Throttle Bodies - questions... dealership scaring me
 

(edit: does this belong in Intake/Exhaust insead? pls move)
OK team....I don't know much about throttle bodies. Dealership said that the CEL code they got this time and last time I brought it in points to throttle body.

They said that they both need to be replaced at the same time per Nissan's maintenance instructions.

Some here might suggest I buy aftermarket and do it myself etc, but I'm just not going to do that. I'd like advice on this dealership's recommendation.

Info/Questions:
1. Do we really have two throttle bodies in the 370Z?
2. Do I follow their lead that they need to both be swapped out at the same time?
3. They're quoting me $2186 for parts and labor (2 TB's, a gasket or two, and 2-3 hours labor)

Bottom line:
Does this sound reasonable for someone like me with no other access to tools to go along with? If so, thanks. If not, what are my alternatives?

Background: They 'cleaned' the throttle body last time I believe and reset the light. It came back. It comes back on car startup. Low idle and sometimes stalls on after starting up unless I rev a bit, then it just idles low. Those are the symptoms I experienced.

My first question: Do you know what a throttle body looks like? If the answer is "yes", then have you ever opened your hood and looked at your engine?

But, for a more (or less) serious question: what code keeps coming up that points the dealership towards the throttle bodies?

Finally, $2K+ is WAAAAY too much for the amount of time/effort and cost of parts involved in just swapping them out. You should be able to pick up a good working set of used ones for a couple hundred and swap them out yourself in an hour or so.

Please don't let the dealer rape you like that :shakes head:

I'm with NorthStyle ... why is the dealer suggesting you replace the throttle bodies for low idle :icon14:

I might consider trying another dealer or a competent shop that is familiar with the 370Z.

To answer your questions, yes there are two throttle bodies. They are very easy to identify if you open the hood. No clue on the pair replacement claim - I'd be hesitant to believe the dealer though based on the price gouge. That price is completely unreasonable. I think you can do the work in your driveway (or parking space) with a just flat head screwdriver to remove the intakes and a proper sized torx bit to remove the throttle bodies. I would expect replacement to take about 2 hours for someone that has no experience. And I'd rate the job difficulty somewhere in the 3-4 range out of 10.

Thanks for responses so far.
No, I don't know what a throttle body looks like. Most experience I have under the hood is changing a starter on a Jeep grand cherokee (it was very easy) and changing my oil.

I am now considering telling them to hold off on this job. They are also telling me that my exhaust needs new gaskets under the car (symptom: fluttering noise coming from underneath) and that they might end up shearing the parts because of rust/corrosion. He quoted me between $400 and $2100 for that. $2100 being if all three potential areas that could break do break. :O

Overall a $4100 phone conversation currently.

I don't remember the CEL. But my OBD-II never showed the same code they're seeing.

My problem is I just moved to this area and don't know who to trust and who is "familiar" with 370Zs. Maybe this is stuff any mechanic could do? Maybe I don't really need two new throttle bodies?

:wtf:

Tell that dealer to go fuck themselves ... they are just trying to put money in their pocket any way they can. And you are the current mark.

New exhaust gaskets should run no more than $50 for parts plus an hour of labor. That's a $130-170 job depending on hourly shop rates in your region. A used OEM exhaust can often be found for $0-100 with a little bit of searching and luck. $2100 is FUCKIN INSANE!!

1. Yes. One for the left bank; another for the right.
2. No - unless both are bad. They are not matched sets.
3. Find another shop. Or stock up on plenty of anal lube; a 55-gallon drum may not be enough.

Get the DTC(s) that is being thrown and post it here. Modern cars are very good at diagnosing themselves.

Yeah find a speed shop to help do the work. Hell the most expensive port and polished throttle bodies cost less than $800! Also the issue may not even have anything to do with the tbs.

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

Got to MA motorsports, they have got to be close to you.

Please, I beg you to run, not walk, from this dealer.

Also, and not to bash, please name the dealer that is trying to "help" you.

He's in Massachusetts, not Maryland.

He mentioned that he just moved to the area. So I'm wondering if his info is updated and he just moved to MA or if it's old and he moved from MA. Regardless, there's likely to be someone that has used a competent shop in the new area. I'd recommend searching the appropriate regional sub-forum for such a shop.

Some of the most discounted prices I've encountered have come from Boch Nissan in Norwood Massachusetts.

The dealership YOU'VE gone to is trying to take advantage of you because you clearly show you know not much about your Z. Throttle Bodies MSRP are $687 and change each. I hardly think the gaskets are hundreds of $. Which leaves over $1000 for 2-3 hours worth of labor?

Do we really have two throttle bodies in the 370Z:facepalm:

he was saying $860 times two or so = ~$1700 plus labor

And I agree the CEL doesn't necessarily mean new TBs, it's probably just Nissan's next step in troubleshooting.

Thanks for the recommendation. It would be 90 minutes to get there with traffic.. will have to stay closer I spose. Think Salem, Massachusetts area


And yeah, I didn't know what a throttle body was before I looked it up. I just like to drive the car, ok? :) 83,000 miles of joy

It's a dealership on Route 1 in Lynnfield, Massachusetts. Urban-ish area I expect higher rates. Plenty of import shops around me locally, is my car old enough and not unique enough I can go to any one of them instead?



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Thanks to other replies, too. Convinced me to get my car back from these folks. Sad, they had good coffee donuts and wifi, too ;)

Actually Boch has them for $491.87 left/right each. Just an FYI. Hope all works out.