throttle position sensor help

[BobsArmory]

So I'm on my way to work tonight in my still under warranty 2009 chevy silverado 6 liter and the check engine light turns on. I call onstar and they tell me that the code is for my throttle position sensor. Here is the tough part. Bright and early Saturday morning (tomorrow) we had planned on traveling from Michigan to North Carolina to my sisters house then down to Florida to see my parents.

Should I continue with our plans and have a dealership look at it in NC or FL or should I just hold off on the trip until monday after the dealership techs look at it?

 

[AandPDan]

It's a long drive with a CEL. I'd get it fixed before going. While I don't think you'll necessarily do any damage you probably will have a loss of performance and possibly mileage.

Warranty or not, can you change it yourself and get on the road before Monday?

 

[chad8]

Originally Posted By: BobsArmory
So I'm on my way to work tonight in my still under warranty 2009 chevy silverado 6 liter and the check engine light turns on. I call onstar and they tell me that the code is for my throttle position sensor. Here is the tough part. Bright and early Saturday morning (tomorrow) we had planned on traveling from Michigan to North Carolina to my sisters house then down to Florida to see my parents.

Should I continue with our plans and have a dealership look at it in NC or FL or should I just hold off on the trip until monday after the dealership techs look at it?


The tps and throttle body has a 5 year 100000 mile warranty. The worst case scenario is a bad idle. If you are handy I would get some throttle body spray and clean it.Take off the air filter hose and spray down the plate with the throttle open and closed. I would also buy some lucas or techron fuel system cleaner for the fuel tank. Then disconnect your battery for 10-20 minutes to see if the code clears and goes away.
Enjoy your vacation. Its not a big deal.

 

[BobsArmory]

Chad, I think we are talking about 2 different parts.

 

[The Critic]

I would not drive it. If the TPS fails completely, you will have driveability problems.

 

[Chris142]

That truck is drive by wire. If the TPS fails it could leave you stranded. On a holiday weekend no less.

 

[Falken]

The system has a few redundant backups to verify your desired throttle opening. This is how it threw a code in the first place.

Definitely take it in under warranty.

 

[229]

Hold off, it affects transmission shifting also. You will not be able to get it replaced this weekend most likely. You could try cleaning it with throttle body cleaner and resetting the KAM.

 

[chad8]

Originally Posted By: BobsArmory
Chad, I think we are talking about 2 different parts.


Yes i am . Sometimes a tps code will be for either /or tps or throttle body and sometimes the dealer will only replace both. They are inter related.

I can't see that even if the truck is drive by wire that an emissions code failure will render the truck not drivable.

My bet is still that the throttle body is dirty. Even though , when you go to the dealer , they WILL replace a bunch of parts. that is the way it works.

Clean , reset and drive. Live a little dangerously. The end of the world could be today.

 

[yonyon]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
That truck is drive by wire. If the TPS fails it could leave you stranded. On a holiday weekend no less.


With a drive-by-wire Chevy it's more of a safety issue than a stranding issue. Potentially, you could unexpectedly have slightly more than idle power. Climbing a hill, you may slow and even stop or roll back. This could be especially bad if you're going over a bridge, merging into highway traffic, or in a high crime area.

If you're prepared, you can clear codes and continue driving without a problem. You know about the problem now, so prepare yourself and have a convenient means of clearing PCM DTCs without leaving the driver's seat.

 

[BobsArmory]

Thanks everybody, I have decided to be at a dealership a few miles away bright and early at 7am to see if they can take care of the issue before we head out.

If I was going by myself I would try the quick fixes and go for it but my wife and 2 daughters are going to be in the truck with me and it gives me the creeps to think that we might run into problems down in a valley in West Virginia with no cell service.

I'll let you know what the techs find out.

 

[229]

we might run into problems down in a valley in West Virginia

keeping the forces of evil at bay.

hehe, bring 'em pretties on down her
SlingBlade

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

Originally Posted By: Falken
The system has a few redundant backups to verify your desired throttle opening.

Huh?

 

[mechtech2]

TPS gives the computer info for all sorts of functions.
It is a VERY critical part.
As the TB may get dirty,wear,etc., the computer adjusts what is the base - what is normal. It is called ratcheting, or he ratch.
Most TPSs are easy to change. Torx are common fasteners - 2 of them.
Well within a civilian's repertoire.

Of course, do homework on you individual car firs.

 

[BobsArmory]

Got over to the dealership this morning. In and out in less than one hour with a new sensor free of charge! We are enroute now and seems to be running perfect.

 

[mechtech2]

Free and fast?
Outstanding!
If you note anomalies, give her time to relearn things. Normally a few days of driving.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: BobsArmory
Got over to the dealership this morning. In and out in less than one hour with a new sensor free of charge! We are enroute now and seems to be running perfect.


Good deal. Do you know what they replaced? Typically there's two throttle position sensors and an accelerator pedal position sensor.

Thankfully it wasn't a serious failure in the system- or they've perfected throttle by wire over the years, because in years past, faults in the system would instantly throw the vehicle into limp-mode, where you'd have high-idle only, to get you off the road.

Sometimes shutting down and restarting would buy you more real go-pedal time.

Joel