The throttle body is the air intake control valve for your engine. Sitting between the air filter housing and the intake manifold, it precisely regulates how much air enters the engine in response to driver accelerator inputs. On modern drive by wire (electronic throttle control, or ETC) systems like the one on the Nissan VQ40DE V6, there is no mechanical cable from the accelerator pedal to the throttle body. Instead, the accelerator pedal has an integrated Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor (APPS) that sends a voltage signal to the engine control unit (ECU), and the ECU then commands an electric motor inside the throttle body to open or close the throttle plate to the desired angle. The Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) on the throttle body provides feedback to the ECU about the actual plate position so it can verify the commanded position matches the actual position. The Nissan VQ40DE 4.0L DOHC V6 engine is one of the most widely used Nissan engines from 2005 onward, appearing in the Frontier pickup, Xterra SUV, Pathfinder R51 SUV, NV1500 cargo van, NV2500 V6 trim cargo van, and the Suzuki Equator (a rebadged Frontier sold 2009 to 2013). The throttle body is largely shared across all VQ40DE applications, which means a used throttle body from one VQ40DE vehicle will typically fit any other VQ40DE vehicle.
Throttle bodies are NOT interchangeable across different engine families. The Nissan NV cargo van lineup was sold with two different engines:
This vaz603 throttle body is from a VQ40DE V6 application (NV1500 donor). It will NOT fit VK56DE V8 vehicles. The throttle body bore size, plate diameter, mounting flange pattern, connector pinout, and ECU calibration are all different between the V6 and V8. Please confirm your engine is VQ40DE V6 (4.0L) before ordering. You can confirm by checking your owner manual, looking at the engine code stamped on the block, or providing us your VIN at (240) 301-0095.
After installing a used or replacement throttle body, the ECU needs to learn the baseline position of the new throttle plate. This is called a throttle position relearn (also called idle relearn). For most Nissan VQ40DE vehicles, the relearn procedure can be performed either with a scan tool (CONSULT III, Autel, or similar) using the active test menu, or manually using a key-on/off sequence with specific timing (typically: ignition on for 3 seconds, off for 10 seconds, repeat 3 times, then start engine and let idle for 10 minutes). Without the relearn, the engine may idle rough, set a check engine light, or run with reduced power. Please follow your vehicle's specific service procedure (consult manual or factory service information).
| Part Type | Throttle Body, Electronic Drive by Wire |
|---|---|
| Engine Family | Nissan VQ40DE 4.0L V6 DOHC |
| Vehicle Application | NV1500, NV2500 V6, Frontier V6, Xterra, Pathfinder R51, Suzuki Equator |
| Donor Year | 2012 NV1500 per live page |
| Material | Aluminum housing with stainless steel throttle plate |
| Actuation Type | Electronic Drive by Wire (no cable) |
| Throttle Plate Diameter | ~70mm |
| Connector | 6-pin electrical connector |
| Operating Voltage | 5V reference signal |
| Integrated Sensor | TPS (Throttle Position Sensor) only. APPS is separate, located on accelerator pedal |
| Relearn Required | Yes, after install |
| Sku | vaz603 |
To make a claim, contact us within 15 days at (240) 301-0095 or support@vazautosolutions.com.
