Engine · important priority
Throttle Body Cleaning/Replacement Cost & Pricing
Clean or replace the throttle body that controls airflow into the engine based on accelerator position. Carbon buildup causes rough idle, hesitation, erratic RPM at idle, and poor throttle response.
Typical Throttle Body Cleaning/Replacement cost
$80–$450, with an average estimate of $220 before vehicle-specific adjustments.
What to expect
Difficulty: easy. Typical labor time: 0.5–2 hours.
Mechanic's tip
Cleaning is almost always tried before replacement — a can of throttle body cleaner and a soft brush remove carbon deposits in 20 minutes and often restore normal idle completely. Electronic throttle bodies (drive-by-wire) must not be cleaned with the throttle plate forced open — it can damage the throttle position sensor. After cleaning or replacement, many vehicles require a throttle body relearn procedure with a scan tool.