So this past summer I all of a sudden started.

JESSB_55

MEMBER
2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
68,000 MILES

So this past summer I all of a sudden started experiencing the reduced engine power, service engine light and traction control light all came on. I did a little digging and discovered water on the floor of the truck. So I did a little research and found that others had similar issues with their sunroof drains clogging and water backing up into the truck and getting the main big black connector behind the drivers kick panel wet. I pulled off the kick panel and sure enough the connector was wet. I let the truck dry out for a couple of days and lubed up the connectors with some dielectric grease and the truck was good until about 3 weeks ago. I was driving home from work after a snowstorm here and about halfway home my security light came on. I was nervous about the car turning off on me so I pulled over and restarted the car and the security light went away. I then continued home and about a mile from home my reduced engine power, service engine and traction light came on and I couldn't get the car about 2k rpms. I managed to make it home even though I could barely get up the driveway.

I immediately thought maybe my sunroof had leaked again with all the snow sitting on top of it, so I pulled the kick panel off and checked the connector and it looked dry, and so did the floor around it so I was at a loss. I did however find a little bit of corrison in the plug so I unplugged the battery and did some cleaning on the connector along with some contact cleaner and it looked good. When I went to hook the battery back up I noticed some corrison around the battery, I then also then noticed that it appeared to be the original battery and figured it would need to be replaced soon anyway so I did that knowing that a bad battery could make the car do weird electrical issues. Well I thought I was smooth sailing and the truck was good for about 5 days then all of a sudden I'm back to square one and can't drive the truck again as it has the reduced engine light and the CEL as well. I stopped by the dealership and they mentioned that its probably the throttle position sensor or the accelerator pedal position sensor. I then went to autozone and got the codes checked: they are p0120, p0700, p1125, p2120, p2138, c0276 and c0241. Being the Accelerator pedal position sensor didn't appear that hard to change and was about a $50 part I decided I'd start with that. Well I put the new APP sensor in and still no go.

Can anyone please help, I'm a single mom and can't afford to take it to the dealership!

6 Replies

ASEMASTER6371

MECHANIC
52,797 POSTS

The pedal sensor may be the failure as it contains the control module. It is the other half of the throttle body

700 is a general trans code.

C codes are abs codes
that is related to the trac system, when the abs is fixed, the trac will come back on line

Roy

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Thursday, December 27th, 2012 AT 2:49 AM

ASEMASTER6371

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120 code
DTC P0120

CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION
The throttle body assembly contains the following components:

The throttle blade
The throttle actuator motor
The throttle position (TP) sensor 1 and 2
The throttle actuator control (TAC) module

The TAC system monitors the throttle position with 2 sensors. If the powertrain control module (PCM) receives a message from the TAC module that indicates one of the following conditions, DTC P0120 will set:

The TP sensor 1 voltage is outside a predetermined range.
The reference voltage is out of range.
An improper throttle blade minimum position was learned.

DTC DESCRIPTOR
This diagnostic procedure supports the following DTC:
DTC P0120 Throttle Position (TP) Sensor 1 Circuit

CONDITIONS FOR RUNNING THE DTC

DTCs P0606, P2107, P2108 are not set.
The Ignition 1 Signal parameter is in the crank or the run position.
The ignition voltage is more than 5.23 volts.
The communications between the TAC module and the PCM must be valid.

CONDITIONS FOR SETTING THE DTC

The TP sensor 1 voltage is continuously less than 0.376 volts or more than 4.506 volts for longer than 100 ms. OR
The PCM learns a minimum throttle position of more than 0.714 volts. This occurs once per ignition cycle at power-up. OR
The TP sensor reference voltage is less than 4.54 volts for longer than 10 ms, or more than 5.21 volts for longer than 1 second. This test occurs continuously.

ACTION TAKEN WHEN THE DTC SETS

The control module illuminates the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) when the diagnostic runs and fails.
The control module records the operating conditions at the time the diagnostic fails. The control module stores this information in the Freeze Frame and/or the Failure Records.
The control module commands the TAC system to operate in the Reduced Engine Power mode.
A message center or an indicator displays Reduced Engine Power.
Under certain conditions the control module commands the engine OFF.

CONDITIONS FOR CLEARING THE MIL/DTC

The control module turns OFF the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) after 3 consecutive ignition cycles that the diagnostic runs and does not fail.
A current DTC, Last Test Failed, clears when the diagnostic runs and passes.
A history DTC clears after 40 consecutive warm-up cycles, if no failures are reported by this or any other emission related diagnostic.
Clear the MIL and the DTC with a scan tool.

1125 pedal sensor

DTC P1125

CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION
The accelerator pedal position (APP) sensor 1 and APP sensor 2 are potentiometer type sensors, each with the following circuits:

A 5-volt reference circuit
A low reference circuit
A signal circuit

The control module provides the APP sensors a 5-volt reference circuit and a low reference circuit. The APP sensors then provide the control module signal voltages proportional to pedal movement. The APP sensor 1 signal voltage is low at rest and increases as the pedal is depressed. The APP sensor 2 signal voltage is also low at rest and increases as the pedal is depressed. One APP sensor DTC will not cause the Reduced Engine Power message to be displayed. Two APP sensor DTCs for the same sensor also will not cause the Reduced Engine Power message to be displayed. However, if 2 or more DTCs are set involving more than one APP sensor, DTC P1125 will set.

DTC DESCRIPTOR
This diagnostic procedure supports the following DTC:
DTC P1125 Accelerator Pedal Position (APP) System

CONDITIONS FOR RUNNING THE DTC

DTCs P0606, P2107, P2108 are not set.
The ignition switch is in the crank or run position.
The Ignition 1 Signal parameter is more than 5.23 volts.
The communications between the throttle actuator control (TAC) module and the powertrain control module (PCM) must be valid.
DTC P1125 runs one time per drive cycle once the above conditions are met.

CONDITIONS FOR SETTING THE DTC
Two APP sensors are out of range or both APP sensors disagree with each other for longer than 18.75 milliseconds.

ACTION TAKEN WHEN THE DTC SETS

The control module illuminates the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) when the diagnostic runs and fails.
The control module records the operating conditions at the time the diagnostic fails. The control module stores this information in the Freeze Frame and/or the Failure Records.
The control module commands the TAC system to operate in the Reduced Engine Power mode.
A message center or an indicator displays Reduced Engine Power.
Under certain conditions the control module commands the engine OFF.

CONDITIONS FOR CLEARING THE MIL/DTC

The control module turns OFF the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) after 3 consecutive ignition cycles that the diagnostic runs and does not fail.
A current DTC, Last Test Failed, clears when the diagnostic runs and passes.
A history DTC clears after 40 consecutive warm-up cycles, if no failures are reported by this or any other emission related diagnostic.
Clear the MIL and the DTC with a scan tool.

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Thursday, December 27th, 2012 AT 2:51 AM

JESSB_55

MEMBER
8 POSTS

Thanks for all the information, however what do you reccomend I do next as I already replaced the pedal position sensor!

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Thursday, December 27th, 2012 AT 3:15 AM

ASEMASTER6371

MECHANIC
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Did you replace the throttle body?

Roy

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Thursday, December 27th, 2012 AT 3:18 AM

JESSB_55

MEMBER
8 POSTS

I have not replaced the throttle body as I was hoping to not have to spend that much money. What are the chances that it's the throttle body and not in the wiring. Is there a harness on the passenger side I should be checking or anything?