Vauxhall Cavalier Throttle Body Replacement Parts

It depends on the engine variant. Carburettor-fed engines, which were common on earlier Cavalier Mk2 (1981–1988) and some Mk3 (1988–1995) variants, do not use a throttle body in the same way as fuel-injected engines — they use a carburettor instead. Fuel-injected Cavaliers, including the later 1.8i, 2.0i, and 2.0 16v engines found mainly on the Mk3, do have a throttle body as part of the injection system, so whether this part applies to your car depends entirely on whether your engine is carburetted or fuel-injected.

The quickest way is to check your V5C registration document or run a VIN check to find your engine code — injected Cavalier engines typically carry a suffix like 'i' in the engine designation (e.g. 1.8i, 2.0i, 2.0 16v). You can also look under the bonnet: a carburetted engine will have a visible carburettor on the inlet manifold, whereas a fuel-injected engine will have a throttle body with injector wiring and a mass airflow or MAP sensor nearby. If you are unsure, share your registration or engine code with the breaker before ordering.

Almost certainly not — the Mk2 and Mk3 are entirely different generations with different engine families, inlet manifold designs, and management systems, so a throttle body from one will not cross over to the other. Even within each generation, the engine code is what determines which throttle body was fitted, so a part sourced from a different engine code is unlikely to be a direct swap. Always give the breaker your exact engine code and registration so they can match from the correct donor car.

Trim level itself does not determine the throttle body — what matters is the engine fitted to that trim. The GL, GLS, CD, GSi, and 4x4 badges on the Mk3 Cavalier reflect equipment and body specification, but if two different trims share the same engine code, their throttle bodies will be from the same unit. The GSi and 2.0 16v variants use a higher-specification engine and will have a different throttle body to the standard 2.0 8v, so always confirm by engine code rather than trim name.

Both years fall within the Cavalier Mk3 generation (1988–1995), so there is a reasonable chance of compatibility if the engine codes match, but Vauxhall did make running production changes to ancillary components and mounting arrangements during this period. The engine code is your most important check, but you should also confirm with the breaker against your specific registration whether any mid-run changes affect the fit on your particular car.

Some later Cavalier Mk3 engines share their architecture with early Vectra A units, and in certain cases the throttle body may be the same component, but this is not a blanket rule across all engine codes or model years. There are also potential ECU and sensor-matching considerations that could affect how the replacement unit behaves once fitted, which you should confirm with the breaker rather than assume. Provide both your Cavalier's engine code and the donor car's details to the breaker so they can verify compatibility before you commit.