2002 Tundra (check engine)

My 2002 Tundra had the "engine" light come on. I took it to Auto Zone
and had them "hook it up" to a scanner. They told me it was the throttle
position sensor. I'm not a mechanic and have no idea where this part is.
Can anyone point me in the right direction? I have an 8 cylinder 4.7
liter engine.
Oh and this part at Auto Zone runs me between 200-250 bucks. Is it made
out of gold or what? Thanks for any help offered.

On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 22:42:08 -0600, [email]RobsVega@webtv.net[/email] (Robert vega)
wrote:
[color=blue]
>My 2002 Tundra had the "engine" light come on. I took it to Auto Zone
>and had them "hook it up" to a scanner. They told me it was the throttle
>position sensor. I'm not a mechanic and have no idea where this part is.
>Can anyone point me in the right direction? I have an 8 cylinder 4.7
>liter engine.
>Oh and this part at Auto Zone runs me between 200-250 bucks. Is it made
>out of gold or what? Thanks for any help offered.[/color]

No, but there are some complex bits inside. DO NOT run out and buy
something just because the scanner said to - it only says what SYSTEM
is not working right, it can't say exactly why.

Although AutoZone would love you to 'shotgun' parts at the car until
you find the right one, they make much more money that way.

You can usually clean the moving parts inside the throttle body in
the airstream with carburetor cleaner and de-gunk them, and cure the
trouble. You can clean inside the throttle position sensor on some
designs too. But I'll let one of the mechanics here describe exactly
how, because I don't have the book for your truck, and you can screw
them up doing it wrong.

The mass airflow sensor measures how much air the engine is using,
and the throttle position sensor is a fancy variable resistor on the
side of the throttle body that signals how far you are pushing the gas
pedal, so the computer does the math and adds the right amount of
gasoline.

--<< Bruce >>--

--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.

Robert vega wrote:[color=blue]
> My 2002 Tundra had the "engine" light come on. I took it to Auto Zone
> and had them "hook it up" to a scanner. They told me it was the throttle
> position sensor. I'm not a mechanic and have no idea where this part is.
> Can anyone point me in the right direction? I have an 8 cylinder 4.7
> liter engine.
> Oh and this part at Auto Zone runs me between 200-250 bucks. Is it made
> out of gold or what? Thanks for any help offered.
>
>
>
>[/color]
$62 for an ACDelco throttle position sensor for the Tundra at
rockauto.com

Do clean your throttle body with throttle body cleaner and a soft,
lint-free rag wrapped around your finger. This is under the black
cover on top of your engine. It is the part with the circular flap
that regulates the amount of air your engine gets. Do not allow any
dirt nor bits of rag to get into the throttle body. The throttle
position sensor is attached to this throttle body. First, check
that the connector cable to the TPS is attached tightly.


Ken

"Robert vega" <RobsVega@webtv.net> wrote in message news:3531-43FA9A20-2985@storefull-3231.bay.webtv.net...
[color=blue]
> My 2002 Tundra had the "engine" light come on. I took it to Auto Zone
> and had them "hook it up" to a scanner. They told me it was the throttle
> position sensor. I'm not a mechanic and have no idea where this part is.
> Can anyone point me in the right direction? I have an 8 cylinder 4.7
> liter engine.
> Oh and this part at Auto Zone runs me between 200-250 bucks. Is it made
> out of gold or what? Thanks for any help offered.
>
[/color]
OK, you're "not a mechanic", and "have no idea where this part is". Why in the world would you want to tackle this, given your dearth of info / ability? LOL

>OK, you're "not a mechanic", and "have[color=blue]
> no idea where this part is". Why in the
> world would you want to tackle this,
>given your dearth of info / ability? LOL[/color]

Thanks Bruce and Ken..I'm checking this out myself. Karin, this is not
rocket science and even though I am not a mechanic I am not totally
ignorant to mechanical stuff. I am mechanically inclined and will
"attempt" to fix it myself with a little guidance. Last I checked this
was a support/help forum, correct?

what was the code?

"Robert vega" <RobsVega@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:3531-43FA9A20-2985@storefull-3231.bay.webtv.net...[color=blue]
> My 2002 Tundra had the "engine" light come on. I took it to Auto Zone
> and had them "hook it up" to a scanner. They told me it was the throttle
> position sensor. I'm not a mechanic and have no idea where this part is.
> Can anyone point me in the right direction? I have an 8 cylinder 4.7
> liter engine.
> Oh and this part at Auto Zone runs me between 200-250 bucks. Is it made
> out of gold or what? Thanks for any help offered.
>
>
>
>[/color]

Glenn asked:[color=blue]
>what was the code?[/color]

My apologies. I misplaced the paper they gave me. I just remember it
saying it was the sensor but not the code #. If I find it later, I will
post it. Thanks again for your attention.

"Robert vega" <RobsVega@webtv.net> wrote in message news:24721-43FB61B5-2840@storefull-3235.bay.webtv.net...
[color=blue][color=green]
> >OK, you're "not a mechanic", and "have
>> no idea where this part is". Why in the
>> world would you want to tackle this,
> >given your dearth of info / ability? LOL
[/color]
>
> Thanks Bruce and Ken..I'm checking this out myself. Karin, this is not
> rocket science and even though I am not a mechanic I am not totally
> ignorant to mechanical stuff. I am mechanically inclined and will
> "attempt" to fix it myself with a little guidance. Last I checked this
> was a support/help forum, correct?
>
[/color]
Yes it is, just going by your original comment, I didn't think you'd want to tackle something like this. Cleaning it isn't that big a deal, as long as you're "mechanically inclined". ;-) Just hate to see anyone get in over their head(s). BTDT!! <eg>

Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor Circuit Malfunction
Trouble Area:
Open or short in accelerator pedal position sensor circuit
Accelerator pedal position sensor
ECM

Diagnosing and repairing the problem requires specific service manual info
onthe diagnostics and circuitry of the Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor, an
OBDII scanner, and voltage meter or a Toyota Hand Held Scan Tool. This may
be a repair best left to the experts.


"Robert vega" <RobsVega@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:23684-43FCA0CE-3@storefull-3234.bay.webtv.net...[color=blue]
> Ok here is the code :
>
> Troublecode OBDII (Alpha) P Code
>
> Troubleshooting P1120
>
> See if you can make heads or tails out of it. TIA
>
>
>
>[/color]

$127 bucks for a Throttle body cleaning, air filter, and a state
inspection. Not bad but there's something that makes me question a moral
issue.

Service advisor comes back to tell me an o2 sensor needed to be replaced
and that the sensor is stripped out that it needed a new manifold. This
is the 2nd time in history that it has happened. The last time it was
the right side.. this time it was the left side.
They installed an oxygen sensor kit, manifold Sub-assy, gasket, exhaust
mani, gasket,exhaust pipe, nuts and locks.. All totalling over $1,300
bucks. Now, I didn't pay a penny for all this, but it makes me wonder if
they're sticking it to the warranty companies just like doctors stick it
to the insurance companies which ultimately is a small contributing
factor to higher insurance rates.
Sure, I can just shrug my shoulders and say.. "so what". Can this more
common than we know?

P.S. The last time it was the exact same thing of them having to replace
the manifold and o2 sensor.