Rough Running Patriot: Throttle Body Troubles & Solutions

As someone with intermediate experience working on cars, I had a very similar issue with my 2011 Compass. The symptoms you describe match exactly what I experienced, inconsistent throttle response and high fuel consumption. The throttle position sensor was giving erratic readings, causing the engine control unit to miscalculate the air intake requirements. After initially suspecting the throttle body, my mechanic diagnosed a defective accelerator pedal module. The control valve and throttle valve were actually fine, but the pedal sensor was sending incorrect signals. The repair took about 2 hours and cost 205 Euro including parts and labor. While throttle body cleaning can help in some cases, your symptoms strongly suggest an electrical rather than mechanical issue. The accelerator pedal module replacement completely resolved the rough running and fuel consumption problems in my case. To provide more specific advice, could you share: Current mileage on your Patriot, Whether you get any warning lights, If the problem is constant or intermittent, If you notice the issue more during cold starts This information would help determine if your case matches what I experienced with my Compass.

Last service was done at 174478 KM and they checked the air intake system. Based on my experience, I also recommend having a diagnostic test performed. When my engine idle issues started, it turned out to be different from what I initially suspected. A mechanic should specifically check the throttle valve and engine throttle sensors since rough running combined with poor fuel economy often points to air-fuel mixture problems. In my case, cleaning helped temporarily, but the issues returned after a few weeks. The fault codes indicated a problem with the car throttle components rather than just carbon buildup. After proper diagnosis, the repair took around 3 hours and cost 380 Euro for parts and labor. Would be good to know if your check engine light is on and whether the symptoms get worse as the engine warms up.

Thanks for the additional details about your service history. The symptoms continuing after cleaning matches what I experienced with my Compass, temporary improvement followed by the same issues returning within weeks. Looking at the repair cost difference between our cases (380 Euro vs 205 Euro in my case), it seems you might have needed more extensive throttle body work compared to my accelerator pedal module replacement. The fact that your air intake system was checked during service but problems persisted suggests we might be dealing with different root causes despite similar symptoms. The car throttle system is complex with multiple potential failure points. In my case, the engine throttle position readings were inconsistent, but cleaning the throttle body made no lasting difference because the issue was electrical. Before investing in more repairs, I would recommend: 1. Getting the specific fault codes read 2. Having the throttle position sensor signals monitored during operation 3. Testing the accelerator pedal module separately from the main throttle body These diagnostic steps helped identify the exact issue in my case and prevented unnecessary parts replacement.

Thanks for all the suggestions and comparisons. Looks like I should investigate beyond just the throttle body issue I initially suspected. With my engine idle problems continuing after the intake service, a proper diagnostic scan makes sense. I will have the mechanic check both the throttle valve position sensor and the accelerator pedal module. The control valve timing could also be worth testing since the symptoms seem to match multiple potential causes. My car throttle response definitely feels similar to what others described, but I want to avoid replacing parts unnecessarily. Will get those specific tests done and have them monitor the sensor readings while the engine is running. The diagnosis and repair costs shared here give me a good reference point. Planning to book it in next week and will make sure they check the complete engine throttle system rather than just focusing on cleaning. Would anyone recommend a specific diagnostic tool for reading those throttle position codes accurately? Want to ensure they catch all potential issues during testing.