Drive By Wire - Electronic Throttle Control - Explained

How does electronic throttle control work? What is drive by wire? How does a gas pedal work? This video explains how an electronic drive by wire gas pedal system works, and the components involved.
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[@EngineeringExplained]

Well, one advantage is the ECU can better control throttle in situations where this may be useful, for example with traction control. The ECU could reduce throttle, where as with a conventional system, if your foot is on the gas pedal, the throttle valve is open. Also, it eliminates some of the moving parts and connections required (though it does add some as well). I think there is a bit of a lag though letting off the gas, which I've noticed on my girlfriend's Mazda 3.

[@pilotavery]

The lag letting off the gas is rev hang

[@astra3459]

@@pilotaveryis rev hang is actually good or not?

[@jeffbauer3425]

It's great that one of the Beatles taught me this 😂

[@ramiemp6571]

justin bieber

[@octapc]

Yeah yeah yeah

[@TheMechanicalArchitect]

The car or the band

[@Rm-no6jr]

Wow, amazing. 13 years ago you compiled amazing episodes. I am now a fan and subscribed to your Channel

[@TobyWhiteUK]

All these years on, I'm still sharing these videos with family members to give a nice and concise explanaton of what everything car-related does! Thanks for all your efforts.

[@2003DYNAWIDEGLIDE]

Young man your a good teacher, you explained this very well.

[@hikeitnz]

Fantastic Video Jason 😀 Really shows people the basic fundamentals behind throttle control and also provides an inside when researching to purchase a Performance Throttle Controller

[@misaelmontes8107]

Excellent explanation, thanks! This video has 11 years old!

[@amazingmusti]

Always get to learn a lot from your videos. A good amount of my knowledge and understanding on automobiles have come from your videos, and I really thank you for that. But I have a question in regards with the Drive By Throttle setup. Why does the motorcycle/car, having a Drive By Wire, kill the engine when the throttle pedal/ throttle opened up all the way??

[@EngineeringExplained]

I don't know if it's a step motor or not, but regardless the valve and motor are connected. Even if it is not direct (shaft of motor is axis of rotation for valve) it's still entirely controlled by the motor, so it wouldn't really make a difference. As far as reliability, drive by wire is very common now, so I'd say reliability is fine.

[@EngineeringExplained]

Maybe, but unfortunately there are plenty of people who tried to take advantage of the situation and lied about acceleration problems (the Prius guy in California comes to mind immediately). Haven't really looked into it lately, but I thought I saw some closure on Toyota's end that disproved nearly all of the claims. They settled because it's the world we live in, people are lawsuit happy and you have to do something about it.

[@EngineeringExplained]

If the engine speed matches the speed of the transmission (which is driven by wheel speed) for a set gear, then you do not need a clutch to shift the gears, as they are rotating in unison at the same speed. See my video on clutches if you have trouble picturing this.

[@V8_screw_electric_cars]

that's what truck divers do in american trucks that have to synchros

[@Mamac2006]

tfw i can't blip throttle for rev matching downshifts because the car has ETC and the ecu doesn't allow rapid RPM increase

[@dattarajraikar4841]

What is ETC ?

[@philippe5249]

@@dattarajraikar4841 Electronic traction control

[@kct787]

@@dattarajraikar4841 Electronic Throttle Control

[@freddykrueger5503]

Thanks my man. Your explanations are great

[@heathstjohn6775]

You always make very, very good, sensible videos. Thanks.

[@BenefitOfTheDoubtInquiry]

Omg I had no idea you did this channel 8 years ago too!

[@mikeg3529]

Ive been searching all over the web, and cannot find any data as to why they switched all vehicles over to this.....which kind of scares me a little. How is this better? How does this make a car better,safer,use less gas, etc etc. and are those improvement worth all the extra complications involved? I mean, other improvements made sense.... fuel injection= more power, less fuel, less maintenance The improvements like distributor-less ignition, etc. Okay, those were all worth while improvments, some things got more complex, but the pay off was worth it. How is replacing a simple cable, and lever mechanism.......with a gas pedal sensor, wiring, interface to the computer, more wiring, a motor, a gear set, and linkage to the throttle body making some profound improvement? They took a design that was pretty much perfectly fine, and made it have like 10x more points of failure, for what reason? What improvement did this make?

[@EngineeringExplained]

Michael G It allows the computer to directly control the throttle. From a safety perspective, this adds a lot of value as you can cut power in scenarios where traction is lost or the vehicle is unstable. Makes cruise control much more simple as well, as it removes the need for an actuator to pull on the cable. I'm a fan of mechanical systems, and would certainly prefer the old method from a response standpoint, but I think it's a valid mechanism.

[@mikeg3529]

Engineering Explained. It doesn't really make cruise control "much more" simple. Electronic cruise control pretty much is the same thing as an electronic throttle body, except the motor unit isn't attached to the throttle body itself and is instead located away and attached via another throttle cable. BUT, yes it does make sense from the stand point of modern system on a car now days do require computer controlled throttle manipulation, such as traction control, etc.

[@slowanddeliberate6893]

+Engineering Explained I have a drive-by-wire throttle car, and there is a considerable delay in engine response. It feels exactly like I don't have true control over the engine; it's annoying. I have to push the throttle pedal more than twice the distance required in car with a traditional mechanical linkage to achieve the same rate of acceleration. The two cars referenced are almost identical in horsepower.

[@charliezhu674]

+Michael G Put aside all the probable pros that electronic throttle has, one of the main reason it's used by most cars nowadays is the manufactures and dealers can have one more part that requires changing which means $$$(more expensive) to them, which unfortunately do break down, and I think this is the reason you cant find no clue on internet because those businessmen are trying to hide their dirty secret(s).

[@mikeg3529]

Charlie Zhu it's really the government. If they didn't intervene, we would all still be driving flat-head v8s burning leaded gasoline.

[@EngineeringExplained]

Could be the A/C compressor turning on and off, or the cooling fans, which would alter your revs. But 3000 is pretty high so I'm not sure.

[@antonymathew]

in the diagram you could have showed what flows between the position-sensor and ECM. Is it a packet of digital info (CAN packets) on the position of pedal , or is it an analogue varying voltage ?

[@hassankhan384]

I like the cable because one it wasn't completed second you could rev the engine from the engine bay and not keep going back to the driver side to rev it. If you were working on a car it would be easy from there. And also cheap to maintain such as if something went wrong it would be either the cable which is cheap or the flaps inside which would be easy to open up the this electronic one.

[@EngineeringExplained]

Ahh, didn't even think about that. Thanks.

[@EngineeringExplained]

Well, some claims were that the gas pedal physically got stuck on the floor mat. I believe modern cars are incorporating kill switches. Regardless, you can always put your car in neutral; and brakes should overpower engines 99.999% of the time.

[@Cy24111]

Great explanation you made my night

[@matthewslatton5681]

you are tha best at explaining to tha simple and tha seasoned. 'that is true wisdom' .thanx you for being thorough and curt ... you are my virtual teacher ..

[@abeyravi8301]

(addition to ur session), From the pedal sensor value the ECU calculates the torque demand from driver, in turn calculates the air mass required to achieve that torque demand. In order to allow that much air charge/mass into combustion chamber,ECU calculates what should be the position of the sensor and controls the electronic throttle valve (EGAS). Its a complete closedloop system works well with the help of MAP&MAF sensors. Good Job.! Keep doing Please have a session in Torque coordination.:)

[@shavuklia7731]

You're great, thank you!!

[@TouTheng]

Your videos are great! Learning a lot just by watching them. Keep it up!! Subscribed!!!!!!

[@EngineeringExplained]

No, all cars can have it, and it can be used to adjust A/F ratio.

[@piyushsharma1302]

thanks you are a really good teacher..................

[@EngineeringExplained]

I don't know the data but my gf's Mazda 3 has 40,000 miles and hasn't had any issues with it. Keep in mind the movements are relatively slow, and the "distance" of rotation is very small. I don't think the motors are really working very hard at all.

[@aros007z]

Awesomeness

[@jessmason346]

I bought a"SPRINT BOOSTER" for my A4. It made a world of difference. The sprint booster works on a selector switch which tricks the ECU. The sprint booster tells the pedal sensor that it is at a different position then it actually is. This allows the ECU to open the Butter fly valve to 15-30% more while under normal acceleration. When this happens the ECU thinks the pedal is being pushed harder that it actually is throughout the standard acceleration band pushing the motor to work harder faster.

[@CoalMorris]

Excellent, simple explanation. Thanks

[@GPTSkills]

Wish all manufacturers can do it right. I'm learning how to drive in a 2015 Kia Sportage and the throttle response is terrible. Not only that, you have to delay your throttle engagement from a complete stop to start moving without any jerks. Even if you are progressively pressing in the throttle, the throttle body ignores that transition if done too quickly. Also, the ecu gets confused sometimes when I ask to accelerate heavily. Even when pressing the throttle all the way, it sometimes refuses to open the throttle body all the way and it refuses to shift to a lower gear. I find myself being stuck at around 2000rpm with my foot all the way down. Going 40-60mph in 5 seconds.

[@AndsonSimbeye]

❤ thank very much for your message about engine

[@visho8979]

Is a drive by wire system less reliable than a normal cable operated system? I say this because today car manufacturers are making cars pretty much disposable. You can't really see cars today going for more than a number of years trouble free, but you can see cars of the late 90s and before still running trouble free.

[@sciencemilitia1853]

Yes. It is way less reliable, less respnsive, and extremely expensive/difficult to repair.

[@blaisebefika269]

well explained.just asking if it is the quantity of fluid entering the cylinder which varies the speed or the frequency of the fluid entering the cylinder?

[@H.pylori]

Still a great explanation in 2023. Thanks.

[@4goten]

Could we have an update on this system with reference to the double TPS and double PPS and safety measures that are used.

[@AsneakyBanana]

I am looking to get into automotive engineering and I was wondering what u majored in and where u went to school. Thanks

[@AnnDee4444]

Can you please do a video on throttle controllers?

[@adelinpopa2470]

And the reaction time on electric acceleration its 0.5 0.8 seconds after you push the pedal acceleration but the acceleration by cable its instant . The cable its good . I have right ?

[@ingeniousmechanic]

Yes popa, you have it right.

[@JonFFavale]

Nothing beats the traditional cable throttle

[@mike-ef7yq]

Hi, Do electrical gas pedals have to be re calibrated after 10+ years? My pedal isn't very responsive, its laggy, but when I push it down hard it goes, In my opinion the throttle cable is much better,, My car has been tested at mechanics, they can't find anything wrong with the car,plus no fault codes are coming up,

[@staresce]

Nothing you can say will convince me especially after the horror of the Toyota unintended acceleration deaths, that it's just as safe to allow your brake system to be controlled by electric impulses and complicated computer programs, instead of a physical cable connection.

[@03757]

My 2014 Jeep Patriot is feeling this problem it will need to be replaced very soon it's already given me a warning on the dash light.

[@yoni00123]

Great explanation.

[@karimalameddine5092]

Could you please talk about wind Booster and similar products, Thanks for the videos 😀

[@jaycustodio6686]

Hello i just wanted to ask why my RPM doesnt go up. Though the distributor coil is already brand new?. My car is mazda 323

[@hiblendmedia]

The reason why car manufacturers probably went the drive by wire route is that it saves space by eliminating cruise control cable actuators which can cost $200-$400. Also, you're dealing with less maintenance with cable adjustments and grime that gets into cable linkages and what not. I do agree with the lag in throttle response with drive by wire, but some car manufacturers got their stuff down and stand alone ecus can fix this I'm sure.

[@Ilovecomedy7]

Thanks for the video. I was fighting myself to find the throttle wire to manually gas up my engine so I can hear my new muffler. I guess my car has the ETC system so now it makes sense that I was not able to find it. My car was made in 2005 by the way.

[@hellosibba]

how the resistance feel on pedal works for drive by wire model cars. What my precise question is actually the resistance that we feel when we press the gas pedal. how is that works. I would assume either a spring against which we are pressing the pedal which gives a resistance effect OR the ETC(electronic throttle control) generates a resistance feel. I would be very glad if you kindly share this information.

[@iulian207]

it has a spring inside

[@paulferrara9079]

Great Idea, switch out a $20. cable that almost never breaks or fails, for an electric sensors system which costs $110. to replace when it ever fails.....

[@Aashishkebab]

Electronic throttles offer so many advantages over cable. It's not about replacing when it breaks (which is rarer anyway). It's about traction control, emissions, etc.

[@ingeniousmechanic]

You won't get a diagnosis for 110 bucks, much less parts and labor for any part of this system. Just like every thing else, when the warranty is gone, send it to the landfill.

[@will7its]

$110 if your lucky...

[@darkamantra21]

Does the throttle contoller wont give too much stress to cvt transmission while driving/usage?

[@EngineeringExplained]

Correct, check out my video "gas pedals." I've got a more detailed description of how it works.

[@BlakeMurtagh]

Can you link it, I can't seem to find the video 👍

[@Jordfjord]

holes are sometimes put on throttle blades to help a car idle based on what i understand. in any case, throttle blades should always completely close when off the gas, because then the iac valve comes into play to let the engine breath at idle.

[@Drifting50]

Thanks for the response. Just one more question: Sometimes when I shift my car into neutral, the engine will go to idling for a couple seconds then rev to about 3000 RPM for a few seconds without me touching the gas pedal. Is this caused by the position sensor acting up, then telling the electric motor to open the throttle body, then the throttle position sensor senses the incongruence between the gas pedal and throttle body and then automatically adjusts the engine back to idling?

[@snippydude]

Easy! Integrating other functions that access and manipulate throttle are much easier to implement.

[@tomstrickland6002]

Do you have anything on drive by wire steering?

[@canadapainter658]

DIFFERENT QUESTION; I don;t have cruise control on my car (1992 Ford Tempo V6) but will I able to install one?

[@jasonputtock4428]

can you extend these drive by wire cables without adversley affecting its function and trigger points.? Converting my van from right hand drive to left. Need to relocate the pedal drive by wire cables by a method of extending original cables. Would this cause a problem.

[@patsmith7230]

question. Have one of those in my 2005 Hyundai Sante Fe and it has issues. Where, among all that stuff, am I likely to find a problem causing the acceleration to surge or stop inappropriately? thanks.

[@7150285]

what I'm basically referring in my previous comment is that if your vehicle doesn't use drive by wire technology, you don't have to worry too much about the acceleration problem right?

[@paulwalker7432]

I hope you can help. will adding a aftermarket throttle controller such has Apexi over heat the ECU . i have a 2nd gen lexus is350 and read that this is the case. thanks

[@markolehtola6630]

Can you explane ”Dethrottling” on one of your next videos?

[@Mihogan]

Can somebody explain to me why this is better? Seems so much more complicated and prone to repair than a simple cable-operated throttle.

[@zygi22]

Alec Minnick Because "fuel savings"..........that aren't worth diddly squat.

[@ralfvalcourt9187]

+rock IAC is way more reliable and only a fraction of the cost. Yes, I have replaced quite a few IAC's but Throttle Actuators are a common repair Item.

[@ralfvalcourt9187]

+Ralf V And yes out comes the argument that DBW is smoother, easier on Gas and the Catalyst System. Whatever!

[@jeremywhittler8591]

I can answer that. Because of predictive mapping. Faster than your foot can fully depress the pedal the ECU can measure in Milliseconds how far the pedal has moved. A map table is qued up in the ingition and injector tables for full throttle before the pedal is fully depressed. This is the end game they were looking for that only ultra fast standalone's and high end factory ECU'S can handle. A small pedal movement to throw out ingition and fueling maps faster than you can pysically depress the pedal. OR=Throttle Response.

[@EngineeringExplained]

Could be. I've never seen holes myself but it would achieve the same effect.

[@joeakagator2353]

Hi I have a question can I used my electric throttle controller with spot mode gear on my car or if I do this can damage my car ?

[@jamesthornton9399]

The Electric Throttle control may make it easier to power shift?

[@AALHUWIDI]

May you add more lessons on the MPFI

[@URFIT]

What's the con/disadvantage of using throttle controller?

[@AlbertoDiFede]

Hi man, great video. I recently found an issue with autodiagnostic tool in my Nissan Micra k12. Code description is P1126 -> Faulty Throttle Control Motor relay. My car doesn't accelerate over 2,5k RPM. It seems to be in safe (or limp) mode. I'm driving at

[@zahedrahimi]

you should make a video on what a two step rev limiter is, how it works and what its good for !!!

[@EngineeringExplained]

I wouldn't say it's the worst haha. It has it's purposes, though I'll admit I'm not a fan of it in my gf's car. It floats the throttle when you're switching gears.

[@flute136]

Hi. What would cause horrible delay/no power when i press drive by wire pedal little amounts and slowly? 2013 volkswagen passat v6

[@31dariant]

how about the steering in drive by wire? i mean, please explain how drive by wire works to replace the steering from mechanically to electronically. thanks !

[@EvilEagle4G63]

Please do an explanation on compressor maps! Thanks for the good videos!

[@ingeniousmechanic]

Compressor maps?

[@scriptureexamined4664]

Didn't the BMW Williams F1 2004 car have an electronic gas regulator based on the position of the track so that the drivers couldn't lift and coast at certain areas of the track?

[@concretecountertop]

You should do a video on CAI's and how they work

[@oogiemaster]

Why go through all that if the old cable works just fine? What are the comparo/ benefits/ pros & cons or the old and new? What if the electronic ever fail while driving, let's say, during acceleration (electronic control throttle) to avoid oncoming train or during braking (electronic control braking) to avoid hitting someone?

[@tonyfielding508]

Can I remove the throttle body plug the cable back into the unit and then turn on the ignition. (not turn over the engine) then if I press the gas pedal will the butterfly open?

[@UccelloLibero86]

Are these wires difficult to replace at home?

[@09fatbobmike]

my vehicle has an issue that my tuner cannot figure out. I been noticing a hesitation when accelerating There are 2 lines in hp tuners on the graph. one for peda percentage and other for throttle body blade open percentage. He says the pedal is going to 100percent and the blade isnt keeping up. Not even close. and it is causing hesitation. No codes or check engine light on.

[@jamespeppard9162]

I’m glad that’s easier to swap out than you think.

[@nickamarit]

Would there be lag created... like from the motor not spinning/accelerating fast enough, etc.?

[@EngineeringExplained]

It is possible, yes, all depends on how the motor is tuned with the throttle pedal.

[@nickamarit]

Engineering Explained I see... Thank you!

[@salimanski]

+Engineering Explained so how can I improve the throttle response?? its lagging and it has a 1 sec delay

[@nickamarit]

sam ali OMG... A 1-second delay is no joke!!! I hope you do find a way to deal with it!

[@bboysil]

The main purpose for the throttle position sensor is actually a feedback loop. The loop is needed for accurate control of the butterfly valve.

[@DoctorDARKSIDE]

Ha! It's a lovely concept except... It completely kills the throttle response, adds unnecessary complexity and increases manufacturing and maintenance cost once components start to fail. What on this flipping Earth was wrong with the darn throttle cable and a position sensor on the throttle body?

[@vaarelpgaming647]

not only that, the throttle position is measured via a potentiometer, which basicaly means if the cable is damaged and making a short you basicaly have a stuck opoen throttle, that cant be unjammed secon of all, if you do happen to unplug it and replug it wrong, you basicaly invert it, means throttle on zero -> fullgas, throttle on full -> no gas

[@jaxnaturals]

First you have to understand that this system incorporates the throttle control, idle air control, Traction control and limp mode and other strategies thus making it simpler for manufactures. It does not kill throttle response unless the manufacture programs it that way for efficiency. I can program the throttle to move faster than a cable based on request. You ever see the video of the Corvette leaving the line in 6th gear? This is the reason. They can request different throttle angles at different rpms thus making the system more efficient. Just as if you were climbing a long hill at 80% throttle. You don't necessary need to go faster, you are just trying to maintain your current speed. If you have a cable, your in a fixed system and it doesn't know this thus loading the engine more than needed. You need this for all autonomous vehicles. The future is now, not in the past. The "good ole days" are always dying. Keep up or get left behind

[@sharpcone]

Old cable and manual throttle control fail to pass modern environment certification requirements.

[@V8_screw_electric_cars]

@@jaxnaturals yes but they all are designed to have 1 second lag so…

[@jaxnaturals]

@@stevenpham1961 your missing the point.

[@robertoguzman1578]

Would this be better investment rather than buying a whole new throttle body?

[@harshchovatiya-gh7hn]

1> when i press the gas pedal constantly with some force/Angle ,so the butterfly valve constantly open or just open/close - open/close?? 2> Which car model of Honda u used in d video? thanks in advance

[@EngineeringExplained]

1. It opens at an angle, relative to how much you press the gas pedal. 2. It's a 1999 Acura Integra

[@harshchovatiya-gh7hn]

u mean steady in angle right?

[@EngineeringExplained]

Correct. It's not a simple open/close valve.

[@harshchovatiya-gh7hn]

thanks

[@tommyb.6064]

I need to mod the gas pedal of a car in order to fit on the dash a pot for fast idle purposes as some accessories will be fitted in the car and i need it to idle at 2000-2500 rpm. Do you know what is the usual value of the potentiomenter inside a modern gas pedal? If i don't find a schematic of this, i will have to get one at the kenny-u-pull, open it up and measure it myself... Please, no comments about It's dangerous to mess with such things... we know that s**t already, thanks :-)

[@mytechgarage]

a video showing how to modify a car and make it wire to cable would be great!

[@RZFX619]

Auto manufacturers when coming up with ETC: - "How can we increase our vehicles' overall cost and complexity while at the same time decreasing throttle response?" - "Oh I know, let's replace the time tested throttle cable with a overly complicated computer system! It'll be SEWWWWW FAWNSEHHH"

[@qasimmir7117]

Correct. Planned obsolescence.

[@iulian207]

The reason is to allow the cruise control function to exist.

[@GewelReal]

Soo many WHETAHDS

[@999benhonda]

TBW likely shaves build time, and is intergrated into some traction control systems (will close butterfly to limit throttle and thus wheel spin) That said, I HATE it and it needs to go. Hell, there are aftermarket parts for many cars that can modify the signal, to try and speed up or slow down the butterfly action. Some cars with TBW have lazy throttles, others are damn touchy. I like my 06 scion xbo (throttle cable) but the newer xb has TBW and when my wife test drove one she hated it right away. Thank's scion, you screwed up several things with the second gen xb!

[@dattarajraikar4841]

Does this system needs play in the pedals?

[@wnbdriver]

hi. quick question: do you know if there are implementations of drive-by-wire where the butterfly valve is directly connected to a step motor? How reliable would that one be?

[@Pali4life2]

Is it common for the butterfly motor to go bad? It seems to me that constant moving back and forth would cause it to go bad quickly

[@sandygrungerson1177]

So how do you test if you have a motor or return spring problem?

[@Devilish2NM]

what kind of motor do they use? DC or stepper?

[@jeffersonadriano9496]

Good day Sir I have idle problem it drops when AC is On I have clean the TB,change ignition coil and spark plugs, check for vacuum leak but I don't find any. But my car idle still drop when AC is On 😞 I hope you could help me. Toyota Yaris 2012 my car Thanks in advance🙏

[@jessefehr6286]

Do a video on shift by wire auto trans gear selectors

[@gearhead4005]

my throttle body motor and sensor got weak over 153000 miles . No check engine light, just loss in power and throttle response. Pain in the ass compared to cable systems.