Dodge Ram 1500 Throttle Body
The throttle body is one of the vital parts of your Dodge Ram 1500 air intake system. Replacing an old one will help to extend the life of your vehicle. You can also opt to upgrade to a performance part, which will increase the horsepower of your Dodge truck.
What does the throttle body do?The throttle body is responsible for controlling the amount of airflow into the engine. Your Ram 1500 has a fuel-injected motor. This part interacts with sensors to make sure the correct air and fuel mixture gets to those injectors. The component is basically a tube with a butterfly valve. It is located between the air filter and the manifold, is connected to the gas pedal, and reports information to the ECU. This allows the computer to regulate the right balance of fuel and air.
How do you know if the throttle body needs replacement?There are five major signs that the throttle body is failing. If your Dodge Ram has any of the following symptoms, have it inspected right away.
- Dirt and grime in the housing
- Vacuum leaks
- Throttle stop out of place
- Fast or rough idling of the engine
- Electrical, sensor, or vehicle computer issues
Your vehicle will idle roughly and have frequent misfires. This will continue to get worse until you replace the faulty part. It may also end up damaging other parts if not taken care of in a timely manner. The cylinder that misses will still be getting a shot of fuel that could end up in one of two different places: It can escape out of the exhaust system and potentially harm the catalytic converter, or it will end up in your oil and cause the oil to break down.
What causes a Dodge Ram throttle body to go bad?One of the good things about this part is that it doesnt often fail. This means that when you replace your old one, you should get many years of use out of it. When they do fail, it is often due to grime, dirt, and carbon deposits building up within the piece. Cleaning it out about once a year can greatly increase the life span of this component. It is also vital to have a quality air filter to keep contaminants out. A vacuum leak or electrical problem can also cause the part to wear out and eventually fail.
Is there any benefit to upgrading to a performance part?You dont have to wait until the throttle body fails to install a new one. Upgrading to a performance part can provide more horsepower for your Dodge Ram 1500. This may seem like a minor modification when you consider all of the parts of an engine that can be upgraded, but they pair up well with a high-powered engine. All Ram 1500 models have powerful engines, and a performance throttle can help you to add even more power to your Dodge truck.