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2.3L ('02-'11) TPS issues looking for guidance


hannah2001

Member
Joined
Jul 27, 2024
Messages
15
City
Georgia
Vehicle Year
2002
Engine
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Automatic
Tire Size
265/75/15
I have a 2002 ford ranger with the 2.3. ever since i bought the truck (6 months ago) its been throwing codes P1120 and P1125. I just assumed it was a bad TPS (bad, i know) threw a new sensor on it but the code kept coming back. it has always had idling problems but was not giving me any drivability issues so I just decided to ignore it cause I don't have much time to diagnose nor the money to pay a mechanic to fix it. Well as of last week the truck has started bucking, jerking, shifting erratically, at one point i lost all throttle response going down the highway and i hit the pedal hard with my foot and its like it snapped back into it and started responding again. so now I feel like I have to actually try and pinpoint the issue since its giving me major problems, but I cant find much online as far as an actual diagnostic process for this specific engine and truck. People have talked about it could possibly be a failing PCM, wiring problems, could somehow be linked to the IACV or MAF, but no explanation as to how I can actually diagnose and I don't have the money to just throw parts at it.

what i've done:
- new TPS; unfortunately not motorcraft because I cannot find an OEM motorcraft sensor for this truck, i believe its been discontinued. I did get the most reputable brand I could find. I did attempt to calibrate it from what I could find online about holding the pedal down 3 times, i've also unhooked the battery and left it disconnected for 20+ minutes to do a full reset
- cleaned throttle body
- unplugged IACV while truck is running and warmed up, it idles terribly rough and at like 200 rpm so I believe the IAC is in working condition
- the previous owners tampered with the idle adjustment screw and had it backed all the way out. I dialed it back in the best I could and assuming by my sensor readings it seems to be set correctly.
- took TPS readings with forscan and I have attached a video of my results at the bottom of this post. the sweep seems to be stable and not jumping erratically

Basically what I'm asking for is guidance to how I can figure out whats causing my problem. I like to think i'm pretty mechanically inclined from not having the money to pay mechanics to work on anything I own (lol) so if someone could maybe write out all possible causes and step by step procedures on how to test all related components I would greatly appreciate it. I will answer any questions

https://youtube.com/shorts/cPuYwTjNZfU?feature=share
 
I did a search on the first code and it came up with this


The diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P1120 in a Ford vehicle generally indicates a problem with the
Throttle Position (TP) sensor being "out of range". This means the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) or engine computer, has detected that the actual position of the throttle plate doesn't align with the desired position it's expecting.


Am I reading more into the above statement than I should? Reading between the lines, if the computer see's the TPS at a certain value, but there is more air going into the engine than the TPS position would allow, would that throw a code? Like having a large vacuum leak?
 
I did a search on the first code and it came up with this


The diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P1120 in a Ford vehicle generally indicates a problem with the
Throttle Position (TP) sensor being "out of range". This means the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) or engine computer, has detected that the actual position of the throttle plate doesn't align with the desired position it's expecting.


Am I reading more into the above statement than I should? Reading between the lines, if the computer see's the TPS at a certain value, but there is more air going into the engine than the TPS position would allow, would that throw a code? Like having a large vacuum leak?


i guess that could be possible. i'm not a mechanical guru by any means so whatever advice I get here I will try my best to follow. I've never had to find a vacuum leak on anything before and dont know how, i will read on it some tonight and hopefully within the next day or so try to find any on my truck
 

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