P2135, P1400, P0121. Engine power reduced, stabilitrak, abs, trac control

Derek_S

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So, I have a 2009 Pontiac Torrent FWD with the 3.4L engine. It has 91,000km's/56,000 Miles. Recently, My check engine light came on but otherwise driving was ok for a few days, so I wasn't overly concerned. That is until one morning along with my check engine light I received Engine Power reduced, service stabilitrak, service abs, Service traction control on the DIC. Needless to say, I almost shat myself. Used a friends code reader, and received P2135, and P1400. (Tps, and Egr valve) I cleared the codes knowing they will come back, as I didn't have the money to take it in. A fee days go by of it drivig just fine, and it all happens again. Use a different code reader, of better quality and get P2135, and P0121 (P1400 dissappeared?) I begin to do some research and everything points at it being tbe TPS. I've checked connectors and wiring, from what I can tell it looks fine. So, I start hunting for a TPS and find out, where I live, they are a dealer only part and gm wants $185 for the sensor. (the parts guy couldn't find it until I gave him the acdelco part# off rockauto) I can get the sensor from rockauto for $70 so forget the dealership. I bought a repair manual, and ..Behold.. There is nothing in it about replacing the sensor. Almost nothing online regarding tps for a torrent. Now it should be easy to change as I found it is only 2 screws and a connector. But this brings me to my question, with the lack of info available regarding the tps for the torrent, is it likely that if the tps fails, the whole Throttle body needs to be replaced? I've been reading online alot about how people ended up having their TB replaced. Which would be great because my TB is still covered by my remaining powertrain. I don't want to have to spend any money if I can avoid it. But I can barely find any answers online and I don't want to change sensors that may not need replacing. Service guy at GM told me to start by replacing the sensor. Buuuut If I can get them to replace the whole TB even better. Anybody had any experience with these codes or with Tps and what did you do/have done to resolve it. I don't know what I should do.
 
If the TPS is bad I see no reason why the whole throttle body needs replacing. Have you actually asked the dealer if the throttle body is covered by power train ?
 
I have asked, they told me the throttle body is still covered, but not the sensor. he looked it up by vin#. Again, what little i can find online, ended up replacing the whole TB. So am i just being jerked around?
 
I will try the suggested methods from the links, I didn't know what else I could do other than replace the sensor and hope that is what is causing the issues. I think it's bs that the sensor is $185 in canada, and $70 in the us, and would rather not drop money on something that may not need replacing.
 
So you cant order from a US site and have it shipped? They charge you additional, VAT or something like that?
 
had the same issue codes p0121 tp p2101 p2119 p2135 had to order it from gm 329 bucks plus tax and a hour labour it fuc@ing bullshit this is my secound pontica and i just when out and got me a ford 150 no more gm for this dude all together it cost me around 500 bucks
 
Is it a drive by wire throttle body? If it is replacing the TB is normal.
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Throttle Body TPS Issue

Check this out and see if looks like it would explain your issues. Good luck!!!

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Problem:
GM 3.4L V6 (2007 Pontiac Torrent) Unstable engine RPM, causing multiple error codes. May also be misidentified as engine “missing”.

Cause:
The throttle position sensor (TPS) design is subject to issues that will prevent it from relaying the actual position of the throttle (butterfly valve). The nature of the issues is such that the problem may be intermittent. A new throttle body assembly may not experience these issues until it has been used for multiple years, but others --or a remanufactured throttle body assembly-- may have this same issue soon after it has been put into service.

Background:
When the issue is occurring, engine RPM is unstable/erratic, possibly more so at particular points in the throttle range. This may happen regardless of conditions or operation. When the issue is present, the tachometer will show the RPM wavering approximately ± <500 RPM, for example. Note that the engine will not appear to be missing/misfiring, but simply unstable in speed only. Some fault codes may result regarding traction control. Also, some other fault codes may be set regarding a throttle that is not responding properly to the electronic pedal demand.

In some cases, when only keying ON but not starting the engine, the throttle can be heard to make erratic noises as it struggles to attain its proper location. This can occur at 0% throttle and also at other points in the throttle range. Further, this can be monitored on a diagnostic tool, which shows the throttle position wavering (although the engine isn’t even running) and the pedal position to be unchanged. As the pedal is worked from 0-100% and back several times, the erratic noises from the throttle body may decrease or cease entirely in some cases and the throttle then operates normally and silently as is expected. To confirm, the diagnostic tool may then show the throttle position to respond immediately and without wavering.

The best way to confirm the issue may be to wait until a resulting service light appears and then --using a diagnostic tool-- turn and the ignition on but do not start the engine. Confirm that the throttle position is changing while the pedal is unapplied or being held stationary at some other location. If no diagnostic tool is available, intermittent “buzzing” of the throttle body may be heard if the problem exists.

Diagnosis:
The fact that the above issue appears to be affected by 0-100% use of the throttle suggests that the TPS sensor was the intermittent cause.

A teardown and analysis of the TPS sensor assembly (which is integrated into the throttle body cover) revealed that its “wiper” pivots on a guide bore on one side and against a wave spring washer on the other side –where it also mates with clocking “flats” on the throttle shaft. It was noted on the subject throttle body that no parts of this assembly were lubricated and the wave spring washer had ground into the facing metal plate. The TPS wiper connection to the throttle shaft is spring-loaded to account for mis-alignment, and allows for tolerance and assembly. Note that this spring loaded connection works well –provided that it is not overcome by force, in which case the throttle shaft can turn independently of the TPS wiper to a significant extent.

As indicated by the ground metal surface and complete absence of lubrication, the drag on the TPS wiper may become sufficient enough to overcome its spring loaded connection to the throttle shaft. This will prevent the wiper from moving with small, but significant movements of the throttle causing unstable engine RPM, etc.

Repair:
Unless an alternative throttle body assembly is available, the TPS sensor wiper must be accessed in order to lubricate the wave spring washer and cover bore area that receives the other side of the wiper. A silicone based grease may be used. Note that the throttle body cover may be removed (held by 6 reusable clips) and serviced without having to remove the throttle body assembly from the vehicle.

Remove any burrs or roughness from the metal plate where it contacts the wave spring washer.

Clean the carbon tracks with electrical contact cleaner.

A custom method of reattaching the metal plate covering the TPS must be devised. There are multiple ways to do this. The most convenient method may depend on what tools and/or materials are avialable.
 
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