Throttle-by-wire is a standard feature on most late-model vehicles. Most of the time, the system is very reliable and usually does not fail completely, thereby leaving the driver stranded. Instead it “limps” along, letting the driver move at idle or at a restricted speed.

Swapping a throttle-by-wire unit for a new unit hoping to resolve a code or limp-mode problem is not an option due to the high price and strict manufacturer return policies. Being able to think through and diagnose a throttle-by-wire problem is critical to working on late-model vehicles.

Importance of Throttle-By-Wire

If every throttle-by-wire unit were to be replaced overnight by cables, or never invented in the first place, things would change for the worse. Cars and trucks would have less power and be less safe. The average driver would notice the difference.

Most traction and stability control systems use throttle-by-wire to shut down the power instead of fighting with the brakes. Early traction control systems used ignition and/or fuel to cause the engine to misfire in order to reduce power. These misfires were damaging to the engine because if a driver was trying to get out of a snow bank or mud, the plugs might become fouled.

Late-model throttle-by-wire systems can intervene seamlessly without the driver even noticing. In some cases, the system will work with the ABS so that power can be redirected to the side of the vehicle that needs it the most. This can make a cheap open-differential setup perform like a limited-slip differential.

When the throttle cable is pulled on an older system, the engine control module then has to fight the sudden throttle angle by adding more fuel and changing the ignition. On carbureted vehicles, secondary bores on the carburetor would open and the change in vacuum would cause the distributor to advance.

Throttle-by-wire creates harmony between the throttle angle, ignition and fuel, which allows the engine to create more torque and power. Throttle-by-wire can also better utilize variable valve timing and direct injection by matching the right amount of air with the fuel.

With throttle-by-wire, the engine control module and transmission can control power and shift so that power is applied smoothly and with the least amount of shock to the system. This is also a requirement for dual-clutch transmissions so the speeds of the gear clusters can be managed.

Throttle-by-wire allows the engine control module to limit vehicle speed and engine rev through throttle control rather than inducing misfires. Also, adding factory cruise control to a vehicle that wasn’t originally equipped with it becomes a case of just installing a switch and updating the software.

Throttle-By-Wire Body

The electronic throttle body is very similar to the cable-operated throttle body, with a few notable changes. Among the most noticeable is the addition of the throttle actuator control motor. This motor is used to open and close the throttle plate based on direct commands from the engine control module.

The motor turns two reduction gears inside the throttle body that link the drive gear from the motor to the throttle plate shaft.

On most systems, idle speed is completely controlled by throttle plate angle. Gone are the idle air control motors, idle stabilizers and tiny drilled holes in the throttle plate.

The typical throttle body has two springs inside. One spring is for throttle plate return and the other is a “limp-home” spring. The limp-home spring is set to open the throttle enough to move the vehicle if the power to the DC motor is lost. This will result in airflow that’s equal to a high idle and will produce a constant speed of about 25-30 mph. On some vehicles, idle rpm will not be high because the ignition system will induce misfire to control the engine speed.

The throttle position sensor (TPS) has been redesigned for the throttle-by-wire. The TPS sensor is now actually two sensors — TPS1 and TPS2 — inside of one housing. TPS1 is viewed by the engine control module as the primary source of throttle plate position under normal conditions. TPS1 behaves in the reverse of a traditional TPS (it has a negative slope). In the at-rest position, the voltage is near the 5-volt reference voltage. As the throttle plate opens, the voltage from TPS1 lowers.

TPS2 is used to crosscheck TPS1. TPS2 is also used by the system for small throttle angle changes because it has better resolution than TPS1. In the event that TPS1 fails, TPS2 becomes the computer’s primary source of throttle plate position. The voltage from TPS2 behaves in the traditional TPS manner. In the at-rest position, the voltage is less than 1 volt and rises toward reference voltage as the throttle plate opens.

TPS1 and TPS2 do not mimic each other in voltage value. As you can see, the slope angle of TPS2 is about twice that of TPS1. TPS1 provides a signal that covers the entire sweep, which is similar to the behavior of older versions of TPS on cable-operated systems. The only real difference is the negative slope of TPS1. TPS2, however, reaches its peak voltage twice as fast. The voltage slopes change at different rates to further isolate TPS1 from TPS2 in the eyes of the engine control module.

Pedal Position Sensors

Pedal position sensors are used by more than one angle or position sensor to verify operation and to eliminate the possibility of an erroneous reading causing an unintended acceleration incident. Also, the additional sensors at varied voltages allow for more accuracy.

Throttle-By-Wire Precautions

Throttle-by-wire systems are designed to operate without service for many thousands of miles. Part of this trouble-free design is the area around the throttle plate. Some manufacturers use a coating around the bore where the plate operates. This Teflon-like substance prevents the buildup of carbon, oil and debris.

Some of these coatings can be removed with harsh solvents. But, some manufacturers recommend cleaning the surface with just a shop rag with no or minimal solvents. GM recommends cleaning with solvents that do not contain methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) in the ingredients. MEK can harm coated surfaces as well as damage the bushings and seals around the shaft of the plate. There are throttle-body-specific cleaners available that are formulated so they will not damage the majority of throttle bodies on the market.

Most of the cleaning procedures outlined in TSBs recommend that cleaning be performed with the throttle-by-wire unit off of the vehicle. This is done for several reasons. First, if you spray extreme amounts of solvent into the intake, it might hydro- lock a cylinder. Second, the combustible solvents can increase temperatures in the combustion chamber, turbocharger and catalysts. If they are extreme enough, damage to the catalyst will occur. On turbocharged applications, it can even damage the bearing seals. This eventually causes shaft endplay and turbo failure. Third, manually moving the plate can damage the gears and motor of the throttle-by-wire unit.

Once the throttle-by-wire unit is cleaned and installed, the vehicle will have to relearn the values of the pedal and plate. Some vehicles do this automatically every time they are started. Some vehicles require a special key, pedal sequence and battery disconnect, while some vehicles even require a scan tool to relearn the positions.