drive it!
3. Reset Throttle System
Step 1. Ignition
As previously said, one of the most critical components of effectively restarting this device is counting the seconds while executing this method. As a result, having a stopwatch is recommended to achieve a higher level of accuracy. You must flip the power switch on once you have everything you require.
It is critical to wait exactly 3 seconds and not to start the engine at any point. Simply press the accelerator pedal to its maximum capacity and release it as soon as possible.
This five-second operation of depressing and releasing the pedal should be repeated five times. After you’ve finished the above, you must wait seven to ten seconds before proceeding.
Cleaning the throttle body, in turn, will result in a far more efficient outcome at the end of this method. This occurs when the accelerator alters its operation as a result of the accumulated dirt posing a hazard.
When the throttle body obstructs valve function, these changes in throttle operation may be the most appropriate. The operation gained by resetting the electronic throttle control will be more efficient once the majority of the accumulated dirt in the throttle body has been removed.
Step 2. Accelerator pedal
After completing all of the preceding procedures, hold the accelerator pedal down for 10 seconds or as long as feasible. The check engine light should begin to flash at this point. This light should flash quickly to indicate that the diagnostic test mode or self-diagnostic findings have started.
The user should already be releasing and releasing the throttle when the diagnostic test mode is activated. The user must wait a minimum of 5 seconds and a maximum of 10 seconds after releasing the throttle.
The user should press the accelerator pedal as far as possible for an additional 10 seconds. When you’ve done everything correctly, the check engine light will cease flashing quickly and start flashing more slowly.
When this happens, the ECU’s memory is cleared by the vehicle’s system. The user must remove the accelerator pedal and keep the ignition switch in the off position to proceed.
Step 3. Start the engine
The user must restart the engine after completing each of the preceding steps. The check engine warning light turns off when the necessary time has passed. The procedure for resetting the electronic throttle controller is now complete.
The check engine light may not flash as swiftly or as slowly as specified in the preceding steps. If it doesn’t happen, it means the ECU hasn’t finished the required reset procedure. As a result, it is necessary to repeat the preceding stages. Most likely, the user hasn’t considered the number of seconds required for each step.
Step 4. Alternative
There are a few other options for resetting the electronic throttle pedal controller. It’s as simple as unplugging the battery, which can be quite effective for resetting this and other systems within a car.
Only the negative terminal of the battery must be unplugged to disconnect it. Each equivalent capacitor must likewise be discharged with the ECU. The user merely needs to use the relevant pedal to pump the brake.
The control parameters must be considered to complete this procedure. Each of these values may be verified using the ECU, and the associated ranges should be within typical limits.
4. Replace the Throttle System
Step 1. Find throttle
If you begin working on your truck right away, you will be unable to locate the throttle. It resembles a little container encased in plastic or metal that is inserted directly into the airflow sensor.
Most cars have tubing coming out of them, so even if they don’t, there should be some form of tubing attached at one end-point around here somewhere.
Step 2. The throttle cover should be removed
With a screwdriver, unscrew the lid before replacing it. You might have to use your wrench instead in some circumstances. Close and open the lid quickly enough so that you or another mechanic may access this portion of your vehicle for an even faster fix once it has been unfastened and removed from the engine compartment (or wherever it is situated).
Step 3. Disconnect or unplug everything
The sensor cables and hoses will need to be disconnected next. Our wrench comes in handy here! The first step is to remove all of the screws from beneath it so that both sides can come apart more easily when we remove them.
Next, remove any ties that may be holding these connections together or preventing access to whatever tools you’re using — this includes removing one side’s hose from its connection at either end by unscrewing their connectors with a screwdriver until they pop out. Then reattaching on the other side once everything has been properly detached.
Step 4. Replace the body with the new one
Although the installation part is rather simple, it does take time. Simply delete the old throttle body and replace it with a new one by reversing the delete operation.
Before reconnecting any hoses or cables that were disconnected during removal, make sure all of your screws are tightened. Replace the panels with care to avoid hurting anything else on this engine bay side panel location, and then finish up.
Step 5. Completion and verification
The remainder of the throttle mechanism is significantly more straightforward to take apart. Simply remove a few minor screws, cut the cable, and reconnect it.
You should then start your engine to inspect the turbine (it should start immediately). Then, if there are no issues, check the idle and throttle speeds. You have effortlessly replaced your old defective system with this new one!
FAQs
Although we have thoroughly discussed how to assemble and replace the throttle body, you may also need some additional details.
Here are several possible follow-up inquiries to your answers:
How much does it cost to fix the electronic throttle control?
The throttle control system itself costs no more than $200. The cheapest ones can be found for as little as $100 or sometimes less.
You won’t have to spend any money if you fix the ETC yourself.
Depending on the extent of the injury, the cost of sending it to a repair shop can range from $50 to $300 or more.
Should I take my Dodge RAM to a shop?
Have you tried the different techniques we have shown above? If not, try them first – are they all out of work? Then try manually replacing the ETC.
If you can’t do that, taking the vehicle to a repair shop is the safest option.
Be aware that most shops may charge you more than if you repair it yourself. Please consider this before making a judgment call.
Is it possible to clean the throttle body while the engine is running?
Yes. On the other side, the full-throttle cleaning solvent will wind up in the combustion chamber. This chemical is extremely dangerous to gaskets and oil seals.
As a result, these parts may be destroyed if they are exposed to too much of this substance. It’s safer to clean the throttle body with the engine turned off.
How much does it cost to clean the throttle body?
The cost of cleaning the throttle body is not very high. A throttle body cleaner will set you back about $6 and will last you three cleaning sessions. Basic maintenance tools will be required as well. As a result, cleaning your throttle body is not an expensive procedure.
Is it true that cleaning the throttle body makes a difference?
Sure. The throttle body must be cleaned if the car’s performance and drivability are to be improved. It is a remedy for everyone who has experienced harsh engine running, unsteady vehicle operation, or diminished vehicle performance when the car is still new.
Conclusion
This was all about how to fix the electronic throttle control 5.7L Hemi. You should be aware that this is routine maintenance performed to keep your car in top shape. If cleaning your throttle body continues to be difficult, you should seek professional assistance.
If you’re not comfortable with the process, don’t do it because you can end up injuring some pieces. Also, remember to safeguard your eyes by wearing safety goggles.
