2003 Sunfire

Tiny
JOSHUAHALON
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 PONTIAC SUNFIRE
  • 139,000 MILES
2003 sunfire. It will go fine for awhile. Then when it stops, 25 miles or so, stops at a light or something, it wants to choke out. The check engine light comes on, the trac off light comes on, the temp gauge reads slightly higher than 195 (it runs normally at 195), and it acts as if it is out of gas, hit the accelerator it sputters and dies. Start again, it will run, sometimes it returns to normal for a bit, other times it is just dying.
Things tried: replaced TPS, no dice! Replaced tps and ground wires/ no go!
what next?
Friday, September 7th, 2012 AT 10:33 PM

12 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
What are the exact code numbers you have you mention the check engine light comes on?
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Friday, September 7th, 2012 AT 10:42 PM
Tiny
JOSHUAHALON
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  • 7 POSTS
P0122
throttle position sensor, circuit low
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Friday, September 7th, 2012 AT 10:44 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Do you have a scan tool that will read live engine data and a multi meter to do some testing?
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Friday, September 7th, 2012 AT 10:58 PM
Tiny
JOSHUAHALON
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I do not. After they replaced this the first time, it broke down, and the tech that looked at it, said it spit out the above code
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Friday, September 7th, 2012 AT 10:59 PM
Tiny
JOSHUAHALON
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It has a brand new TPS and ground wires right now
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Friday, September 7th, 2012 AT 11:02 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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If you're going to diagnose this problem yourself were going to need those tools. So we can see what the sensor is reading measure voltages resistance etc.
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Friday, September 7th, 2012 AT 11:15 PM
Tiny
JOSHUAHALON
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  • 7 POSTS
I have had it at a mechanics twice for a total of 6 days.I need a guide where to start.
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Friday, September 7th, 2012 AT 11:21 PM
Tiny
JOSHUAHALON
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They put a pressure gauge on the fuel line. Said it was good.
It seems to be extremely hot, though the gauge doesnt show it. So hot the hook to hold up the hood is hard to hold. The rpms seem to ramp up and down. 2000 up to 2800 and down while holding steady on accelerator. When it is in death mode, it goes from 1000 down to 200 up to 1000 rpms.
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Saturday, September 8th, 2012 AT 12:06 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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  • 30,869 POSTS
Like I said before if your going to fix this yourself correct?If so you will need a scan tool that can read live engine data to read what the tps is reading in computer. Also a multimeter to read voltages check wires grounds etc. That's just to start you made need other things as time goes on. So unless your will buy or borrow these things then I don't know how much help I can be to you.
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Saturday, September 8th, 2012 AT 12:35 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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A flase tps reading can cause shifting issues idling issues power issues etc.
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Saturday, September 8th, 2012 AT 12:36 AM
Tiny
JOSHUAHALON
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Would an over heating condition cause the rough idling, dying out, and false readings?
The radiator/cooling fan is not coming on. Would these hot conditions have caused these issues? False tps, stalling, rough erradic idle?
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Thursday, September 20th, 2012 AT 1:33 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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You wernt overheating before sounds like you have a another new problem the overheating isnt going to set the code P0122. So have you gotten any tools yet like I said you needed yet?
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Thursday, September 20th, 2012 AT 3:10 PM

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