[Runinflac0]

What's up guys. Ridiculous headache happening and not even sure where to start.

2003 GXE 205k Miles.

Car is currently throwing a TPS and a IACV codes.

At red lights, idles funny at time, not all the time. I hear a few clicks coming from the passenger side and a few seconds later it may or may not turn off. never consistent.

At red lights, after some clicking, I'll press the gas and get nothing...rpms won't even budge.

On the highway, not sure what causes it, sometimes it feels like a bump may do it, but the throttle gives out. I press the gas and nothing at all. Even on local streets, it may just be fine and i'll hit a turn let go of gas, press it again and get no response.

I'm more worried than anything cuz the girlfriend drives this car on the highway and it has stopped responding to her, so the only way to get it back is to turn the car off and turn it back on and you're able to drive again. This is just dangerous but I have no idea what it is.

Thought if i replaced the throttle it would help, but the clicking is making me think it could be a ECM issue rather than a Throttle issue.
I just did some research and saw people saying check the connections on the ECM, which I will do later today, but does anyone else have any other ideas?

anything would help thank you

 

[JudoJohn]

I would do some troubleshooting before I threw parts at it. The ECM would be my last resort, as they are expensive. First check all connections and grounds.

 

[Runinflac0]

any particular locations i should check? I know to check the fuses and the connections on the ECM. i would be very happy if i found something loose, as opposed to having to buy a new part.

 

[JudoJohn]

there are a lot of grounds in the engine compartment. Check them for tightness, corrosion. check the battery cables for the same.. Look at the connections on the throttle body itself. look at the connection on the pedal, too.

 

[i68k]

yea, there's ground everywhere, like 20 something that are visible, another 20 something under stuff, etc. check the harness connectors to both throttle body and iacv, the connectors could be coming loose or be very dirty or something.

make sure your battery terminals are tight and has good ground contact, like said above, i would also check your battery voltage with motor on&off just to be sure.

after youve checked your grounds and battery, you have 2 codes, tps and iacv. your symptoms are describing tps failure exactly. however im not sure if your throttle body is cable driven, or if its drive-by-wire. if its drive-by-wire, youll need another throttle body, otherwise you can replace just the tps.

tps is throttle position sensor.
iacv is idle air control valve.

seeing that both those parts are failing, that would explain your loss in throttle control. not only is the tps out, so you cant use your pedal, but the iacv is done causing the motor to idle irratically, possibly stall. once the ecu completely looses connection, there will be no throttle response until you turn off and then back on. if youre drive-by-wire, the ecu is controlling the throttle plate from digital readings from the throttle pedal, but the ecu doesnt know whether to open or close the throttle because the position sensor is malfunctioning, so in your case, it just stops responding.

 

[JudoJohn]

on the 2003 the TB is drive by wire.

 

[i68k]

on the 2003 the TB is drive by wire.

in that case, a new throttle body and all 3 relearn procedures should do the trick for the tps failures. make sure to disconnect the battery when swapping the throttle body! do all 3 relearns, if you are unsuccessful, you'll need to clean/replace your iacv as well, then try the 3 relearns over again particularly the idle relearn.

 

[Runinflac0]

awesome, thank you for all the info. now to find the time to check all this crap. lol

 

[petyweestraw]

So did you get it running? I just picked up an 03 with this same problem with 111.000 miles on it for $1000 cus they think the comp is dead.

 

[i68k]

did you check the grounds? do all 3 relearns? what ses codes do you, or dont you have?

 

[petyweestraw]

Havent gotten that far yet. I pick it up this weekend . Have to trailer it home. Hopefuly its as easy as a relearn but if not a new throttle wont break the bank.